People generally fall into two categories – those who order mushrooms, and those who don’t. Pets, however, should never have mushrooms in their diet. While you’re not likely to serve mushrooms in the food dish, your pet just may decide to avail himself of the free samples that pop up in your yard, especially during the warm, wet weather of fall and spring. That’s a problem.
Are all mushrooms toxic? Truthfully, no. The fungus can range from toxic to deadly, but the species are very difficult to properly identify, so it’s best to assume they are all toxic.
What symptoms can mushrooms cause? Veterinarians typically lump toxic mushrooms into four categories, by the symptoms they cause:
•Gastrointestinal. Mushrooms in this group cause mild to severe vomiting. The onset of signs is usually rapid – 15 minutes to 6 hours.
•Hepatotoxic. As the name implies, these mushrooms cause acute liver failure. Symptoms can be delayed 6-12 hours. After 6-12 hours pets will start showing gastrointestinal signs, then move quickly into liver failure. In severe cases, death can occur in one to two days.
•Nephrotoxic. Acute kidney failure is caused by mushrooms in this category. The onset of signs can be delayed for 12 hours to 3 to 8 days, or even longer. Signs include increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting and nausea.
•Neurotoxic. The last group of mushrooms can cause weakness, disorientation, loss of body control/movement (ataxia), muscle tremors, and seizures. It may also cause gastrointestinal signs. The onset of signs is fast, typically 30-90 minutes.
What should I do if my pet eats a mushroom? Again, it’s best to assume all mushrooms are toxic! If your pet eats a mushroom, seek our help immediately. Try to bring the mushroom in to help us identify it.
If you have mushrooms in your yard, please remove them as soon as possible. And keep watching out. The fungi are notorious for popping back up very quickly. Unfortunately we have seen cases of mushroom toxicity here at Town N Country, so we know that some species in our area are dangerous. Keeping your yard clear of mushrooms is the best way to keep them off your pet’s menu.
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
