More US cats and dogs now being exposed to cocaine

The number of pet cats and dogs accidentally exposed to cocaine has increased in a “significant” manner in the U.S. since 2019.

That is the warning of a new study, led by a researcher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), that analyzed data from an animal poison control center. “Animals are highly sensitive to the stimulatory and sympathomimetic effects of cocaine,” the scientists wrote in their paper.

“Any degree of exposure should be considered concerning, as there is severe risk of toxicity and death, even with aggressive medical therapy,” they said.

Cocaine is the most common illegal stimulant in the U.S., estimated to have been used by 1.8 percent of the population last year.

The study was undertaken by UNC social work researcher Orrin Ware and veterinary toxicologist Renee Schmid of the Pet Poison Helpline. The two analyzed potential cat and dog exposures to both cocaine and methamphetamine between 2019 and 2023, as reported to the helpline.

This specialty animal poison control center—which is consulted by pet owners, veterinarians and law enforcement personnel—covers cases across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

The team recorded the animal’s age, weight and location (in either the U.S. or Canada) for each call and analyzed the total number of calls for six types of drug exposure.

These included cats exposed to cocaine, methamphetamine or either of the former and then the same again for dogs. In total, the study involved 63 cats and 433 dogs.

“While we do not have the evidence to explain why more cases involved dogs, we know that more households in Canada and the United States have dogs as pets than cats,” Ware and Schmid told Newsweek. “This larger population of dogs as household pets could represent a larger pool of potential substance exposures than cats.

“In many situations, dogs can be more inquisitive and explore by putting unfamiliar things in their mouths,” they said.

The researchers’ analysis revealed statistically significant increases with time in the number of cats and dogs exposed to cocaine.

“Specifically, the increase across these five years was 52 percent for cats and 39 percent for dogs,” the two said. Similar increases, however, were not seen for methamphetamine.

The two noted that their analysis was limited by exploring only the number of cases reported to the poison helpline—which likely does not represent the true scale of cocaine and methamphetamine exposure in cats and dogs—and not how exposures occurred.

Nevertheless, the team warned that “as harms related to illicit substance use continue to trend upward, recognizing the potentially fatal effects on animals in the surrounding environment may help to minimize exposure to household pets.”

With their initial study complete, Ware and Schmid are now looking to explore other drug classes, examine the symptoms produced by animal poisonings, and see if the increase in cocaine exposure might be linked to increased usage of the drug among the population.

The two also have some advice for cat or dog owners who fear their animal friends may have been exposed to drugs.

“Pet owners should seek immediate care with a veterinarian if there is a concern an animal was exposed to cocaine or methamphetamine,” they said. “Clinical signs can develop rapidly, and any delay in care can be fatal for a pet.

“For households where drugs are present, it is important to keep all items up and out of reach of pets,” they said.

Reference

Ware, O. D., & Schmid, R. (2024). Cat and dog exposures to cocaine or methamphetamine. JAMA Network Open, 7(12). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.51833

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