FrançaisMy dog ate a mushroom: what to do
Call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if your dog seems fine. Accurate mushroom identification is difficult, so any mushroom a pet eats should be considered toxic until a specialist identifies it [12]. The most dangerous species cause no signs for the first 6 to 12 hours [1], and early treatment decisions depend on knowing quickly whether amanitin is involved [6].
Take photos of the mushroom from several angles and of where it grew, and save the rest of it, or pieces from the same spot, for identification [3]. In Norway, the poison center has a mycologist identify mushrooms from photos sent by phone together with a description of the place [5]. Chewed pieces or vomit are hard to identify by eye, even for experts [2]. Do not try to treat your dog at home.
Most cases end well. Among 421 dogs that ate a mushroom in Norway, 45% of the mushrooms were not poisonous, and 98.6% of the dogs survived [5]. Young dogs are most at risk of eating them: the median age was 5 months, and most mushrooms grew in the garden [5]. Mushrooms belong with the toxic plants and outdoor dangers and the toxic foods that dogs get into.
Death cap and other amatoxin mushrooms
The death cap (Amanita phalloides) is the species most often implicated in mushroom deaths of people and animals worldwide [2]. Related Amanita species, such as the destroying angels, and some Lepiota, Galerina and Conocybe species contain the same toxins, called amatoxins or amanitins [1]. Most confirmed mushroom deaths in pets involve Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota [12].
The death cap has a smooth, yellowish-green to yellowish-brown cap, white gills, a ring on the stem and a cup at its base; Galerina marginata is small and brown and grows on rotting wood [1]. Looks are not enough to tell a safe mushroom from a deadly one: visual identification is difficult even for experienced mycologists [2].
Amanitins block the cell machinery that makes proteins. Cells that work hard, such as liver cells, gut lining and kidney tubules, are hit first [1]. Dogs absorb amanitins from the gut much more than mice or rabbits, and one mushroom cap can contain a lethal dose [1]. Dogs are particularly exposed because they eat almost anything and roam [2], young dogs especially, and fulminant liver failure and death can occur within a few days [7].
Signs and timing: the false recovery
Amatoxin poisoning runs in phases, although not every dog shows all of them [1]:
| Phase | Time after eating | What you may see |
|---|---|---|
| Latent | 6 to 12 hours | No signs at all [1] |
| Gut | Up to 24 hours | Vomiting, belly pain, diarrhea, tiredness [1] |
| False recovery | Up to 24 to 48 hours | The dog seems better [1]; blood sugar can drop sharply after the gut phase [1] |
| Liver and kidneys | 36 to 72 hours | Liver failure, bleeding problems, confusion from the failing liver, kidney failure [1] |
| Outcome | 7 to 14 days | Recovery or death [1] |
This long delay matters: the vet should know about any mushroom, even if the dog vomited once and now looks normal. In the Merck table, signs from amatoxins start 6 to 24 hours after eating, rarely later [2]. In beagles given death cap in a study, gut signs began after 16 hours and liver damage peaked at about 48 hours [11]. Among 59 dogs with confirmed amanitin poisoning in California, 36 were under 1 year old, most had vomiting, diarrhea, poor appetite or weakness, and 22 had a temperature above 102.5 °F (39.2 °C) [4]. In a 12-week-old puppy, the illness progressed to shock from low blood sugar and death within 22 hours of arrival at the hospital [15].
Other mushroom groups: faster, usually milder
As a rule, mushrooms that cause signs within 3 hours are self-limiting and not life-threatening, while those that cause signs after more than 6 hours are life-threatening [2]. A fast start is no guarantee, though: a dog may have eaten a harmless and a deadly species growing side by side [2].
| Group (examples) | Signs start | Main signs |
|---|---|---|
| Muscarine (Inocybe, Clitocybe) | Often 5 to 30 minutes, generally within 2 hours [3] | Drooling, tearing, urinating, diarrhea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, slow heart, small pupils [3]. All 54 such dogs in Norway drooled [5] |
| Isoxazoles (fly agaric Amanita muscaria, panther cap A. pantherina) | 30 to 120 minutes [3] | Disorientation, wobbliness, head tilt, seizures, slowed breathing, coma in severe cases; about 24 hours [3] |
| Hallucinogenic (Psilocybe and others) | 30 to 60 minutes, rarely up to 3 hours [3] | Aggression, wobbliness, vocalizing, flicking eyes, seizures, high temperature; recovery within about 6 hours [3] |
| Gut irritants (many lawn and woodland species) | 15 minutes to 3 hours [3] | Vomiting, sometimes bloody diarrhea, belly pain; recovery generally within 6 to 24 hours; dehydration in severe cases [3] |
In the Norwegian study, gut irritants were the most common poisonous group (28.3% of dogs), then muscarine mushrooms (12.8%) and isoxazole mushrooms (4.0%) [5]. Isoxazole mushrooms can still kill: two dogs died within 2 hours of eating fly agaric [5], and another was confirmed by DNA testing of the chewed pieces [14]. Five dogs poisoned by Inocybe all recovered with supportive care [13].
