Wild Mushrooms and the Danger They Cause

Wild Mushrooms and the Danger They Cause

By Kristine Myhre, Blackhawk Veterinary Hospital

www.BlackhawkLivingCA.com

While mushrooms may be delicious in a homecooked meal, wild mushrooms may be harmful to you or your pet. Although mushrooms grow year-round, wild mushrooms tend to thrive in the fall when it is moist and cool. They can often be found on or around the base of trees, decomposing leaves, fertilizer, mulch, soil, or compost and may blend with their surroundings making them difficult to spot. Keeping your pet away from wild mushrooms and removing any you might see growing in your yard or in areas where you typically walk with your pet is the best way to ensure your pet’s safety as ingestion can be detrimental. Signs of mushroom poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, watering eyes, slow heartbeat, lethargy, abdominal pain, jaundice, or seizures and can lead to kidney and liver failure, or death. If you think your pet may have ingested mushrooms, seek veterinary care immediately.