Are wild mushrooms safe for my dog?
Q: Our new puppy loves to eat the mushrooms on our property. She does, however, avoid certain mushrooms. Do dogs have an instinct for avoiding the poisonous ones? Can you provide us with more information on mushrooms that aren’t safe for our puppy to eat? —DARCY, BLINDFOLD LAKE, ONT.
A: “The majority of mushrooms are not toxic,” says Paul Kroeger of the Vancouver Mycological Society. Well, that’s good news. Except…there are thousands of species of wild mushrooms, so that still leaves a whole bunch that toxic. And, while mushroom poisoning isn’t a major cause of mortality in pets, says Kroeger, “it is fairly frequently reported in dogs.” Depending on the mushroom and its toxicity, symptoms range from lethargy and uncoordinated movement to gastrointestinal problems, seizures, and coma. “Sometimes, serious symptoms are very slow to appear,” says Kroeger. “It can take 12 hours or more.” (If you suspect mushroom poisoning, get your pup to the vet ASAP.)
