food
Mushrooms
DANGEROUS
Treat any wild mushroom as dangerous. Plain shop-bought cooked mushrooms are not toxic, but wild ones can be deadly.
If your dog has eaten this item, contact your vet or an emergency veterinary service now.
If your dog is showing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, collapse, severe vomiting, unconsciousness or other serious symptoms, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
What to do
If your dog has eaten a wild mushroom, contact your vet immediately. If you can do so safely, photograph the mushroom or keep a sample in paper to help identification. Do not wait for symptoms.
When to contact a vet: Yes for any wild mushroom, and for any dog that is drooling, wobbly, trembling, vomiting repeatedly or unusually quiet.
Symptoms to look for
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- drooling
- weakness
- wobbliness
- tremors
- seizures
- yellowing of the gums or eyes
- collapse
Why
Shop-bought culinary mushrooms such as button, chestnut and portobello are not considered toxic to dogs when plain and cooked, although they are often prepared with butter, onion or garlic, which are a problem. Wild mushrooms are a different matter. Several species found in UK gardens, parks and woodland are highly toxic and can cause liver or kidney failure, and toxic species cannot be reliably told apart from harmless ones by sight. For that reason any wild mushroom eaten by a dog should be treated as an emergency.
- Substances of concern
- amatoxins, muscarine, ibotenic acid, muscimol
- Safer parts
- Plain, cooked, shop-bought culinary mushrooms with no seasoning.
- Parts to avoid
- All wild mushrooms and toadstools, and mushrooms cooked with onion, garlic, butter or salt.
- Preparation
- If you feed mushrooms at all, use plain shop-bought ones, cooked without oil or seasoning.
- How much matters
- There is no safe amount of a wild mushroom, because the species is usually unknown. A small piece of plain cooked culinary mushroom is low risk.
- Severity
- High for wild mushrooms
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison ControlPrimary authoritative — Toxicity
- PetMDVeterinary information — Toxicity
Information reviewed against recognised veterinary and animal-safety sources. Source organisations are independent of Is It For Dogs unless otherwise stated.
Last reviewed 6 September 2026 · next review due September 2027.
Safety classifications are based on available expert and veterinary information. Individual dogs may react differently, particularly dogs with allergies, existing health conditions or specific dietary requirements.
Important: Is It For Dogs provides general information about the safety of foods, plants, drinks, ingredients and other items around dogs. Our information is based on sources we consider reliable and is intended to help dog owners make informed decisions. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified veterinary professional. Read more
Dogs can react differently depending on their size, age, health, allergies, medications, the amount consumed and other circumstances. An item classified as Safe is not necessarily suitable for every individual dog.
If your dog has eaten something potentially poisonous or dangerous, has eaten an unknown substance, or is showing concerning symptoms, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary service immediately.
Do not induce vomiting or give your dog medication unless specifically instructed to do so by a veterinary professional.