What the tests show, and why
During the gut phase, the vet monitors liver and kidney function [1], often repeating the blood work because the values change over days. In the 59 California dogs, ALT was raised in 97% at arrival, blood sugar was low in 78%, and clotting times were prolonged in 91% [4].
- Abbreviation GLU or GLUC, the blood sugar line of the chemistry panel.
- Result 38 mg/dL in this illustrative line: well below the interval. Low blood sugar was found in 78% of dogs with amanitin poisoning at arrival [4].
- Unit mg/dL in the US. Laboratories in many other countries use mmol/L: the same Merck interval is 4.2–6.6 mmol/L [17].
- Laboratory interval The example uses the dog interval of the Merck Veterinary Manual [17]; each laboratory sets its own.
- Flag L: below the interval. Marked low blood sugar or clotting problems may mean a poorer outlook [4], so glucose is checked again and again.
| Test | What can be found | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| ALT and AST | High, often very high [1, 4] | Liver cells are dying; after an acute injury ALT peaks around 48 hours [16] |
| ALP and bilirubin | High [1, 8] | Liver failure; bilirubin causes jaundice. See bilirubin and GGT |
| Glucose | Low, sometimes severely [1, 4] | Liver sugar stores are used up and amanitin can trigger insulin release [1]. In one study, half of the dogs given lethal doses died of low blood sugar 1 to 2 days after exposure [1] |
| Clotting times (PT, aPTT) | Prolonged [4, 8] | The failing liver stops making clotting factors [1], as with rat poison for other reasons |
| Albumin and total protein | May fall | In a pig model, an early fall in albumin and total protein was linked with death [1] |
| Kidney values | May rise | Amanitin can damage the kidney tubules [1]; dehydration raises urea with gut irritants [3] |
| Urine amanitin test | Positive | Confirms amatoxin exposure; offered by some veterinary toxicology laboratories; highest on day 1, detectable up to 4 days [1] |
| Lipase | Sometimes high | Raised in 4 of 4 tested dogs with drooling and diarrhea after eating mushrooms [13] |
Amanitins leave the body mainly unchanged in the urine [1], which is why urine is a good sample. A rapid urine test gives a result in 10 minutes and agreed well with laboratory testing in dogs’ urine [10], and it was used in a 2-month-old puppy before treatment began [9]. Routine tests exist mainly for amanitins and psilocin; most other mushroom poisonings are never confirmed [6]. A home “newspaper” test for amanitin should not be relied on [1]. For longer-term liver problems, see liver disease in dogs.
Care and outlook
There is no proven antidote for mushroom poisoning; care relies on removing the toxin early and intensive support [2]. For amatoxins this means close monitoring, fluids, activated charcoal, sugar, vitamin K and blood products as needed [1]. Silibinin, from milk thistle, worked in dogs in studies [1, 11] but is not approved in the US [1].
Amatoxin poisoning is serious: more than half of dogs may die of liver or kidney failure [1]. Of the 59 dogs in California, 13 survived to discharge and recovered completely [4]; in another series, all 5 dogs survived with intensive care [8]. In beagles given death cap, blood values in the survivors were back to normal by the ninth day [11]. Most other mushrooms cause short illness: in Norway, 64% of dogs were managed at home with poison center advice, and only 3 of 421 had eaten an amatoxin mushroom [5].
Related articles
Another poison that drops blood sugar and harms the liver: xylitol.
En français : champignons et chien.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- Can the mushroom be identified from my photos or the pieces I brought?
- Should my dog’s urine be tested for amanitin?
- What are the ALT, glucose and clotting times now, and when will they be rechecked?
- Should bilirubin, albumin and the kidney values be followed too?
- How long should my dog be monitored before we know the liver is safe?
Get your dog’s emergency blood results explained.
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Frequently asked questions
What happens if your dog eats a poisonous mushroom?
