Vets warn dog owners of poisonous mushrooms
Internal medicine veterinarian Dr Jane Yu from the University’s Companion Animal Health Centre, says there are a number of wild mushroom species in South Australia that could cause problems for dogs.
Vets from the Faculty of Sciences have warned of the dangers of wild mushrooms after recent dog deaths in suburban Adelaide.
Local media reported over the weekend that another family pet died after eating the highly poisonous ‘death cap’ mushrooms.
Our Bachelor of Science (Animal Behaviour) program coordinator and veterinarian Susan Hazel spoke on Ten Eyewitness News. She said that minimising the risk was the simplest way to prevent your dog from ingesting mushrooms.
“If you have a dog like our Labrador - who’s a bit of a rubbish bin that eats anything - be aware if there are mushrooms growing in your backyard.” Dr Hazel said.
“It might be a good idea to get rid of them.”
Internal medicine veterinarian Dr Jane Yu from the University’s Companion Animal Health Centre, said there were a number of wild mushroom species in South Australia that could cause problems for dogs. These include the yellow stainer, fly agaric and death cap, pictured below. However, with most cases of ingestion and toxicity the species was unknown.
“It is vital to seek help as soon as possible if a dog was suspected of eating a wild mushroom, as every hour counts,” Dr Yu said.
“The earlier we can see a dog that has eaten a mushroom, the better chance it has.”
If you think your dog has eaten mushrooms, call the 24-hour Companion Animal Health Centre for advice on 8313 1999.
