Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? Identify the Innocent Varieties vs the Toxic Types
Rocky Kanaka
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Can dogs eat mushrooms safely? Yes—but with a few important restrictions. Common types of mushrooms found in grocery stores are usually safe for dogs to eat raw and cooked. To make cooked mushrooms safe for dogs, they should be cooked without oil, salt, added seasonings, or additional ingredients that could upset your dog’s stomach.
Even edible mushrooms should only be a very rare treat, and shouldn’t be a regular part of your dog’s diet. In truth, we don’t recommend feeding mushrooms to your dog, but if they snag one off the floor or from a plate, they’ll be perfectly fine.
Here, we’ll clear up all your questions on edible mushrooms and dogs, and give you important information to keep your dog safe from toxic species of wild mushrooms.
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms From The Grocery Store?
So, can dogs eat raw mushrooms? Yes, as long as they are a safe, edible species of mushroom. Let’s do a quick rundown of the many culinary mushroom species available in grocery stores and whether or not they are safe for your furry friend to have a small piece of.
Can Dogs Eat Baby Bella Mushrooms?
Yes—Baby Bella mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat, and guess what? “Baby Bella” is just another name for Crimini mushrooms, and they’re the same species as both Portobello and Button or White mushrooms, just at different stages of maturity.
So…Can dogs eat Button mushrooms, or can dogs eat White mushrooms? Yes, they are more mature Baby Bellas!
Can dogs eat Crimini mushrooms? Yes, they are the same as Baby Bellas.
Can dogs eat Portobello mushrooms? Yes, they are bigger Baby Bellas!
Can Dogs Eat Enoki Mushrooms?
Yes! These long, skinny, crunchy, almost noodle-like mushrooms have a super fun texture your dog might enjoy chewing on every once in a while.
Can Dogs Eat Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
Yes! While Lion’s Mane is a safe mushroom for your dog to eat as an occasional snack, some veterinarians also recommend Lion’s Mane mushrooms as a supplement for senior pups. Lion’s Mane is thought to be beneficial for your dog’s immune system and neurological health among many other benefits.
Can dogs eat Maitake mushrooms?
Yes! Also known as Hen of the Woods, Maitake mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Morel Mushrooms?
Yes, but never trust a wild morel. Even if you think you recognize a mushroom growing outdoors, you should never take the risk. If you misidentify a wild mushroom, it could lead to your beloved dog’s death.
Can Dogs Eat Oyster Mushrooms?
Yes! All varieties of culinary Oyster mushrooms—like king oysters, blue oysters, golden oysters, etc.—are safe for dogs to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Puffball Mushrooms?
Puffballs are a special case on this list because you won’t find them in most grocery stores, but they are a culinary mushroom. While young, all-white Puffball mushrooms are safe for dogs (and humans) to eat in moderation, the more mature mushrooms could cause gastrointestinal upset, or be harmful to your dog’s health. In particular, Puffball mushroom spores may be harmful to your dog if inhaled. These mushrooms can be found throughout the United States, and although many foragers like to pick and eat these mushrooms, we don’t recommend eating wild specimens.
Can Dogs Eat Shiitake Mushrooms?
Yes! Shiitake mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat in small amounts if they are unseasoned.
Can Dogs Eat Wood Ear Mushrooms?
Yes! Wood Ear fungus is safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Wild Mushrooms? Mushroom Poisoning In Dogs
It’s important to understand that while most culinary mushrooms are safe for dogs, the same can’t be said for wild mushrooms. If you see your dog eat wild mushrooms, you should grab a sample of the mushroom and then bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately. If you can get your dog to the vet quickly enough the issue can be addressed by inducing vomiting, which can potentially save your dog from the unpleasant experience of mushroom poisoning.
