Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Are Mushrooms Bad for a Dog
When it comes to mushrooms in general, they are one of the few food groups that can be very complicated. While they are technically considered a fungi, some of which are edible and even considered to be a staple in many different types of food dishes. They grow everywhere from your yard and garden, all the way to the park down the street. However, there are always tons of stories going around about how somebody ate a mushroom they picked and it just went all bad. But what about when it comes to your dog? Can dogs eat mushrooms and if they do, are they going to have the same reaction to them that you would?
If you have a dog and have seen any mushrooms growing in your yard, chances are that you have asked yourself those questions before. The answer, however, is solely dependent upon what type of mushroom it is they are eating.
Are Mushrooms Edible to Dogs?
Take a second and pretend that you are walking your dog along a nice, wooded hiking path and your dog is running around sniffing anything and everything. Suddenly you notice that they have stopped and are now eating something. Once you take a look at what it is your dog is eating, you realize that it is some mushrooms that have been growing next to the hiking trail.
If you start to panic and worry for your dog, you are definitely doing the right thing.
While there is a rumor that dogs can sniff out the poisonous toxins that some mushrooms contain, that is actually not even a little bit true. In fact, mushroom poisoning is actually extremely under-reported and can be fatal to your dog. But by responding quickly to any type of supposed mushroom treat is the absolute best thing that you are able to do if the situation ever arises.
If dog has eaten any type of wild mushroom, be sure that you immediately contact your animal poison control center, veterinarian, or even your emergency veterinarian hospital as quickly as you can.
What Mushrooms are Toxic to Your Dog?
When it comes to wild mushrooms, there are actually only small percentages that are considered to be a toxic species. However, the ones that are toxic just happen to be extremely toxic. And the thing that makes mushrooms tough, is that they are usually very difficult to distinguish from the other, non-toxic varieties of mushrooms. This is exactly why most veterinarians will tell you to act as though all wild mushrooms are the toxic variety and should be treated as such.
Your dog explores everything through their taste and scent. This is the reason why your dog may eat mushrooms, as well as other things that you would consider to be odd. When your dog does come upon some wild mushrooms, the mushrooms texture is also a reason why your dog may find them intriguing. What makes the entire situation even worse, is that some of the more toxic varieties of mushrooms, such as the ‘death cap’ (Amanita phalloides), as well as the Inocybe spp, both have a fishy odor. Since dogs normally love how fish tastes and smells, it only increases the chances that your dog may try eating these mushrooms if they are stumbled upon.
Unless you are an expert of mushrooms, chances are that you can’t tell one from the other. Since this is usually the case, veterinarians will tell you to not try to identify any mushrooms you come across, but to instead to simply bring your dog in for treatment.
Here are some of the most common types of mushrooms that cause most of the problems.
- Galerina marginata, also known as ‘Galerina autumnalis’ or ‘deadly Galerina’
- Amanita muscaria, also known as ‘Deadly Agaric’ or ‘fly agaric’
- Amanita phalloides, also known as ‘death cap’
- Amanita gemmate, also known as ‘jeweled deathcap’
- Clitocybe dealbata and Inocybe spp mushrooms
- Gyromitra spp, also known as false morel
Signs of Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs
When your dog does eat a wild mushroom that is poisonous, the signs and symptoms that they will display vary depending upon the species of the mushroom that they ate. The different toxic mushrooms contain different toxins, which will have different effects on your dog.
For example, the Amanita mushroom contains amanitin toxins. These toxins have been proven to cause severe GI symptoms, which leads into a ‘false’ recovery period, ultimately leading to liver failure, acute kidney injuries, and even death.
The Clitocybe dealbata and Inocybe spp mushrooms can cause your dog to have excess salvation, an increased amount of urination, watering of the eyes, extreme diarrhea, and even neurological signs.
With some of the other mushrooms, your dog is potentially at risk for having an upset GI tract, as well as other symptoms as well. While most of the mushrooms will not be life threatening, the mushroom that is causing the symptoms can be extremely hard to identify based solely off of the early symptoms that your dog displays.
Some of the most common types of symptoms your dog may display if they have eaten wild mushrooms can include:
- Diarrhea
- Salivation
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Coma
- Seizures
- Ataxia
- Liver failure
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Death
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms Conclusion
If your dog does eat any types of wild mushrooms, be sure that you immediately get them to your veterinarian. This way, your veterinarian will be able to assess them, figure out the best plan of treatment, and get your dog on the track to getting healthy again.
While wild mushrooms are considered to be the kiss of death for dogs when it comes to regular, store-bought mushrooms, they are generally going to be safe for your dog to eat them. Just be sure that if you are feeding your dog store-bought mushrooms, you don’t put excess oils, butters or seasonings on them. All of this is extra calories that can add up over time and cause your dog to gain excess weight.
