Can Dogs Eat Wild Mushrooms?
No. No wild mushroom at all, whether from the woods, the park or your yard: some common species, such as the death cap (Amanita phalloides), can cause fatal liver failure. Only cultivated mushrooms, like store-bought white button mushrooms, cooked and without garlic, are safe in small amounts.
Why it's dangerous
In fall, after the first rains, mushrooms pop up in woods, parks, lawns and yards, and some dogs eat them out of curiosity or because of their smell. The problem is that some of them are highly toxic, and telling them apart by sight is hard even for experienced foragers. The most dangerous is Amanita phalloides (the death cap), common in oak and pine woods and also in gardens and yards with trees. Its amatoxins destroy liver cells: the first vomiting and diarrhea appear 6 to 24 hours later, then comes a deceptive improvement and, over the following days, liver failure. The small Lepiota species that grow on lawns and the Galerina that grow on wood contain the same toxins.
Other mushrooms act faster. Inocybe and some Clitocybe species, common in parks, contain muscarine: within minutes or hours they cause drooling, watery eyes, diarrhea and pinpoint pupils. Amanita muscaria (the red one with white spots, known as fly agaric) and Amanita pantherina cause disorientation, staggering, agitation or drowsiness and, in severe cases, seizures. Many others only upset the stomach, but in a small dog, severe vomiting and diarrhea can be serious too. That's why veterinary poison centers treat any wild mushroom as toxic until an expert proves otherwise. Cultivated mushrooms from the store are a different story: we explain them on our mushrooms page.
Is any amount safe?
None, raw or cooked: amatoxins are not destroyed by heat, and a small piece of death cap is enough to severely damage a dog's liver. Cultivated white button mushrooms, cooked without garlic or salt, can be given now and then; the amounts are on our mushrooms page.
Risks
- Death cap (Amanita phalloides), Lepiota and Galerina: liver failure, often fatal
- Inocybe and Clitocybe: drooling, diarrhea and heart rhythm problems
- Amanita muscaria and pantherina: neurological signs and seizures
- Other species: severe vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration
- Mushrooms cooked with garlic, onion or lots of fat in home meals
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my dog ate a mushroom at the park?
Treat it as an emergency even if they have no symptoms. Take them to the vet as soon as possible with the mushroom (or one like it) in a paper bag, or with photos of the cap, gills and stem. Don't make them vomit on your own. The most dangerous mushrooms cause symptoms late, when the liver is already affected.
Which mushrooms are poisonous to dogs?
The same ones that are poisonous to people, plus some that are rarely studied in dogs. The most dangerous are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and its relatives, the small Lepiota species found on lawns and Galerina; also Inocybe, Clitocybe, and Amanita muscaria and pantherina. Since they can't be reliably told apart by sight, no wild mushroom is safe.
How long does it take for a poisonous mushroom to affect a dog?
It depends on the species. Some cause drooling, vomiting or neurological signs within 15-30 minutes; others take a few hours. The deadly amanitas take 6 to 24 hours to cause vomiting and diarrhea, then the dog seems to get better, and liver failure appears after 2-3 days. That's why you shouldn't wait to see whether they get sick.
How do I stop my dog from eating mushrooms?
In fall, check your yard after it rains and remove mushrooms with gloves, base included, and throw them away where your dog can't reach them. In the woods or in parks with lots of mushrooms, keep them on a leash and teach a “leave it” cue with treats. Keep a closer eye on puppies and dogs that explore everything with their mouths.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.