As a pet owner, you may be curious if veterinarians can drug test your dog. After all, when humans need to take a drug test for employment purposes, medical care, or other reasons, why wouldn’t that apply to our four-legged friends? It’s a fair question, given the growing prevalence of recreational and medical marijuana in the United States, as well as the potential for other drugs to be found in a canine’s system. But the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. The truth is, there are a variety of factors that come into play when it comes to drug testing in dogs and the decision is ultimately up to the discretion of your veterinarian. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the ins and outs of veterinary drug testing and what to expect if your vet recommends it for your pet.
Explore by Topic:
A client arrives at your clinic with sudden onset neurologic symptoms, and the owner acknowledges that the dog may have been exposed to drugs.
What if the results of an over-the-counter urine drug test aren’t what you expected?
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center explains the specifics of urine drug tests and how to interpret them in order to get the most accurate results.
In veterinary medicine, an OTC urine drug screen can be a helpful diagnostic tool when treating toxicity or suspected toxicity cases. The tests are readily available, affordable and offer rapid results.
Its important to know when best to use them. They can be helpful when:
Most of the information available regarding these tests are based on literature from humans. One study with dogs did show that at least one type of urine drug screen correctly identified barbiturates, opiates, benzodiazepines and amphetamines/methamphetamines. This study also found that neither the OTC test nor gas chromatography mass spectrometry at standard settings identified methadone or marijuana in dogs known to have been exposed.
Although the precise cause of these false negatives is unknown, one explanation could be that dogs produce different metabolites than those that are typically tested for in humans.
False positives can make testing a challenge. False positive results in humans are frequently caused by drugs with a structural similarity to the drug being tested for Here are some instances where false positives based on human data might happen:
False positives are not the only potential complicating factor. For the drug to be present in the patient’s urine, the patient must have been exposed to a sufficient amount of the drug and enough time must have passed since the exposure. Additionally, specimen handling must be taken into account because some drugs, such as THC, may stick to glass or rubber.
Read the Top 5 Tips for Treating Illicit Drug Exposures and watch a free, archived webinar by the APCC on the Toxicology of Illicit Drug Exposures for additional information.
We have lots more on this subject:
Use of over-the-counter urine drug tests made for people can identify canine exposure to illegal drugs quickly and easily. These tests are affordable ($10 to $35), easily accessible at pharmacies, quick (2 to 5 minutes for results), and simple to use. Many drugs such as benzodiazepines (i. e. Valium), barbiturates (i. e. Phenobarbital), amphetamines, methamphetamine, and opiates (i. e. heroin or morphine) can be accurately tested for in dogs. Unfortunately, testing for marijuana in dogs using human urine drug tests is not very effective. When dogs consume marijuana, test results are frequently misinterpreted as negative. These drug screens have not been closely evaluated in cats. Advertisement.
For pet owners and veterinary professionals who need assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet, the Pet Poison Helpline is a service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can offer treatment recommendations for poisoning cases involving all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals, and exotic species. Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident, which it charges as the most reasonably priced option for animal poison control care, includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poisoning case. It is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at.
How do vets collect urine from dog?
Urine is drawn from the bladder using a clean needle and syringe. Urine is drawn out of the full bladder and placed directly into the sterile syringe after the needle has been inserted through the abdominal wall.
FAQ
Can a vet drug test a dog?
Many drugs such as benzodiazepines (i. e. Valium), barbiturates (i. e. Phenobarbital), amphetamines, methamphetamine, and opiates (i. e. heroin or morphine) can be accurately tested for in dogs. Unfortunately, testing for marijuana in dogs using human urine drug tests is not very effective.
How long does drugs stay in a dog’s system?
Ingestion is the common route for animal exposures. Most animals recover within 12 hours, and symptoms can appear in as little as 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Can drug test detect dog urine?
No, dog urine cannot be used for a drug test. Although drug metabolites can be found in urine, there is no known way to do so with dog urine.
How accurate are drug tests for dogs?
The kits are helpful in emergencies and can be used with patients who are animals. These kits are reliable for amphetamines/methamphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, and benzodiazepines. Results for cocaine, PCP, and tetrahydrocannabinol are unreliable when using these kits.