Poisonous Mushrooms and Dogs: Signs, What to Do and How to Prevent It

After a wet spell, mushrooms can appear on lawns, verges and woodland paths almost overnight. For most people they’re just part of the scenery. For dog owners, they’re a worry, because dogs explore with their noses and mouths, and some wild mushrooms are deadly to them.

This guide explains which mushrooms are most dangerous to dogs (and cats), the warning signs, what to do straight away and how to reduce the risk at home and on walks. It’s based on advice from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Pet Poison Helpline, the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) and Australia’s Animal Poisons Helpline.

If your dog has eaten a wild mushroom, contact your vet or an animal poison helpline now, even if your dog seems fine. In the US, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is on (888) 426-4435 and Pet Poison Helpline is on (855) 764-7661. NAMA notes that a fee applies for animal poison control services. In Australia, the Animal Poisons Helpline is on 1300 869 738.

Why do dogs eat mushrooms?

Dogs are curious, and mushrooms are often right at nose height on a walk or in the garden. NAMA notes that dogs seem especially attracted to certain species, possibly because of their “fishy odor”. It says dogs show a strong interest in the death cap (Amanita phalloides), one of the deadliest mushrooms of all.

The ASPCA notes that mushrooms can appear quickly after wet weather, so a lawn that was clear yesterday may not be today.

Which mushrooms are most dangerous to dogs?

Pet Poison Helpline says three groups, Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota, cause most confirmed fatal mushroom poisonings in pets. Other mushrooms can also cause serious illness.

Mushroom group	Main effect	What happens and when
Death cap and other amatoxin mushrooms (Amanita, Galerina, Lepiota)	Liver damage	NAMA says signs begin after a delay of “6-12+ hours”, followed by severe stomach upset. The ASPCA gives a delay of 8 to 24 hours, then yellowing of the eyes and skin, and eventually liver failure and death
Fibrecaps and some funnel caps (Inocybe, Clitocybe)	Muscarinic effects	The ASPCA lists vomiting, diarrhoea, slowed heart rate and heavy drooling. NAMA warns that some “can be lethal to dogs”
Earthballs (Scleroderma)	Stomach upset	Vomiting and diarrhoea within a few hours, according to the ASPCA. NAMA says they can be lethal to dogs
Fly agaric and panther-type Amanitas	Nervous system	NAMA says dogs often eat these and may fall into a deep, coma-like sleep a few hours later. Most recover, though it can take up to 72 hours
Hallucinogenic mushrooms	Nervous system	The ASPCA lists wobbliness, agitation, sensitivity to sound and touch, and tremors
Green-spored parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites)	Stomach upset	Australia’s Animal Poisons Helpline says it can cause severe gastroenteritis with significant fluid and electrolyte loss

NAMA’s summary of poisoning reports from 2006 to 2017 confirms that “there were deaths of dogs from both Inocybe species and Scleroderma species”, as well as from amatoxin mushrooms. The ASPCA calls liver-damaging mushrooms like the death cap “the most concerning of all”. Our guide to the death cap explains how to recognise it.

What about the fly agaric?

The bright red fly agaric is easy to spot, and NAMA says dogs frequently eat it and its relatives. NAMA says these toxins are rarely fatal to dogs, and most dogs recover. It also warns that atropine, a drug used for some other mushroom poisonings, should not be given to dogs or cats that have eaten these species, because it can deepen the coma-like sleep and raise the risk of death. That decision is for your vet, but it shows why identifying the mushroom matters.

Cats

Cats are much less likely to eat mushrooms. But NAMA notes that cats can be attracted to dried fly agaric and panther-type Amanitas, which have sometimes been fatal. If you keep dried mushrooms of any kind, store them securely.

Signs of mushroom poisoning in dogs

Pet Poison Helpline says some mushroom toxins affect pets within 15 to 30 minutes, while others don’t cause signs for up to 24 hours. Watch for:

• vomiting or diarrhoea
• drooling
• wobbliness, weakness or tremors
• agitation, or unusual sleepiness
• seizures
• black, tarry stools
• loss of appetite and low energy
• yellowing of the eyes, gums or skin

The most dangerous trap is a delay. With liver-damaging mushrooms, a dog may seem normal for hours. Don’t wait for signs before calling for help.

