Here in western Washington State, winter is starting to fade, making room for warmer weather and with it, wild mushrooms. Where we are based, wild mushrooms seem to peak in the late summer and early fall, but they start to show up when spring comes around.
And, these wild mushrooms can be very dangerous to dogs if ingested.
Mushrooms are a complex group of food. These are a fungus that grows above ground as well as in vast networks invisible to the naked eye. When we think of mushrooms, however, we usually imagine the visible portion made up of a stem and cap which often forms a typical umbrella-like shape.
Mushrooms normally grow during or soon after the rainy season. When we speak the word “wild mushrooms” it means the mushrooms that grow in the wild on their own, mostly in hilly and coastal areas and also in forests. These can also grow in yards, gardens, and parks, which poses the risk to our pet dogs.
Whether your dog is in your yard or you are wandering with your dog outside in the woods, there are chances that your dog may find some mushroom to eat, and suffer poisoning that can range from mild to fatal.
Why Do Dogs Eat Wild Mushrooms?
Dogs consume mushrooms for the same reasons they consume other unusual foods. Dogs explore the world through their senses of smell and taste, and the texture of a mushroom may be more appealing to a curious canine.
The fishy odor of some toxic varieties of mushrooms, like amanita phalloides (death cap), and inocybe spp. has made the situation complicated further. A fishy odor can be more appealing or enticing to dogs, which may explain why these toxic mushroom species are frequently consumed by dogs.
Are Mushrooms Toxic to Dogs?
The answer to this is both yes and no. Because there are so many species of mushroom, this is really not an easy question to answer directly.
In fact, out of thousands of varities of mushroom that are known, more than 90% are safe and only less than 10% are toxic to dogs. But the toxic ones are extremely toxic, and it is very difficult to differentiate between toxic and non-toxic varieties from their appearance alone.
Therefore, it is recommended that as a dog owner you should consider all wild mushrooms as toxic and treat them with the same level of concern. And if your dog ingested any wild mushroom, take it as an emergency until proven otherwise.
What Mushrooms are Toxic to Dogs?
Below is the list of some commonly found toxic mushrooms.
• Gyromitra spp., or false morel
• Amanita gemmata, or “jeweled deathcap”
• Inocybe spp. and Clitocybe dealbata mushrooms
• Amanita phalloides, also named as “death cap”
• Galerina marginata, also named as “deadly Galerina” or “Galerina autumnalis”
• Amanita muscaria, commonly termed as “Deadly Agaric” or “fly agaric”
How to Keep Dogs Safe From Wild Mushrooms
Managing your environment coupled with aversion training is going to be the safest bet when it comes to protecting your dog from the dangers of wild mushrooms on a behavioral level. There are also commands you can teach your dog to make the process easier, such as proper recall and the OUT command.
Managing Your Environment
Managing your environment when it comes to wild mushrooms might look like treating your yard or other areas where wild mushrooms might be accessible to your dog. Many parts of the mushroom are not visible and branch out in very large networks, making full removal of mushrooms very difficult. However, you can help protect your dog my removing and disposing of any visible and potentially-ingestible portions of wild mushrooms that may be accessible to your dog.
Managing your environment also means supervising your dog while outside to make sure they are not getting into dangerous nonsense, whether that be snapping up wild mushrooms or any other range of other behaviors.
Commands for Keeping Dogs Safe from Mushrooms
A solid recall and the out command are going to be very valuable for keeping your dog from being harmed from wild mushrooms.
A solid recall means that your dog reliably comes back to you when called, no matter how enticing their current activity is. Being able to recall your dog is helpful for getting them out of any dangerous situation, not just calling them away from investigating a potentially-toxic wild mushroom.
The out command is a combination of “drop it” and “leave it,” and essentially means to disengage from a thing and give it space. Giving your dog the out command when they go to investigate a wild mushroom can keep them from investigating it a little too much and potentially being poisoned.
Mushroom Aversion
Dogs can be trained to avoid mushrooms if you put in the time and have solid control of your dog while going through the training process. Many dog owners do similar aversion training for any number of dangerous real-world things; snake aversion is a big one for dog owners that live in the southwest where dangerous venomous snakes are more common, for instance.
The same can apply to any dangerous encountered object in the real-world. However, if you are in doubt of how to proceed, it is best to consult with a professional trainer and seek out help.
Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs
Mushroom poisoning and the symptoms presented in dogs can depend drastically on the dog’s age, size, an overall health status, as well as the type and amount of mushroom eaten.
Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs
General signs of mushroom poisoning are
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Salivation
• Yellowing of the skin
• Bleeding
• Strong heartbeat
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Hallucinations
• Ataxia (staggering gait)
• Coma
• constipation
• Seizures
• Liver failure
• Jaundice
• Abdominal pain
• Death
There are certain varieties of mushrooms that target some specific organs of the body. Based on which mushrooms are divided into the following categories.
Hepatoxic Mushrooms
Amanita phalloides (death cap or death angel) is a group of mushrooms that cause acute renal failure. Signs start appearing 6-12 hours after ingestion. Initially, there will be gastric disturbance quickly leading to renal failure and death within two days after exposure.
Neurotoxic Mushrooms
Three verities of mushrooms, psilocybin (“magic”) mushrooms, hydrazines, and isoxazole fall in this category. These mushrooms directly affect the nervous system and signs begin to appear within 30-90 minutes. Common signs are weakness, ataxia, disorientation, hallucinations, vocalization tremors, and seizures. Hemolysis and methemoglobinemia may also occur.
Gastrointestinal Toxic Mushrooms
There is a large group of mushrooms that if ingested, cause gastrointestinal problems. The signs can be mild to severe. Some mushrooms are so toxic that signs may appear within 15 minutes after exposure. Common signs are diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, bradycardia, etc.
Nephrotoxic Mushrooms
Certain species of mushroom, such as cortinarius spp. are nephrotoxic. Signs start appearing 6-12 hours after ingestion. Common signs are polyuria, polydipsia, vomiting, nausea, and dehydration leading to renal failure.
Treatment of Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs
The treatment options for mushroom poisoning vary depending on the type of mushroom, the clinical signs, and how recently the mushroom was consumed. Some of the available treatment options are discussed further below.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is typically used as the first line of defense to prevent further toxicity. As it has the ability to absorb toxins present in the dog’s stomach. Using activated charcoal will not reverse present damage, but can help so that no more toxins will enter the circulation.
Induce Vomiting
Vomiting may be induced to completely remove the toxins from the body. Hydrogen peroxide is the most effective substance to induce vomiting, but this must be done by a veterinarian. Don’t try this at home.
IV Therapy
Intravenous treatment is not required in most cases. However, in case of dehydration, fluid therapy is necessary.
Liver and Kidney Management
Initially, there is no need for specific liver and kidney treatment. However in severe cases when there is extensive damage to the liver and kidney, minor surgical procedures will be compulsory. In the majority of cases, IV therapy and diet management will be enough to recover liver and kidney.
Can Dogs Eat Store-Bought Mushrooms?
The mushrooms that are sold in supermarkets are normally safe for dogs. Always serve plain mushrooms to your dog. Adding sauces, oils, butter, garlic, and onions can be harmful to your dog.
Wild mushrooms, however, should always be avoided. Always play on the safer side, consider all wild mushrooms as toxic.
Yes, your dog can eat mushrooms bought from markets but only when served plain. Dogs don’t need mushrooms as a regular diet, so offer in a small amount occasionally as a treat or reward.
