Dog rescued from Ben Nevis after suspected cannabis ingestion

A black Labrador named Tokyo had to be rescued from Ben Nevis on Saturday after collapsing roughly halfway up the UK’s highest mountain, with vets now suspecting she had eaten discarded cannabis left on the trail by a previous walker.

Sudden collapse on the mountain path

Tokyo and her owner had set out on what was meant to be a straightforward hike up the 1,345-metre peak near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. But around the halfway point, the three-year-old dog simply stopped. She couldn’t stand properly, her eyes were glazed, and her coordination had gone entirely. Her owner, clearly alarmed, called for help almost immediately.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team responded to the call and reached Tokyo within two hours. The dog was carried down the mountain on a stretcher — a rescue that team members said took considerable effort given the terrain and the dog’s 30-kilogram frame.

Vets suspect cannabis was the culprit

Once Tokyo reached the veterinary clinic in Fort William, staff ran a series of assessments. Her symptoms — the disorientation, the inability to stand, the glazed expression — were consistent with cannabis toxicity in dogs. Vets believe she likely found and ate a discarded joint or a portion of an edible left on the trail, possibly without her owner even noticing.

Cannabis ingestion is more common in dogs than many people realise. Dogs are drawn to the smell, and they don’t exactly exercise restraint. Symptoms typically appear within 30 to 90 minutes of ingestion and can include vomiting, tremors, and in more serious cases, seizures.

Tokyo was kept under observation overnight and was discharged the following morning. She is, by all accounts, completely fine.

A growing concern on popular hiking routes

This isn’t an isolated incident. Rescue teams and vets across Scotland have noted a steady uptick in cases involving dogs falling ill on popular trails, and litter — including drug paraphernalia — left behind by walkers is frequently cited as the cause.

A spokesperson for Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team said: “We’re asking people to be responsible and take their litter home. What gets discarded on a mountain doesn’t just stay there — it can seriously harm animals and create entirely avoidable emergency callouts.”

And those callouts aren’t cheap. Each mountain rescue operation in Scotland costs an estimated £1,500 to £3,000 when volunteer time and equipment are factored in.

What happens next

Tokyo’s owner has been advised to keep a closer eye on what the dog sniffs and picks up on future walks, particularly on busy public trails. Vets recommend that any dog showing sudden signs of disorientation or loss of coordination after a walk be seen immediately — cannabis toxicity is treatable, but time matters.

Ben Nevis attracts around 125,000 visitors every year. With that kind of footfall, keeping the mountain clean isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about safety — for people and their dogs.