Updated
Small mammal food safety
Can Small Mammals Eat Cannabis Edibles?
Unsafe
No. Cannabis edibles are exposure risks for small mammals. If any animal ate or chewed a gummy, brownie, chocolate, baked good, oil, or crumb, remove it and call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline now.
EdiblesCall before guessing
If any small mammal ate or chewed a cannabis edible, THC edible, CBD edible, infused food, chocolate edible, or sugar-free edible, remove access and call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline now.
Guinea pigs
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to guinea pigs. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Syrian and dwarf hamsters
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to Syrian and dwarf hamsters. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Rats
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to rats. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Mice
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to mice. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Gerbils
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to gerbils. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Chinchillas
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to chinchillas. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Ferrets
Call if exposed
Do not feed cannabis edibles to ferrets. If an edible, infused food, gummy, brownie, oil, chocolate, or crumb was eaten or chewed, remove access and call with the species, weight, product type, THC or CBD amount if known, other ingredients, time, and symptoms.
Treat it as exposure
The food question is secondary. Cannabis, chocolate, xylitol, caffeine, fat, sugar, and unknown dose all make edibles a call-now situation.
Save the details
Do not throw away the package until you have the ingredient and dose information. Those details help the veterinarian or poison hotline triage the case.
If exposure happened
- Remove the edible, wrapper, crumbs, residue, and contaminated bedding or toys from the habitat and play area.
- Keep the animal contained, quiet, and warm while you call an exotic-pet veterinarian or poison hotline.
- Have the package or recipe ready if available, especially THC, CBD, chocolate, xylitol, caffeine, or alcohol information.
Avoid
- Cannabis gummies, brownies, cookies, chocolate, oils, candies, drinks, baked goods, crumbs, wrappers, and residue.
- Waiting to see whether a tiny animal looks sleepy or normal.
- Trying home remedies, forced feeding, or another food to dilute the exposure unless a veterinarian directs it.
Watch
- Sleepiness, wobbliness, weakness, unusual stillness, agitation, drooling, tremors, breathing changes, reduced appetite, fewer droppings, soft stool, or seizures.
- Call immediately even if signs are not obvious yet; small mammals can worsen quickly after edible exposure.
Helpful food-safety supplies
Optional tools for measuring, storing, serving, and cleaning up small portions safely.
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