Imagine hiking up a breathtaking mountain path, the air is crisp, your dog is happily trotting ahead, and everything feels perfect. Then, without warning, your healthy pet starts stumbling like a drunkard. Within minutes, her back legs give out entirely. She begins slipping in and out of consciousness right there on the steep, cold rock.
This nightmare became reality for Christina Bluhme, a professional dog trainer from Surrey, during a climb up Ben Nevis in early July 2026. Her five-year-old black Labrador, Tokyo, was a fit, active working dog. Mid-hike, Tokyo collapsed.
She had eaten discarded cannabis left behind by hikers.
It took a team of 14 mountain rescue volunteers to carry the 25-kilogram dog down Britain’s highest peak on a stretcher. The story is making headlines, but it points to a much larger, incredibly frustrating trend that park rangers and veterinarians are seeing globally. If you hike with your dog, you need to know what happened on that mountain, why cannabis affects dogs so differently than humans, and how to protect your pet on the trail.
The Terrifying Ben Nevis Emergency That Caught a Dog Trainer Off Guard
Christina Bluhme knows dogs. As a professional trainer, she understands canine behavior, physical limits, and trail safety. But nothing prepared her for what happened halfway up the 1,345-meter peak of Ben Nevis.
Tokyo had been acting completely normal, enjoying treats, drinking water, and keeping a steady pace. Suddenly, about an hour from the summit, the Labrador began to sway. Her hind legs weakened until she could no longer stand.
At first, Bluhme feared a catastrophic spinal injury, like a slipped disc from the steep climb. But then Tokyo began losing consciousness. Standing on a remote, rocky mountainside with a completely unresponsive 25kg dog, Bluhme felt helpless.
Fortunately, a passing hiker suggested calling emergency services. Volunteers from the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team had just wrapped up another rescue nearby. They quickly mobilized, strapped the unconscious Labrador to a stretcher, and spent an hour carrying her down the rugged descent.
Once at Crown Vets in Fort William, the puzzle pieces came together. Tokyo had not suffered a physical injury; she was suffering from acute neurotoxicity. She had eaten discarded cannabis or a cannabis-infused edible left behind on the trail.
Why THC is Highly Dangerous to Your Dog
Many people assume that because cannabis is relatively safe for human recreational use, the worst it will do to a dog is make them sleepy or hungry. That is a flat-out lie.
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is highly toxic to dogs. While humans enjoy the psychoactive effects, a dog's biological response is dramatically different and incredibly severe.
Slower Metabolism and Brain Chemistry
Dogs have a significantly higher number of cannabinoid receptors in their brains compared to humans. This means their brains are far more sensitive to THC. When a dog ingests cannabis, the chemical binds to these receptors with intense strength, overwhelming their neurological system.
On top of that, dogs metabolize THC much slower than we do. While a human might process a dose in a few hours, a dog’s liver and digestive system struggle to break it down, extending the toxicity and keeping them in a state of severe poisoning for a dangerous length of time.
The Concentrated Danger of Edibles
Raw plant material is bad enough, but cannabis edibles—like brownies, cookies, or gummies—are far worse. First, they contain concentrated levels of THC. Second, they often feature other highly toxic ingredients like chocolate or the artificial sweetener xylitol.
Labradors, famously driven by their stomachs, will vacuum up anything that smells vaguely like food. A discarded chocolate weed brownie on a trail is a double-strike of poison that can quickly become fatal without immediate medical intervention.
How to Spot Cannabis Toxicity in Your Pet
If your dog consumes cannabis on a hike, you might not see them eat it. They slip into the brush for a second, gulp something down, and keep walking. You only realize something is wrong when the symptoms set in, usually one to three hours later.
Keep a sharp eye out for these telltale signs:
- Loss of coordination: The dog will begin swaying, wobbling, or crossing their legs while walking, a condition known as ataxia.
- Urinary incontinence: This is one of the most classic signs. High dogs will often leak urine uncontrollably while standing or lying down.
- Extreme lethargy: The dog may appear completely sedated, struggle to lift their head, or drift in and out of consciousness.
- Hypersensitivity: They might flinch violently at sudden sounds, bright lights, or unexpected touches despite being heavily sedated.
- Dilated pupils: Their eyes will look glassy, wide, and vacant.
- Abnormal heart rate and temperature drops: In severe cases, their heart rate can spike or plummet, and their body temperature will drop dangerously low.
The Reality of Trailside Toxins and Litter
It is easy to think of mountain peaks and wilderness reserves as pristine, untouched sanctuaries. Sadly, they aren't. As outdoor recreation has surged, so has the amount of trash left behind.
While some hikers leave behind plastic bottles and food wrappers, others leave behind discarded drugs, joint roaches, and even human waste. In fact, veterinary toxicology experts note that dogs frequently ingest THC by consuming human feces left near trails by hikers who used cannabis. It is a disgusting reality, but one that trail users must face.
The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team operates on volunteer power. On the day Tokyo collapsed, the team was dealing with three other simultaneous emergency call-outs. Littering does not just ruin the view; it stretches emergency services to their absolute limits and puts lives, both human and animal, in serious danger.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats Something Toxic Mid-Hike
If you suspect your dog has eaten cannabis or any other trailside toxin, do not wait for them to "sleep it off." Take immediate action.
1. Assess and Stabilize
If your dog is conscious but wobbly, keep them calm and warm. Cannabis poisoning often causes a dog's body temperature to drop. Wrap them in a jacket or space blanket.
2. Do Not Induce Vomiting Without Expert Advice
If your dog is already showing neurological signs like swaying or semi-consciousness, inducing vomiting can cause them to inhale the vomit into their lungs, leading to asphyxiation or aspiration pneumonia. Only induce vomiting if a vet explicitly instructs you to do so over the phone.
3. Contact Help Immediately
If you are miles out in the backcountry, call an emergency vet right away to explain the situation. If the dog is too heavy to carry and completely immobilized, you may need to contact local park rangers or search and rescue teams, though you should always try to self-rescue if safely possible.
4. Veterinary Treatment
Once at the clinic, vets will typically administer activated charcoal to bind the remaining toxins in the stomach. They will also put the dog on IV fluids to flush the kidneys, monitor their heart rate, and keep them warm and hydrated. In Tokyo's case, this rapid treatment saved her life, allowing her to make a full recovery by the very next day.
Next Steps for Responsible Trail Hiking With Dogs
Keep your dog safe on your next outdoor adventure by practicing a few simple habits:
- Master the leave it command: Your dog should instantly drop whatever they have in their mouth on your cue. If they do not have a bulletproof "leave it," keep them on a short leash.
- Use a pet first-aid kit: Carry a basic emergency kit that includes self-adhesive bandages, a space blanket, and a rescue sling or harness designed for carrying larger dogs in an emergency.
- Watch the trailside brush: Be especially vigilant around popular rest stops, summit viewpoints, and trailside campsites where hikers are most likely to discard trash, food, or drugs.
- Pack in and pack out: If you use cannabis or any medication on the trail, secure it in zippered, scent-proof containers and dispose of your trash responsibly. Protect the wilderness and the animals that call it home.
