New Synthetic Cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA-Related Death of a Police Dog.

This article focuses on the toxicological investigation of a fatal intoxication in a police dog caused by the synthetic cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA, a potent synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA). Using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS) and quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS), ADB-BUTINACA and its metabolites were detected and quantified in various postmortem tissues, revealing concentrations consistent with inhalational exposure. Although the official cause of death was acute gastric dilatation volvulus, the study suggests that ADB-BUTINACA exposure may have contributed to the rapid onset of symptoms and death, highlighting the heightened sensitivity of dogs to cannabinoids and the risks posed to police sniffer dogs encountering potent synthetic drugs. The findings underscore the potential for serious adverse effects in dogs exposed to SCRAs and the occupational hazards for working dogs in drug detection roles.