Mushroom Warning

The Animal Poisons Helpline is once again starting to receive an increase in the number of calls regarding pets eating wild mushrooms. This comes as no surprise given the seasonal growth characteristics of fungi and the recent heavy rains throughout much of Australia.

Wild mushroom ingestion can result in a range of symptoms depending on the species and toxin involved. Whilst many species will result in either no symptoms or a transient gastroenteritis like syndrome, some mushrooms such as Amanita phalloides (commonly known as the Death cap) can result in life-threatening effects after the ingestion of even small quantities.

Last year, one of the most common reasons for calling the Animal Poisons Helpline was wild mushroom ingestion. As we are once again heading into the mushroom season, please be cautious by keeping your pets on a leash whilst walking them. Where possible, remove any mushrooms from your yard before your pet has a chance to play with or eat them.

☎️ If your pet has ingested a wild mushroom (or anything else they should not have), you can call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 (AU) or 0800 869 738 (NZ) for advice.

This post has been made possible by a grant from Animal Welfare Victoria.