What to do if your dog eats a mushroom

1. Call for advice straight away. Pet Poison Helpline says to contact your vet or the helpline immediately, and that all mushroom ingestions by pets “should be considered toxic unless a specialist can accurately and quickly identify the mushroom as non-toxic.”
2. Go to the vet if there are symptoms. The ASPCA says to take a pet with symptoms to a vet right away.
3. Collect a sample. NAMA advises picking a sample of the same mushroom from where your pet found it. Wrap it in a paper bag or waxed paper, not plastic, and keep it in the fridge.
4. Take photos. The ASPCA suggests close-up photos of the mushroom and its surroundings. Photograph the top, underside and base.
5. Note the location and time. Write down when your dog ate it and roughly how much. NAMA notes that the location matters too, as mushrooms from lawns, roadsides or industrial areas could carry pesticides or heavy metals.
6. Don’t try home remedies. Don’t make your dog vomit or give medicines unless your vet or a poison helpline tells you to. For a broader look at how mushroom poisoning works in people, see our guide to mushroom poisoning symptoms.

What happens at the vet

Knowing what to expect can make an emergency a little less frightening. VCA Animal Hospitals, in a guide written by two vets, describes the usual approach:

Step	What it involves (VCA)
History	Your vet will ask what your dog ate, when, and what signs you’ve seen. VCA says “Evidence of exposure to mushrooms is the first factor in an accurate diagnosis”
Tests	A physical exam, plus blood and urine tests to check how the organs are working
Decontamination	If your dog arrives soon after eating the mushroom, the vet may make them vomit to empty the stomach. VCA says “Minimizing absorption of the toxin is critical”
Activated charcoal	Given to bind toxins in the gut and reduce how much is absorbed
Fluids	A drip treats dehydration and, VCA notes, also supports kidney and liver function
Monitoring	Because some toxins act slowly, liver and kidney tests “may be repeated every 24–48 hours”

The outlook depends on the type of mushroom. VCA says stomach-upset mushrooms often cause mild illness that can sometimes be managed at home under veterinary guidance. Liver-damaging Amanitas are far more serious: “If not treated quickly and aggressively, liver failure is irreversible.” Kidney-damaging mushrooms may not cause signs for 12 hours to a week or more. This is why early treatment matters so much, even when your dog seems well.

VCA suggests wrapping a mushroom sample in a damp paper towel rather than a plastic bag, which fits with NAMA’s advice to avoid plastic.

Getting the mushroom identified

Identification can change treatment, so it’s worth the effort. The ASPCA suggests a mycologist, a local university mycology department or an online consultation. NAMA keeps a list of volunteers who can help identify mushrooms in poisoning cases. Don’t rely on a phone app: our article on mushroom identification apps explains why.

Once your pet has been treated, NAMA encourages owners to report every case, even mild stomach upset, to its Poison Case Registry. These reports help experts understand which species cause problems.

How to reduce the risk

In the garden

• Check your lawn regularly, especially after rain, and remove mushrooms before your dog can reach them. Australia’s Animal Poisons Helpline recommends this.
• Wear gloves or use a bag, and put the mushrooms in a bin your dog can’t get into.
• Expect them to come back. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of a fungus living in the soil or wood, so new ones can appear after the next wet spell.

On walks

• Use a lead in mushroom-rich areas. The Animal Poisons Helpline suggests keeping dogs on a lead on walks, especially after heavy rain.
• Train a solid “leave it”. It’s one of the most useful commands for avoiding all kinds of hazards on walks.
• Know your season. Autumn is peak mushroom season in many regions, but rain can bring mushrooms up at other times of year too.

In the kitchen

The ASPCA says store-bought mushrooms are usually not dangerous to pets, but recommends avoiding giving your pet any type of mushroom. Keep foraged mushrooms, dried mushrooms and any mushroom products well out of reach.

Quick reference

Situation	What to do
You saw your dog eat a wild mushroom	Call your vet or an animal poison helpline now, even if your dog seems fine
Your dog has vomiting, drooling, wobbliness or seizures after a walk	Go to a vet straight away
You’re not sure what the mushroom was	Collect a sample in paper, refrigerate it and take photos
Mushrooms in your garden	Remove them regularly and dispose of them where your dog can’t reach
Shop-bought mushrooms	Usually not dangerous, but the ASPCA advises not feeding mushrooms to pets

Sources and further reading

• ASPCA (2017). Not-So-Magic-Mushrooms: Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe
• Pet Poison Helpline: Mushrooms
• North American Mycological Association: Mushroom Poisonings in Dogs and Cats
• Beug, M. W. 2006 to 2017 Summary of Mushroom Poisoning Reports. NAMA Toxicology Committee
• Barnes, C. and Buzhardt, L. Mushroom Toxicity. VCA Animal Hospitals
• Animal Poisons Helpline, Australia (2025). Mushroom Warning (Mushroom Poisoning in Pets: Warning and Safety Tips)

Featured image: common earthball by M Sorensen via iNaturalist (CC0 1.0).