You should prevent your dog from eating any wild mushrooms including these varieties which are considered especially toxic:
- Jeweled Deathcap (Amanita gemmata)
- Fly Agaric or Deadly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
- Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)
- Clitocybe dealbata mushrooms
- Deadly Galerina (Galerina marginata)
- False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta)
- Inocybe mushrooms
Identifying wild mushrooms can be very difficult, and even seasoned mycologists will often consult fellow professionals to get a positive ID on a species. You should always reach out to a vet if your dog has eaten any kind of wild mushroom. Mushroom poisoning in dogs can begin within 15 minutes of eating a toxic species and can be deadly. Some symptoms of mushroom poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Weakness, stumbling, and lack of coordination
- Lethargy
- Trembling
- Seizures
- Liver failure
- Kidney failure
Are Mushrooms Good For Dogs? Benefits & Nutritional Value
Mushrooms are high in healthy fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but dogs shouldn’t be eating enough mushrooms to benefit from their nutrients. Mushrooms should make up an almost imperceptibly small part of your dog’s diet, and should only be a very occasional treat. We don’t recommend using mushrooms as a treat, but it’s okay if your dog gets a hold of one every once in a while.
While culinary edible mushrooms might not be your dog’s ticket to health, they can benefit from medicinal mushrooms commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine among other holistic health systems. Pet parents should use caution when giving their dogs supplements, and should only do so under the direct supervision of a veterinary professional.
Can Dogs Eat Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
Yes, if recommended by your veterinarian. Turkey Tails are anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, and thought to be anti-cancer agents, though further research is still necessary into the efficacy of this supplement for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Reishi Mushrooms?
Yes, if recommended by your veterinarian. Reishi mushrooms are thought to boost the immune system, act as an antioxidant to combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation among other benefits.
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? FAQ
There’s a lot to know about the world of fungi, and we’re certain you’ve still got questions about your dog and mushrooms. Here are a few answers to niche but pressing questions from other dog parents online.
Can dogs eat cooked mushrooms?
Yes—as long as they aren’t salted, cooked in oil, or seasoned with herbs, spices, or aromatics. Plain-cooked mushrooms are fine to feed your dog in moderation, but never seasoned.
Can dogs eat mushrooms cooked in butter?
No. Mushrooms absorb a lot of oil when cooked in butter and can give your dog a serious stomach ache, and even cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Can dogs eat canned mushrooms?
No. Mushrooms are canned with added salt, seasonings, and preservatives that are not good for your dog.
Can dogs eat pickled mushrooms?
No. The vinegar, salt, sugar, and added seasonings found in pickled mushrooms are not good for your dog and can upset their stomach.
Can dogs eat fried mushrooms?
No! The oil used to fry mushrooms can upset your dog’s stomach, and the seasoned coating on fried mushrooms is equally bad for your pooch.
Can dogs eat stuffed mushrooms?
No. Stuffed mushrooms are loaded with sodium, garlic, onions, spicy peppers, oil, and other ingredients that will upset your dog’s stomach.
Can dogs eat cream of mushroom soup?
No. Cream of mushroom soup is high in salt, dairy, and added seasonings like garlic and onion which are toxic to dogs.
Can dogs eat mushroom gravy?
No. Mushroom gravy is very salty, which can upset your dog’s stomach, and typically includes other ingredients that are known to be toxic to dogs like onion and garlic.
Can dogs eat mushrooms from pizza?
No. The mushrooms on pizza have been seasoned and salted and could upset your dog’s stomach.
How many mushrooms can dogs eat?
Dogs should eat no more than 1-2 small pieces of dog-safe mushroom. We don’t recommend doing this daily, but once or twice a week should cause no issues. Remember that dogs can be allergic to foods like mushrooms, so you’ll want to monitor your dog closely after the first few times they eat mushrooms for signs of allergic reaction.
Can dogs eat magic mushrooms?
No. Magic mushrooms—or psilocybin mushrooms—are not safe for dogs to eat. Not only can these mushrooms cause hallucinations, disorientation, and anxiety for your pup, but magic mushrooms can also trigger heart problems and an irregular heartbeat.
What should I do if my dog licks a wild mushroom?
Contact or visit your veterinarian immediately. Even a quick lick of a poisonous mushroom could put your dog at risk of mushroom toxicity. In the worst cases, mushroom poisoning is deadly and untreatable, but the faster you can get your dog to the vet the better their chances are of recovery.
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