A black Labrador was stretchered down Britain's highest peak after collapsing from suspected cannabis ingestion, highlighting the dangers of discarded drugs on hiking trails.
Christina Bluhme, a dog trainer from Surrey, was halfway up Ben Nevis last weekend when her dog Tokyo lost use of her legs and drifted in and out of consciousness. The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team carried the unconscious animal down the 4,413ft peak to Crown Vets in Fort William. Vets believe Tokyo ingested cannabis left on the trail and the dog made a full recovery the following day.
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to cannabis because their brains contain more cannabinoid receptors than humans, with symptoms appearing within 30 to 90 minutes and including loss of balance, inability to stand, and dilated pupils. A similar incident occurred in Somerset in 2024 when two dogs became ill after consuming waste containing cannabis.