SEATTLE — A Seattle woman is warning other pet owners about the potential dangers of fentanyl on city streets after she says her dog accidentally overdosed on the drug.
Emma Green says her three-month-old miniature schnauzer, Dunkin, licked a blue pill that was on the front steps of her South Lake Union apartment.
"We saw a blue pill with markings that were indicative of a fentanyl pill," said Green, who says they were on the way to puppy training when the incident happened.
"Within 2 minutes he is limp in my arms he is whimpering and panting," said Green about the ordeal adding, "I thought we were going to lose him."
Beyond the stress of seeing Dunkin in such a dark state, it took Green and her boyfriend time to find a veterinary clinic that was open on a Sunday and that had Naloxone or Narcan.
"What was unique in this situation is that the owner saw it and so they were able to tell us right away what happened," said Dr. Beth Davidow with Timberline Veterinary Emergency and Specialty.
"We were just lucky we were able to identify what it was and that Dunkin didn't swallow the whole pill because if he had he likely would have died," said Green who moved to Seattle less than a year ago and says the entire ordeal was a wake-up call.
Last year, drug overdoses claimed the lives of 26 people just in the South Lake Union neighborhood alone. Those along with 22 in Capitol Hill and 98 in neighboring Downtown collectively make up 16% of all overdose deaths in King County, according to the King County Medical Examiner's Office.
"I think it's really unfortunate that we have to be on high alert when we're doing something as simple as taking our dog for a walk," said Green who now carries Narcan as a backup.
According to Dr. Davidow, Narcan dosage depends on many factors like the size and breed of the dog so the best bet is to stay alert and have a number for a 24-hour vet clinic handy.
"We don't often know what's in these drugs, how much is in these drugs," said Dr. Davidow, who also says the veterinary community is becoming more versed on fentanyl overdose symptoms so they are able to treat them faster.
Symptoms include looking lethargic, being hard to rouse, breathing shallowly, having a slowed heart rate, and potentially cold to the touch.