MANY PETS SUFFERING EFFECTS OF CANNABIS

Half of all veterinarians are treating pets for the after-effects of
cannabis consumption, a survey showed Thursday.

Although dogs are the most likely to be affected, cats and a
budgerigar had also become casual users of marijuana.

Fifty of the 100 vets surveyed by the insurers Petplan said they had
treated pets that appeared to be suffering adverse effects after
eating or inhaling "soft" drugs. It was not clear if the drugs had
been accidentally consumed or deliberately fed to animals.

A quarter of the vets treated more than one animal a year. Some
reported as many as four. There were no reports of fatalities, but the
animals suffered side-effects such as vomiting, dizziness and
temporary loss of movement. Some had been given paracetamol or
contraceptive pills and had to be monitored to ensure no vital organs
failed.

Scott Miller, Petplan's consultant vet, has treated several
drug-related cases at his London surgery and said: "This is a serious
issue. You wouldn't leave drugs lying around for children to pick up,
and we should be adopting the same levels of caution for our pets.

"It's horrifying that vets are seeing these cases at all, let alone
when it is believed to be deliberate misuse."