Veterinarian says pets don't like getting high

MELBOURNE, July 11 (UPI) -- An Australian veterinarian who treats about a dozen dogs and cats each year for ingesting marijuana says pets don't like getting high.

"A lot of it is deliberate drugging by people making cannabis cookies and cake and giving some to their pets thinking it will be OK for the animal to eat it," said Dr Neil Howard of Melbourne. "But what people don't seem to realize is that it's not good for the dog and it doesn't enjoy it, so don't do it. (But) it's not a malicious or cruel thing people are doing to their pets."

Howard said the marijuana doesn't cause the animals any pain and the only treatment is to allow the pets to "sleep off" the drug, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported.

However, the veterinarian said stoned pets might be in danger because of their dazed and confused state of mind.

"As is often the case down here, people take their dogs for walks on cliff tops and if a dog is stoned and is let off the lead, it could be in danger of falling off a cliff," he said.