Marijuana toxicosis in 2 donkeys.
Abstract: Marijuana toxicosis is typically seen by companion animal veterinarians. However, with increased marijuana availability, there is a greater potential for toxicosis in other species. Herein we describe a case of suspected marijuana toxicosis in a female and a male American Mammoth donkey, aged 8 y and 20 y, respectively, fed cannabis buds. Both cases were presented because of depression and lethargy. However, the jenny had ataxia, mild colic, tachycardia, tachypnea, and decreased tongue tone. Plasma samples from the jenny on presentation and 3 d following hospitalization were submitted to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to be screened for cannabinoids using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS/MS). A single serum sample from the jack was taken on presentation and submitted to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol analysis using HPLC-MS/MS. THC was detected in all samples. Clinical signs were noted 24-36 h after ingestion, which included mild-to-moderate neurologic deficits, mild colic, tachycardia, tachypnea, and decreased tongue tone. Both donkeys recovered uneventfully within 24 h of peak effects. Utilizing a cannabinoid screening assay in collaboration with a veterinary diagnostic laboratory may be useful when an equine practitioner suspects marijuana toxicosis in a patient.
Publication Date: 2022-01-17 PubMed ID: 35037522PubMed Central: PMC9254068DOI: 10.1177/10406387211064269Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article discusses two cases of suspected marijuana toxicosis in an 8-year-old female and a 20-year-old male American Mammoth donkey, who displayed symptoms related to the condition after consuming cannabis. Both donkeys recovered within 24 hours of peak effects.
Introduction to the Study
- The paper starts by noting the typically familiar presence of marijuana toxicosis in companion animals, seen by veterinarians. However, with an increasing availability of marijuana, the risk of potential toxicosis rises in other species as well.
- The subject of this study are two donkeys — a female and a male — aged 8 and 20 years respectively, that had eaten cannabis buds.
Clinical Manifestations
- Both donkeys were presented due to showing signs of depression and lethargy. Additional symptoms were seen in the female donkey, including ataxia, mild colic, accelerated heart rate and respiratory rate, along with decreased tongue tone.
Laboratory Findings
- Plasma samples, collected from the female during presentation and three days after hospitalization, were sent to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Here, they were screened for the presence of cannabinoids using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS/MS).
- A single serum sample from the male donkey was collected during presentation and sent for Pentagonhydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol analysis to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University.
- ∆-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, was detected in all samples.
Clinical Progress
- The donkeys started to show clinical signs 24-36 hours after they ingested the cannabis. These signs included mild to moderate neurological deficits, mild colic, tachycardia, tachypnea and a decreased tongue tone.
- Both donkeys recovered uneventfully within 24 hours of the peak effects being observed, signaling a successful resolution of the toxicosis.
Conclusion
- The study concludes by highlighting the usefulness of a cannabinoid screening assay in collaboration with a veterinary diagnostic laboratory when suspecting marijuana toxicosis in patients belonging to the equine family.
Cite This Article
APA
Fitzgerald AH, Magnin G, Pace E, Bischoff K, Pinn-Woodcock T, Vin R, Myhre M, Comstock E, Ensley S, Coetzee JF.
(2022).
Marijuana toxicosis in 2 donkeys.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 34(3), 539-542.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211064269 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Myhre Equine Clinic, Rochester, NH, USA.
- Myhre Equine Clinic, Rochester, NH, USA.
- Maple Hill Veterinary Service, Danville, VT, USA.
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cannabinoids / analysis
- Cannabinoids / toxicity
- Cannabis / toxicity
- Colic / veterinary
- Dronabinol / analysis
- Equidae
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Tachypnea / veterinary
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry / veterinary
- United States
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to research,authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Wermer K, Korbacska-Kutasi O, Berkecz R, Csupor D, Ágh N, Sztojkov-Ivanov A, Cserhalmi D. Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol and its two main phase I metabolites in Connemara ponies. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1599934.
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