A routine morning walk through a North Hollywood neighborhood became a nightmare for a couple after they discovered their dog had accidentally ingested methamphetamine.
After returning home from a walk, Carla Vicuña said she noticed her 4-year-old German Shepherd-Husky mix, named Atreyu, acting strangely.
“He wasn’t able to settle down,” she recalled. “His eyes were moving in a strange way.”
Vicuña and her husband rushed their dog to the vet, who began checking his vitals.
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Carla Vicuña and Atreyu meet with KTLA’s Annie Rose Ramos on November 5, 2025. (KTLA) -
The alley near Carla Vicuña’s apartment in North Hollywood, where Atrio consumed methamphetamine during his routine morning walk. (blocks) -
Carla Vicuña said she is grateful that her dog Atreyu, a 4-year-old German Shepherd Husky, is recovering after he accidentally ingested methamphetamine during a routine walk in her North Hollywood neighborhood. (blocks)
“His heart rate was very high and he was panting a lot and couldn’t stabilize,” Vicuña said. “He had a fever of 103 degrees.”
All evidence showed that Atreyu had toxins in his system. The vet gave the dog a drug test and it came back positive for methamphetamine. Her husband believes Atreyu likely consumed it while walking home through the neighborhood alley.
“It’s easier to [my husband] “To go back through the alley to our apartment and see Atreyu picking something up, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He ate it super fast.”
Dr. Ezra Amis is a veterinarian and owner paw priority in los angeles, He said he’s seeing an alarming increase in cases of pets accidentally ingesting drugs.
He added: “Every few days I see a case like this.” “Anywhere there might be people using drugs, they might drop things that animals could eat.”
Vicuña said the incident marked the second time her dog had accidentally ingested drugs while walking outside.
“It happened a few months ago with weeds in the garden,” she said. “At the time, it was the opposite. He was very sleepy. He was trying to stand up and then he was urinating himself.”
Ames points out that these accidents, especially when you live in a big city, are more likely to happen. He advises all pet owners to remain alert and that “establishing a good relationship with the vet is a good idea.”
If a dog consumes a narcotic substance like methamphetamine, Ames said the consequences could be fatal.
“A dog could definitely die from a methamphetamine overdose,” he explained. “The real devil is in the details, like how much they put in and the size of the dog.
Vicuña said she hopes that by sharing her story, it can help other pet parents know what to look for and what to do if their pets accidentally ingest drugs or toxins.
Learn more about how to spot signs and symptoms of pet drug poisoning It can be found here.