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Record numbers of dogs are eating drugs found on walks, even in the woods

By David

A call a day about pets and drugs

A record number of pets in the UK are eating recreational drugs and needing a vet, the Guardian reported on 11 October. Most are dogs, and many found the drugs on a walk.

The figures come from the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), which runs the UK's only emergency poison lines for animals: one for vets, and the Animal PoisonLine for owners.

What the figures show

  • Calls about pets eating recreational drugs and nicotine went up 42% in 2025, from 445 in 2024 to 633.
  • That's about one call a day, and 87% more cases than in 2021.
  • Most calls are about nicotine products and cannabis.
  • The head of the service, Dr Nicola Robinson, said: "We're very busy at the moment, so I expect we'll have a record year again this year."

Owners told the service their dogs had eaten vomit or faeces left by drug users, abandoned food laced with drugs, discarded nicotine gum and vaping fluid.

Dr Robinson said: "It's amazing how many pets get it in a public place – in an alleyway, a public park or even in quite rural places like the woods." A vet from the insurer Waggel told the Guardian that "highly food-motivated breeds like labradors, golden retrievers and beagles are most at risk".

What it can look like

The Guardian described a labrador called Tokyo who ate cannabis while climbing Ben Nevis. Her owner said she lost the use of her back legs, swayed and drifted in and out of consciousness. She couldn't control her bladder and her body temperature dropped. She was carried down by mountain rescue and made a full recovery after treatment, with a vet's bill of £1,121.

Another owner described her dog's legs sliding out from under her before she collapsed, after she'd been rooting in bushes in a Cambridge cemetery. She recovered after an overnight stay at the emergency vet.

What to do if you think your dog has eaten something

Dr Robinson's advice for drugs is clear: "Go to the vets and let the vet ring and get treatment advice if they need it." Don't lose time calling the poison line first.

For other worries, the Animal PoisonLine is a 24-hour line run by vets and poisons specialists, on 01202 509 000. It charges £35 a call on weekdays from 8am to 8pm and £45 at other times. It says that if your dog has collapsed, is fitting or is having trouble breathing, you should contact your vet straight away instead.

Why this matters in the Forest of Dean

What follows is my own view, not something the Guardian or VPIS said.

It's easy to think this is a city problem. It isn't. Car parks, picnic spots and quiet lay-bys get plenty of visitors, and not all of them tidy up after themselves. A dog's nose finds a dropped edible or a bit of nicotine gum long before you do, and it's gone in a second.

The danger isn't the woods. It's not seeing what your dog just ate.

  • Be extra careful at the start and end of a walk. Car parks, benches and the edges of picnic areas are where most rubbish gathers. Keep your dog close there.
  • Teach "leave it" and swap. A dog that drops something for a better treat is a safer dog.
  • Know your dog's normal. Wobbling, dribbling urine, being unusually sleepy or jumpy after a walk are reasons to ring your vet, and to be honest with them about what your dog might have eaten.
  • Save the vet's number in your phone, along with the nearest out-of-hours practice.

What a Forest Hounds walk looks like

  • One dog, so I see what your dog is sniffing and what goes in their mouth.
  • Leads on through car parks and picnic areas, where most rubbish is.
  • I carry high-value treats so a swap is always worth it for your dog.
  • If I see your dog eat something I'm unsure of, I'll tell you straight away, and if they seem unwell, I'll call you and get them to a vet.

Book a solo walk

Forest Hounds covers Cinderford, Coleford, Drybrook, Edge End, Goodrich, Lydney, Parkend, Speech House and the villages between. Solo walks are £30, and the meet and greet at your home is free.

Email [email protected] to arrange one.

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