Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? It Depends on the Type

Mushrooms are a tricky topic for dog owners because the answer isn't a simple yes or no — it depends entirely on the type of mushroom. Here's what you need to know to keep your dog safe.

Store-Bought Mushrooms: Generally Safe

Common culinary mushrooms available in grocery stores are generally considered safe for dogs in small amounts. These include:

• White button mushrooms
• Cremini mushrooms
• Portobello mushrooms
• Shiitake mushrooms

These mushrooms are non-toxic to dogs and provide some nutritional value including B vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants. However, they should always be served plain — no garlic, onion, butter, oil, or seasoning, all of which are harmful to dogs.

Wild Mushrooms: Potentially Deadly

Wild mushrooms are a completely different story. Many species of wild mushrooms are highly toxic to dogs, and some can cause fatal liver failure or neurological damage even in small amounts. The most dangerous include:

• Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) — causes fatal liver failure
• Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) — causes neurological symptoms
• Galerina marginata — similar toxicity to Death Cap
• Gyromitra species (False Morels) — toxic to liver and nervous system

The problem is that toxic wild mushrooms can look very similar to safe ones, even to experienced foragers. If your dog eats a wild mushroom, treat it as an emergency.

Signs of Mushroom Toxicity in Dogs

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Excessive drooling
• Weakness and lethargy
• Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice — sign of liver damage)
• Seizures or tremors
• Coma in severe cases

Symptoms may be delayed by 6–24 hours after ingestion, making wild mushroom poisoning particularly dangerous.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats a Wild Mushroom

1. Act immediately — do not wait for symptoms
2. Try to identify or photograph the mushroom if possible
3. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435
4. Get to an emergency vet as quickly as possible

Keep the EBPP Dog Feeding Chart Fridge Magnet on your refrigerator as a quick household reference for toxic foods — and teach children never to let the dog eat anything found outdoors.

Final Thoughts

Plain store-bought mushrooms are safe for dogs in small amounts. Wild mushrooms should always be treated as potentially deadly. When walking your dog in areas where wild mushrooms grow, keep them on a leash and watch carefully for any foraging behavior.