We at the Montgomery Animal Hospital want to keep all of our dogs safe from a common fall danger in our yards and parks. We sympathize with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who recently lost his dog Brutus to mushroom poisoning.

First, mushrooms sold in grocery stores are safe to both humans and dogs. But if you see your dog or cat eat a mushroom outdoors, go to the vet immediately. If there is any mushroom left over, bring it too so that it can be analyzed if needed. Not all wild mushrooms are poisonous, but it can be very difficult to identify the mushroom species and it is much safer to start treatment right away. Once your dog or cat shows signs of illness it can be too late to reverse the toxicity. 

What to expect at the vet? We will likely induce vomiting if your pet is stable to get mushroom pieces out of the stomach and use medical charcoal to try to minimize the amount of toxin absorbed. Treatment is then supportive as needed, with IV fluids, anti-vomiting medicine, liver-protective medicines, and bloodwork to monitor progress.

Please check out the article, Dogs and Mushrooms, from emergency veterinarian Dr. Justine Lee for information on specific types of mushrooms. The most deadly type of mushroom is the Amanita, which causes liver and kidney failure.

Bottom line - if your pet eats your grocery mushrooms, no worries. But if he or she is foraging for mushrooms in the yard or park, play it safe and seek medical attention.

Photo credit Srinivasan G www.flickr.com