When dogs eat poisonous mushrooms: What to do?
Encountering toxic mushrooms in your daily walks with your favorite fluffy friend is something very common. Get familiar with the most dangerous mushrooms types and learn how to recognize the symptoms in your dog!
Whether you have a yard of your own or you take your dog on long walks through the woods, there might be toxic plants within your pet’s reach. But what happens when dogs eat mushrooms? What are the symptoms of mushroom poisoning in dogs?
Poisonous mushrooms that grow in the wild can be extremely difficult to identify, and they can be very dangerous for dogs. While some toxic mushrooms may have obvious warning signs, others can appear rather harmless and look similar to the mushrooms you may buy at the grocery store. As a dog owner, you must be aware that poisonous mushrooms can cause the following symptoms.
Dogs eat mushrooms: what happens next?
When dogs eat mushrooms, these are some of the more common symptoms associated with mushroom poisoning:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Fever
- Weakness
- Inactivity
- Bleeding
- Yellowing of the skin
- Uncoordinated movements
- Strong heartbeat
- Excessive drooling
- Seizures
- Coma
Although the symptoms can vary depending on which mushroom your pet actually ate, how many, and the size of the dog, you always have to react quickly. Similar symptoms can also be caused by different toxic pet foods.
If your dog may have been poisoned, contact a vet immediately; there is no real home treatment for toxic mushroom ingestion. If there are any mushrooms left, bring one for identification purposes.
Even if your dog doesn’t seem to have any of these symptoms, but ate mushrooms, it’s a good idea to visit your vet. At least you will figure out which kind of mushroom your dear pup consumed.
These mushrooms can poison your pet
Since we often encounter mushrooms during our daily walks with our furry friends, it’s helpful to get familiar with the most dangerous mushrooms types that are to be found below:
Diagnosis of mushroom poisoning in dogs
When you bring your dog to the vet, it’s important that you are prepared to answer the following questions:
- When did your dog eat the mushroom? What time?
- How much did your dog eat?
- Can you describe the mushroom?
- Is your dog showing any symptoms?
Being aware of the symptoms of dog poisoning and getting the right treatment can save your dog’s life.
Treatment for a poisoned dog is specific for the poison involved and the symptoms. In some cases, the treatment may begin by making your pet vomit by using salt water, diluted hydrogen peroxide, or Ipecac. For pets that shouldn’t or can’t vomit, your veterinarian may give your pet an antidote.
Magnus
- 24 June 2018 at 17:04Thank you for this information on mushroom toxicity and dogs. We’re considering feeding our rottie mushrooms, and we’re definitely going to go the store-bought route. They’ve taken interest in mushrooms growing outside before (I believe Amanita was among them) – it’s pretty scary when you think how easy it can be for your dog to eat some without you realizing it.
A little while ago I found some other good resources on dogs and mushrooms — the one on Pet Citadel names a few species and includes a lot of info you have here, but this article has some interesting new insights. Nice graphic. Are edible (safe) mushrooms particularly nutritious for dogs?
Sanda
- 18 July 2018 at 8:45Hi Magnus,
Thank you as well for your feedback!
Just as with human consumption, some types of mushrooms are safe, while others are toxic or poisonous and can make your dog feel unwell.
For safety’s sake, the general rule of thumb is to never let your dog eat any mushrooms found while out exploring in the wild, including any that may pop up in your yard or local park from time to time. Keep your dog safe and healthy! 🙂
Best, Sanda