07/15/2026
Tokyo was supposed to be enjoying a mountain hike with her family.
The 5-year-old black Labrador was climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, the highest mountain in the UK, with her owner Christina Bluhme, Christina’s 17-year-old son Magnus, and their 2-year-old golden Labrador, Blaze.
For the first part of the hike, Tokyo seemed completely normal. She was eating treats, drinking, and acting like her usual active self. But as they got closer to the peak, about an hour from the top, something changed.
Tokyo suddenly became weak in her back legs. At first, Christina feared it might be a spinal injury from the climb. Then Tokyo began drifting in and out of consciousness.
Standing on the mountain in heavy rain, Christina thought she might lose her dog.
She tried to carry Tokyo down herself, but Tokyo weighed about 53 pounds, and the conditions made it nearly impossible. A fellow hiker suggested calling emergency services, and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was dispatched.
Luckily, volunteers were already nearby after another call at the summit. They placed Tokyo on a stretcher and helped carry her down the mountain so Christina could get her to a vet.
At the clinic, the vet recognized signs of neurotoxicity. Tokyo was treated with IV fluids and activated charcoal, and her owner later said it was suspected she had consumed cannabis, possibly from something dropped on the trail.
By the next day, Tokyo was wagging her tail again.
Her owner now hopes other dog parents take the warning seriously. Dogs love to sniff, forage, and grab things before we even notice, but one careless piece of human waste or an edible left behind can become a medical emergency.
Tokyo was lucky.
And thanks to rescuers, hikers, and quick veterinary care, she got to come home.
