The case of the coke-snorting Chihuahua

In the end, the chihuahua recovered nicely, and the vets advised the owners to fit him out with a basket muzzle when he was not being actively monitored, to protect the dog from its impulse to eat bad things. The case is interesting in part because of the dog’s low heart rate in response to the cocaine; the drug typically causes the heart rate to race much faster than normal. “The net cardiovascular effect of cocaine in canines remains complex,” the authors concluded, calling for further research into the long-term effects on the cardiovascular system for dogs accidentally ingesting the drug.”

Per Johnson, there are several common-sense preventive measures dog owners can take to protect their pets. For instance, keep your dog on a leash during walks and monitor anything the animal happens to pick up and/or consume. Training dogs to respond promptly to commands like “leave it!” or “drop it!” are also valuable and could potentially save an animal’s life. And if your dog does happens to ingest cocaine or similar substances despite these efforts, take them to the vet immediately and be completely honest about the circumstances—yes, even if the drugs were yours.

“A major misconception in toxicology research, particularly with illicit substances, is that veterinarians will judge owners or report them to authorities if they admit their pet may have ingested drugs,” said Johnson. “This fear prevents crucial information sharing that could save lives. Being honest about potential exposure can be lifesaving. The more information you can provide about what, when, and how much your pet may have consumed, the better we can tailor treatment and monitor for specific complications. What matters most is getting your pet immediate help, not assigning blame.”

DOI: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025. 10.3389/fvets.2025.1622850  (About DOIs).