Condition2 connections · 1 source
Mushroom Poisoning
Wild mushroom ingestion can cause a range of toxic effects in pets from mild GI upset to fatal liver failure, depending on the species of mushroom.
Key Facts
- Most dangerous: Amanita species (death cap, destroying angel) -- cause fatal liver failure
- Signs vary by mushroom type: GI upset, liver failure, neurological signs, kidney failure
- Onset: minutes to hours (GI types) or 6-24 hours (liver-toxic types)
- Delayed onset (6+ hours) is a bad prognostic sign, suggesting liver-toxic species
- No reliable way for owners to distinguish safe from toxic mushrooms
- Treatment: decontamination, supportive care; liver-toxic cases may need intensive care
- Remove all wild mushrooms from yards where pets play
- Species: dogs (primarily; dogs eat mushrooms more readily than cats)