Canine Cannabis Crisis: Ben Nevis Rescue for Ill Labrador
A Five-Year-Old Dog’s Unfortunate Encounter with Marijuana on Scotland’s Summit Trail
Sandego.net – A black Labrador retriever required emergency assistance after contracting a severe illness from ingesting cannabis while hiking on Ben Nevis, the tallest peak in the United Kingdom. Tokyo, a five-year-old dog, began showing signs of distress several hours into her journey up the Scottish mountain last Sunday, eventually losing consciousness completely. Her owner, Christina Bluhme, shared the dramatic story with CNN on Monday, explaining how her normally energetic pet had been enjoying treats and water before everything changed.
The family excursion included Bluhme, who works as a professional dog trainer, alongside her seventeen-year-old son Magnus and their two-year-old golden Labrador named Blaze. The group was trekking together when they noticed Tokyo becoming increasingly weak in her hind legs as they neared the summit. The mountain rises to an impressive 4,413 feet, which equals 1,345 meters above sea level.
“She’d been so happy eating treats and drinking and had been her very active normal self,” Bluhme explained to reporters.
Approximately one hour before reaching the summit, Bluhme observed Tokyo struggling significantly. At first, she suspected a spinal injury or slipped disc caused by the strenuous climb. However, the situation worsened rapidly as her dog began drifting in and out of awareness. Standing alone on that mountain, Bluhme feared the worst might happen to her beloved pet.
Attempting to carry Tokyo down proved challenging given the dog’s weight of 24 kilograms, or 53 pounds. Heavy rainfall made the descent even more difficult for the exhausted owner. A passing hiker recommended contacting emergency services, which quickly sent mountain rescue personnel to help. Fortunately, volunteers from the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team were already nearby after responding to another emergency at the summit.
“They put her on a stretcher, I grabbed one side and we got her down the mountain,” Bluhme recounted the rescue operation.
Once safely lowered from the peak, Bluhme transported Tokyo to a veterinary clinic. The attending veterinarian immediately identified the symptoms as neurotoxicity rather than simple pain. Blood tests confirmed the diagnosis, and something particularly telling occurred during the examination. When the vet took Tokyo’s temperature, the dog released gas that carried a distinct cannabis aroma.
“What really gave it away was when she had her temperature taken she let out some gas and it smelled completely like cannabis. It was almost like standing beside someone smoking weed,” Bluhme described from her home in Surrey, located in southeastern England.
The Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team documented the incident on Facebook over the weekend, noting they had been summoned to assist a collapsed canine. They confirmed that Tokyo has since made a complete recovery. The rescue team added that Tokyo is typically a very fit and active working dog, making her sudden illness all the more surprising.
At Crown Vets in Fort William, veterinary staff provided Tokyo with an intravenous infusion and administered activated charcoal to help absorb the toxins from her system. When Bluhme visited the clinic the following day to retrieve her pet, Tokyo appeared much improved. She was wagging her tail enthusiastically and seemed eager to resume normal activities.
“She was wagging her tail very happily and was ready to go. And the day after you wouldn’t have thought that this had happened to her,” Bluhme noted with relief.
The veterinarian informed Bluhme, who had never encountered a case of canine cannabis consumption before, that Tokyo likely consumed an edible treat dropped along the hiking trail. Alternatively, the dog may have ingested human waste containing cannabis residues. Bluhme has since received numerous messages from fellow animal enthusiasts reporting similar incidents with their own dogs.
A Valuable Lesson for Dog Owners
Reflecting on the experience, Bluhme acknowledged she had previously underestimated the importance of monitoring what her dogs sniff and forage. Dogs naturally love exploring their environment with their noses, but this incident has made her more vigilant about potential hazards. She plans to be more careful about what Tokyo and other dogs put into their mouths during outdoor adventures in the future.
