Dogs, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll

Pet Toxicology Experts Launch New "Lifesavers" Campaign

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor concerts and other festivals are often full of joy, excitement and positive energy, but they can also be a very dangerous place for pets.

"Just last month we received a call from a mother who picked her daughter up from a music festival and decided to bring the daughter's Pomeranian named Rocky along for the ride," said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. "The festival had a very clear no-pets policy, which is why the daughter had not taken Rocky with her to the outdoor event."

Once the mother arrived at the location, Rocky started exploring other nearby campsites while the daughter finished packing up.

"After a few minutes of roaming, Rocky started vomiting," Dr. Schmid continued. "The daughter took the dog home for a nap. When she woke up, she didn't think Rocky was sleeping normally so she took him to the veterinary hospital, and they called us for help with this complicated case."

Rocky was taken to Eagleson Veterinary Clinic in Kanata, Ontario, Canada. It turned out that Rocky was having a similar experience to many rock stars – he tested positive for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound in marijuana), cocaine and amphetamines.

"Rocky had somehow come in contact with multiple drugs that can be fatal, especially to a small Pomeranian," Dr. Schmid explained. "In addition to THC and cocaine, Rocky tested positive for a combination of amphetamines."

By the time Rocky arrived at the veterinary hospital, he was already unaware of his surroundings, was hypothermic (decreased body temperature), bradycardia (decreased heart rate), and was hypotensive (low blood pressure). The hospital team began to aggressively treat Rocky for his symptoms, whose clinical profile was most consistent with THC ingestion. Rocky was started on intravenous fluids to help with his low blood pressure and offer cardiovascular support. The hospital staff also worked to increase his body temperature and gave reversal agents for an opioid and benzodiazepine overdose to help Rocky's alertness in case he had been exposed to those types of drugs as well.

Urine drug screen results can be inaccurate in animals due to differences between animals and humans, making it important to treat the pet's symptoms, not necessarily the test results. Additional medication was given to manage Rocky's low heart rate as well as additional therapy to help improve removal of the toxin from Rocky's body.

"The hospital's medical team, working in conjunction with Pet Poison Helpline toxicology experts, developed an aggressive treatment plan that saved Rocky's life," Dr. Schmid said. "In fact, we're using this case to launch our new Lifesavers promotional campaign, because everyone involved in the process had a hand in saving him. The pet owner was observant and took Rocky to the hospital, saving his life. The hospital team knew the symptoms involved potential toxins, so they called Pet Poison Helpline for assistance, saving Rocky's life. Every person who helped Rocky along the way is his lifesaver."

The Lifesaver campaign will include tradeshow creative and messaging elements, as well as a new social media campaign featuring lifesaving cases and stories. All of this will complement the team's current educational Toxin Tails campaign. If you have had a lifesaver experience with Pet Poison Helpline, visit here to tell your story.

About Pet Poison Helpline 
Pet Poison Helpline®, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Per incident and subscription service options are available. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership and expertise. Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $89 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. The company also offers pethelpline^(SM) and pethelplinePRO^(SM) subscription services directly to pet lovers. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information, including a chat feature for pet owners, can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Contact: Curtis Steinhoff
Pet Poison Helpline®
(602) 300-8466
[email protected]

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SOURCE Pet Poison Helpline