A chihuahua which ate a mystery muffin found in a Plymouth woods was rushed to the vets after turning floppy and lethargic.

Poor Beau started 'going wobbly' around five minutes after eating the cake which he had sniffed out in one of the hedges of Hartley Park.

Vets determined that because the tiny pooch had been so quickly affected by eating the muffin that it was likely to have been 'laced with cannabis', Beau's owners said.

Now, they want to make others aware and urge them to stay vigilant if their dogs are off the lead.

Beau's owner said: "I walked him to Hartley Park and he was fine. He was off lead and is nine months old so sometimes doesn't listen.

"I saw him sniffing around and instantly ran over when I saw he was eating something.

"I tried to stop him but being a dog he wolfed it down. Maybe five minutes [later] he began to get wobbly and drowsy so I picked him up and rushed him home.

Beau is on the road to recovery
Beau is on the road to recovery

I called my mum and we took him vets. He was on a drip, his temperature was cold and his heart rate was 88.

"He was given fluids and charcoal then transferred over night to Estover Vets.

"Companion care suggested it sounded like cannabis. He came home with more energy but yesterday he was very tired and had diarrhoea."

The owner's dad, who said that he was shocked to learn the food was laced with the Class B drug, added: "When we got home we saw him and he was just not there at all so we got straight in the car and called the vets.

"Be vigilant - if your dog is going into the overgrown areas be wary that things might be around there."

Beau

Beau's owners were left with a hefty bill in excess of £300 following his treatment which saw medically induced to vomit.

Beau is '75 per cent back to himself' after the ordeal on Thursday afternoon, but is likely to make a full recovery.

The veterinary team from Companion Care Plymouth said: "Though we cannot comment on individual cases, should you notice your pet has ingested anything they shouldn't have do not hesitate to call your vet for professional, expert advice."