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Mushrooms & Fungi

Wild Mushrooms: Safe for Dogs and Cats?

EmergencyDogs

Because a toxic mushroom cannot be reliably told apart from a harmless one without expert identification, any wild mushroom eaten by a dog should be treated as an emergency.

Toxic principle: varies by species: amatoxins, muscarine, ibotenic acid/muscimol, gyromitrin, and others

Watch for

  • vomiting
  • drooling
  • disorientation
  • tremors
  • seizures
  • with liver-toxic species, jaundice and liver failure days later
Full dog guide for wild mushrooms
EmergencyCats

The same uncertainty applies to cats: an unidentified wild mushroom should be treated as an emergency because a small number of species can cause fatal liver or kidney damage.

Toxic principle: varies by species: amatoxins, muscarine, ibotenic acid/muscimol, gyromitrin, and others

Watch for

  • vomiting
  • drooling
  • disorientation
  • tremors
  • seizures
  • with liver-toxic species, jaundice and liver failure days later
Full cat guide for wild mushrooms

This page is for informational purposes only and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your pet's diet and health.

Read our methodology for how every verdict is sourced and reviewed.