Daily Dose Q&A
2025-09-18
How does THC impact the heart rate of humans? Of cats? Of dogs?
While THC has been shown to cause tachycardia and postural hypotension in humans, THC causes bradycardia in anesthetized dogs and cats.Alexander JC, Joshi GP. A review of the anesthetic implications of marijuana use. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019;32(3):364-371. Published 2019 May 21. doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1603034
2025-09-17
Does THC cause respiratory depression in humans and in cats?
Interestingly, THC does not cause respiratory depression in adult humans, but it does cause respiratory depression in cats.Alexander JC, Joshi GP. A review of the anesthetic implications of marijuana use. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019;32(3):364-371. Published 2019 May 21. doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1603034
2025-09-16
Does THC lead to bronchodilation in humans and in dogs?
THC administration may lead to bronchodilation in humans, but causes an increase in lung resistance in dogs. Alexander JC, Joshi GP. A review of the anesthetic implications of marijuana use. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019;32(3):364-371. Published 2019 May 21. doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1603034
2025-09-15
Are the physiologic effects of THC in humans very similar to the physiologic effects of THC in animals?
In many instances, the effects of THC in humans are NOT similar to the effects of THC in animals. In fact, there are significant interspecies differences in the physiologic changes associated with THC administration. As a result, extrapolation of findings in animal studies to human care may not be appropriate. Alexander JC, Joshi GP. A review of the anesthetic implications of marijuana use. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019;32(3):364-371. Published 2019 May 21. doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1603034
2025-09-12
Does THC administration alter gastric emptying?
Yes. According to a double blind randomized controlled study of human volunteers, gastric emptying of solid food was slowed due to THC administration from an average of 30 minutes to 120 minutes. This, in turn, may impact the administration of anesthesia and increase the risk of aspiration.Horvath C, Dalley CB, Grass N, Tola DH. Marijuana Use in the Anesthetized Patient: History, Pharmacology, and Anesthetic Considerations. AANA J. 2019 Dec;87(6):451-458. PMID: 31920198. and McCallum RW, Soykan I, Sridhar KR, Ricci DA, Lange RC, Plankey MW. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol delays the gastric emptying of solid food in humans: a double-blind, randomized study. Aliment Pharm Ther. 1999;13(1):77-80.