PULLMAN, Washington (CBS2) — According to a recent news release, Vanilla, a two-pound ferret, was brought to the Washington State University (WSU) emergency clinic, fighting for her life.

Initially suspected of suffering a serious head injury, veterinarians discovered she had ingested three human-sized cannabis edibles. Using an over-the-counter human test, the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital confirmed high levels of marijuana in her system and treated her with an intravenous lipid emulsion to clear the THC.

Claudia Huerta, lead author of a paper in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Clinical Care, said the frequency of marijuana toxicity in pets is increasing. The Pet Poison Hotline, which takes calls from the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, reported a 448 percent increase in calls about marijuana poisoning between 2017 and 2023, with most cases involving dogs.

Huerta emphasized the importance of pet owners providing veterinarians with accurate information, saying, “We’re not the police. We just want to take care of the pet.” Vanilla’s case underscores the need for caution, as 24 states have legalized recreational cannabis, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion by pets.

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