Following her dog’s illness from consuming human waste that was contaminated with opioids and marijuana at a city park, a dog owner is warning others. With quick action, the Himalayan Sheepdog Poodle Mix made a speedy recovery. The concerned San Francisco resident now hopes to bring awareness to the stinky, but common occurrence.
Pet owner shares warning to other residents
After her dog, Pockets, became ill after consuming human feces contaminated with marijuana and opioids at a local park, Jackie Shepard is warning other city residents. Earlier this week, Shepard and her one-year-old Himalayan Sheepdog Poodle Mix enjoyed a beautiful day at Fort Mason near the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately, the curious pup decided to eat something she found nearby.
“I noticed she was eating something, so I ran over to see what she was eating and, unfortunately, it was poop,” Shepard told ABC 7 News.
At first, Shepard didn’t feel a cause for alarm. Although a foul situation, there was no indication of an emergency. It wasn’t until a few hours later that Shepard realized there was a serious problem.
“At about 8 o’clock, she was wobbling, and her tail was down. Something was definitely wrong with her,” Shepard stated. She soon rushed Pockets to the vet, where the ill pup received medical treatment. Emergency room records revealed that Pockets had signs of marijuana intoxication and had painkillers in her bloodstream.
Dog consumption of opioid-tainted waste a common occurrence
While this information alone would have been terrifying, the veterinarian’s response was also a cause for concern. And for many residents, a surprise.
“Essentially, the doctor on that night told me this was relatively common, and she sees it a few times a week,” Shepard said. Fortunately, the dog did not consume opioid-contaminated human waste enough to need Narcan. If the dose had been bigger or Shepard had not sought out treatment, the pup may have suffered liver or kidney damage.
A relieved, but concerned Shepard says she’ll keep an even closer watch on her pup from now own. By sharing her story, she hopes others will do the same.
“There are so many people with dogs who probably don’t know this is a threat to their dogs, so I wanted to share to spread awareness people can be really careful and watch out for symptoms of this.”
How to prepare in case of medical emergency
Unfortunately, medical illnesses or injuries can happen to your dog without notice. It’s always a good idea to have your veterinarian’s info nearby, as well as the closest emergency pet hospital. If you sense something is wrong, contact your vet immediately.
You can learn more about how to prepare for emergencies here.
