A routine hike up Britain’s tallest mountain turned into a harrowing emergency for Christina Bluhme and her 5-year-old black Labrador, Tokyo. While trekking on Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands on July 5, 2026, the dog began exhibiting alarming symptoms, swaying as if intoxicated before losing the ability to walk entirely. Bluhme, an experienced canine trainer of 25 years, was initially baffled by the sudden collapse of her pet, describing the ordeal as a terrifying experience.
The incident occurred over three hours into the hike, near the summit of the 4,413-foot (1,345-meter) mountain. Conditions on the trail had deteriorated rapidly, with the weather shifting from clear skies to rain and temperatures dropping to 5 C (41 F). After the dog collapsed, Bluhme abandoned her plans to reach the peak and requested assistance for the 55-pound (25-kilogram) animal.
Although police were uncertain about the feasibility of a rescue, the volunteer Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team happened to be descending the mountain after assisting with a separate helicopter evacuation of an injured hiker. The team quickly placed Tokyo on a stretcher and navigated the steep, slick, and rocky terrain at a remarkable pace. Bluhme praised the rescuers, noting that they moved with such agility and speed that it felt like they were running, allowing them to reach the trailhead in approximately one hour.
Upon arrival, Bluhme took the dog to Crown Vets in Fort William, where a veterinarian was waiting. While medical staff initially suspected a potential spinal injury, a senior veterinarian observed that the dog was drifting in and out of consciousness, suggesting the presence of a neurotoxin. After consulting with a poison control center, it was determined that Tokyo’s symptoms matched those of cannabis intoxication. The dog was treated with activated charcoal and made a full recovery overnight. Bluhme, who resides in southern England, expressed relief that the 1,000 pound ($1,335) veterinary bill resulted in a positive outcome, noting that by the next day, it was as if nothing had ever happened to the dog.
She told her son, Magnus, that their quest to reach the summit was over.
Veterinarians initially thought the animal had a spinal issue but a senior vet concluded she was on some kind of neurotoxin because she was drifting in and out of consciousness. When they consulted with a poison control center, her symptoms checked all the boxes for cannabis intoxication.
