As marijuana legalization expands across the U.S., accidental pet exposures are becoming more common—and costly. According to data from pet health insurance provider Trupanion, there have been 1,852 marijuana toxicity-related claims in dogs and cats over the past five years. These incidents typically occur when pets ingest edibles, marijuana plants, or baked goods containing cannabis intended for humans. Pets, especially dogs and cats, have more cannabinoid receptors than people, making them more sensitive to even small amounts of marijuana. Symptoms of toxicity usually appear within 30 minutes to a few hours and may last up to 72 hours. Common signs include difficulty walking, dilated pupils, vomiting (especially in cats), lethargy, heightened sensory perception, and urinary incontinence. Trupanion’s data highlights states with the highest number of claims since 2020. California leads with 428 cases, followed by Massachusetts (185), New York (164), and Florida (151)—notably, the only state in the top tier where recreational marijuana is not legal. State Claims in 2024 Claims since 2020 Avg. Claim Cost (2024) California 96 428 $810 Colorado 10 84 $705 Connecticut 8 43 $585 Florida 41 151 $517 Massachusetts 40 185 $733 New Jersey 24 124 $747 New York 29 164 $833 Oregon 10 59 $580 Washington 27 108 $561 Veterinarians can take this data to help urge pet owners to store marijuana products safely and to seek immediate veterinary care if exposure is suspected. Trupanion notes the route of exposure matters: chocolate edibles may require treatment for both marijuana and chocolate toxicity, while inhalation may call for respiratory support. For more information, visit the Trupanion website.
