I wouldn’t advise any dog owner to feed their furry pets mushrooms. While some of them may be safe for dogs, the rest are highly toxic and poisonous to them. And since it’s very difficult to know which ones are edible or toxic, it’s better to play it safe.
This entails not feeding your dogs any type of mushroom at all unless you want to risk your pets becoming seriously ill or even dying. Of course you don’t want that.
Even edible mushrooms may still be dangerous for your dogs and this makes it not worth the risk to your pet’s health and safety.
Safety First: Avoiding Toxic Mushrooms
Why these fungi can be dangerous
It’s difficult for even experts to properly identify mushrooms as toxic or edible based on just how they appear. It’s even worse when you realize that different species can have similar looks, smells, or tastes. This means that you can easily mistake a toxic mushroom for an edible one and feed it to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Wild Mushrooms?
The answer is still no. I don’t recommend feeding your dogs any kind of mushroom for the same reasons I’ve already mentioned.
What Kinds of Wild Mushrooms Are Toxic to Dogs?
The wild mushrooms that are toxic to your dogs include the death cap, destroying angels, poisonous amanitas, ink cap, sickener, and fly agaric mushrooms.
Safe mushroom options for dogs
Can Dogs Eat Store-Bought Mushrooms?
If you must feed your dogs mushrooms, your best bet is the ones you buy from the grocery store. Although I still don’t recommend them, they are less likely to be toxic than wild mushrooms.
Some examples of store-bought mushrooms that are generally recognized as safe options for your dogs include:
- White button mushrooms
- Portobello mushrooms
- Crimini mushrooms
You can add these mushrooms in moderation to your dog’s diet when you thoroughly wash, trim, and cook them. My advice is to introduce them to your dogs slowly and observe them for signs of an allergic reaction or stomach discomfort.
Medicinal Mushrooms
It’s widely believed that certain mushrooms have health benefits that may be good for your dog’s immune system and nutritional needs. I’m talking about turkey tail, reishi, and cordyceps mushrooms.
However, I recommend consulting your vet for guidance on the dosage to add to your dog’s diet or treatment plan. Under no circumstances should you self-prescribe mushrooms without the knowledge of your vet.
Potential benefits and concerns
Can Mushrooms Be Good for Dogs?
I’ll say it depends on the variety and the dosage. Some edible mushrooms are rich in vitamins and minerals like niacin, riboflavin, selenium, potassium, copper, and phosphorus, which can be good for your dogs.
These mushrooms are also rich sources of antioxidants and protein.
For these reasons, the mushrooms your vet approves can be a healthy supplemental food for your dogs as part of a nutritionally balanced home-cooked or commercial dog food diet. This is because they add mutational variety to your pet’s meal.
Potential Health Concerns:
Although some mushrooms are beneficial to your dogs, they’re not an essential ingredient in their foods. Some dogs may have difficulty digesting mushrooms properly while some may develop stomach upset if their systems are not accustomed to mushrooms. There are also allergic reactions to worry about, but these are less common occurrences.
Safe feeding practices
When you want to introduce your dog to any new food, especially mushrooms, always start by feeding them a very small amount at first. Give them 1-2 baby bite-sized pieces of thoroughly washed and cooked mushrooms.
Then, observe your dog closely over the next 24 hours for any changes in energy, gastrointestinal issues, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you don’t notice anything disturbing, gradually increase the quantity.
Wash your mushrooms very thoroughly to remove any lingering soil, bacteria, or residues.
Trim the very base of the mushroom stems which tend to be tough and then chop the body into small, bite-sized pieces to make them easier for your dogs to chew and digest.
Then cook these mushrooms by steaming, sautéing, boiling, or baking before feeding them to your dog. Cooking breaks down cell walls and removes potentially toxic substances in uncooked mushrooms.
Before providing your dog with any new food, always consult your veterinarian first to discuss the ingredients, your pet’s medical history, allergies, and portioning.
Emergency response
Symptoms of Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs:
If your dog eats any part of an unknown mushroom, watch out for these common symptoms of toxicity poisoning:
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Tremors
- Increased body temperature
- Disorientation
- Seizures
- Liver and kidney damage.
These adverse reactions can occur anywhere from 30 minutes to 24+ hours post-ingestion. How quickly these signs develop and how severe they can be depends on the specific type of mushroom, the amount consumed, and your dog’s size/health.
When you notice any of the above symptoms, I recommend taking them to the vet immediately because that’s your best chance of salvaging the situation.
What to do if your dog eats a mushroom in the yard
If you witness or suspect that your dog ate any part of an unidentified mushroom in the yard, woodlands, or within reach – do the following:
- Call your veterinarian or emergency clinic right away to alert them and get directions.
- Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at (888) 426-4435 for 24/7 poison emergency assistance and be prepared to provide details, symptoms, photography, and guidance.
- Take your dog to the veterinarian promptly for examination. They may use methods such as induced vomiting, activated charcoal, intravenous fluids, and anticonvulsant therapy to decontaminate and stabilize your dog.
Conclusion
This is the take home – some mushrooms are safe for your dogs to consume but you have to be cautious with them. Ideally, I would advise that you don’t bother with mushrooms as part of your dog’s diet but if you just feed it to your pet, go for commercially grown and vet-approved ones. And ensure you thoroughly wash and prepare them.
Furthermore, always ensure your dog is under watch so they won’t consume any wild or unidentified mushrooms growing outdoors.
When you’re in doubt about the identity or variety of a mushroom, don’t feed your dog with it, and always remember to consult your vet for approval and guidance before introducing or to their diets.
Read More: Can Dogs Eat Cream of Mushroom Soup? Expert Guide
