Are Mushrooms in Grass After a Rain Dangerous to Dogs?

Even the best manicured lawns might occasionally spring a few mushrooms, especially after a rain or during wet seasons. The mushrooms you see are the fruit of the root system that lies under the surface, so there's no way to predict when or where the mushrooms might arise. Be vigilant when you let your dog outside; some mushrooms are toxic enough to kill your furry friend.

  1. Why Dogs Eat Mushrooms

    • Dogs are omnivores, enjoying vegetables and grains in addition to their main diet staple of protein. This leads dogs to taste nearly everything, just to see if they like it. A scavenger by nature, your pooch is likely to take a few bites of a mushroom just because it's there -- especially if wasn't there the day before. Newly formed mushrooms are a novelty many dogs can't ignore.

    Deciding What's Poisonous

    • Most mushrooms aren't toxic, but varieties look so similar that it takes a fungus expert to tell the poisonous ones from the safe ones. It only takes one poisonous mushroom to harm your dog, so don't assume a mushroom growing in your yard is probably safe. There's typically no danger in handling the mushrooms, so don't be afraid to pick them and throw them away -- just wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

    Symptoms

    • Mushroom poisoning is sometimes tricky to diagnose. Your vet's not a fungus expert, but taking in a sample of the mushroom your dog ate might help her determine the best course of action. Symptoms might not occur for up to 48 hours after your dog eats a mushroom, making it difficult to put the two together when you're trying to figure out what's wrong with your pooch. Watch for vomiting or diarrhea, drooling, yellowing of the eyes, tremors or seizures, and lethargy. If you see your dog eat a mushroom, get it to the vet immediately, even if your pet is not exhibiting symptoms of poisoning. She might induce vomiting or use other methods to remove anything the dog has recently eaten in case the mushrooms are toxic.

    Getting Rid of Mushrooms

    • Because mushrooms grow differently than plants, they're difficult to eradicate entirely, and fungicides don't usually work well before mushrooms appear. When you see mushrooms, pick them immediately and toss them away. Aerate your lawn and dethatch it every year to improve drainage, creating a less suitable habitat for the mushrooms. Raking up leaves and other vegetative debris takes away some nutrients mushrooms need. Also, spreading a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as a 21-0-0 or 16-6-8, can help prevent mushrooms.