They’re known as “Death Cap Mushrooms” and for good reason – Dr. Steve Hooser, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor of toxicology and senior veterinary toxicologist at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, says they can be fatal for dogs. Dr. Hooser says the mushrooms, scientifically known as Amanita spp., have appeared in yards and fields across central Indiana.
“These mushrooms typically emerge between July and November and can be deadly to dogs of all sizes, even with prompt treatment,” said Dr. Hooser. “They look very similar to harmless mushrooms and can only be identified accurately by an expert. Ingesting them can cause severe liver and kidney damage within 24–48 hours and may be fatal.”
Dr. Hooser advises pet owners to contact a veterinarian right away if their dog eats a mushroom. “Don’t wait. Early intervention is critical,” he said.
To help alert pet owners, the College of Veterinary Medicine put out a social post with Dr. Hooser’s advice this week and the information drew immediate and widespread attention. The information even reached a follower who saw the post on Instagram and as a result, was able to get needed veterinary care for their dog that had suddenly become sick. After reading the post, they remembered seeing mushrooms in their yard and brought the pet to their regular vet who had bloodwork done and found evidence of toxin exposure for which the pet was treated.
Locally in Tippecanoe County, the post caught the attention of Lafayette’s Star City News, which interviewed Dr. Hooser yesterday (Thursday, August 14), and broadcast the interview as the lead story on the evening newscast. Click here to view the story (note – an ad may display briefly at the beginning).
A big thank you to Dr. Hooser for providing the information that the college was able to share out for the benefit of pets and their owners.