It depends on the mushroom. Many cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea or nerve signs within 3 hours that usually pass [2, 3]. Death cap and other amatoxin mushrooms damage the liver: after a delay, vomiting and diarrhea start, the dog may seem to recover, and liver failure follows around 36 to 72 hours [1]. Call your vet or a pet poison line as soon as you know.
What are the symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning in dogs?
Vomiting, belly pain, diarrhea and tiredness, usually 6 to 24 hours after eating [1, 2], sometimes fever [4]. A short false recovery can follow, then jaundice, bleeding problems, confusion and kidney failure [1]. Blood tests show high ALT, low blood sugar and prolonged clotting times in most dogs [4].
Can a dog recover from mushroom poisoning?
Yes, most do. In a study of 421 dogs, 98.6% survived [5]. Amatoxin poisoning is far more dangerous, with death in more than half of cases [1], but some dogs recover completely with intensive care [4, 8].
How long does it take for a dog to get sick after eating a mushroom?
From 15 to 30 minutes for some mushrooms to up to 24 hours for others [12]. Muscarine mushrooms often act within 5 to 30 minutes [3]; death cap signs usually start after 6 to 12 hours or more [1]. Do not wait for signs before calling the vet.
Sources
- Puschner B. Toxin Latent Period >6 Hours After Ingestion of Mushrooms. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed 2022, updated 2024. merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/poisonous-mushrooms/toxin-latent-period-6-hours-after-ingestion-of-mushrooms
- Puschner B. Overview of Mushrooms Toxic to Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed 2022, updated 2025. merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/poisonous-mushrooms/overview-of-mushrooms-toxic-to-animals
- Puschner B. Toxin Latent Period ≤3 Hours After Ingestion of Mushrooms. Merck Veterinary Manual, reviewed 2022, updated 2024. merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/poisonous-mushrooms/toxin-latent-period-3-hours-after-ingestion-of-mushrooms
- Kaae JA, Poppenga RH, Hill AE. Physical examination, serum biochemical, and coagulation abnormalities, treatments, and outcomes for dogs with toxicosis from α-amanitin-containing mushrooms: 59 cases (2006-2019). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2021;258(5):502-509. doi.org/10.2460/javma.258.5.502
- Seljetun KO, Kragstad HR. A retrospective evaluation of mushroom ingestions in 421 dogs in Norway (2011-2022). Vet Rec Open. 2023;10(1):e60. doi.org/10.1002/vro2.60
- Puschner B, Wegenast C. Mushroom poisoning cases in dogs and cats: diagnosis and treatment of hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, gastroenterotoxic, nephrotoxic, and muscarinic mushrooms. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2018;48(6):1053-1067. doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.06.008
- Tegzes JH, Puschner B. Amanita mushroom poisoning: efficacy of aggressive treatment of two dogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 2002;44(2):96-99. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11931514
- Goupil RC et al. Clinical recovery of 5 dogs from amatoxin mushroom poisoning using an adapted Santa Cruz protocol for people. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2021;31(3):414-427. doi.org/10.1111/vec.13040
- Kaae JA, Bever CS, Poppenga RH. Early diagnosis of amanitin exposure (amatoxicosis) in a dog with a point-of-care diagnostic test. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2022;32(6):824-829. doi.org/10.1111/vec.13235
- Bever CS et al. Rapid, sensitive, and accurate point-of-care detection of lethal amatoxins in urine. Toxins. 2020;12(2):123. doi.org/10.3390/toxins12020123
- Vogel G, Tuchweber B, Trost W, Mengs U. Protection by silibinin against Amanita phalloides intoxication in beagles. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1984;73(3):355-362. doi.org/10.1016/0041-008x(84)90087-5
- Pet Poison Helpline. Mushrooms. petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/mushrooms
- Hall J, Barton L. Mushroom toxicosis in dogs in general practice causing gastroenteritis, ptyalism and elevated serum lipase activity. J Small Anim Pract. 2013;54(5):275-279. doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12036
- Romano MC et al. Fatal Amanita muscaria poisoning in a dog confirmed by PCR identification of mushrooms. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2019;31(3):485-487. doi.org/10.1177/1040638719842897
- Lake Z, Ludwik T, Hake C. Case report: α-amanitin toxicosis leading to acute death in a puppy. Front Vet Sci. 2025;12:1542020. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1542020
- eClinPath (Cornell University). Alanine aminotransferase. eclinpath.com/chemistry/liver/liver-injury/alanine-aminotransferase
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Serum biochemical analysis reference ranges. merckvetmanual.com/reference-values-and-conversion-tables/reference-guides/serum-biochemical-analysis-reference-ranges
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.