Mushrooms are edible mushrooms that can be found on the market throughout the year. They are foods that are a good source of fiber, essential amino acids and B vitamins. In addition, they do not contain any component that is toxic to dogs, so we can offer it to our dog as long as we take into account a series of considerations.
If you're wondering if dogs can eat mushrooms, keep reading the following article on our site where we explain how you can safely offer mushrooms to your dog.
Can dogs eat mushrooms?
Mushrooms or fungi do not belong to the animal or plant kingdom, but rather constitute a separate kingdom, the Fungi kingdom. Within the Fungi kingdom, there are edible mushrooms, some of which are really valued in our gastronomy. However, there are also species of mushrooms that are toxic or poisonous In Spain, there are around 290-300 species of toxic mushrooms and, among them, 5 are toxic t deadly.
Of course, we should never offer our dog an unknown or toxic mushroom Remember that, in case you decide to collect mushrooms, you must have enough knowledge to differentiate edible mushrooms from those that are not. Only those edible mushrooms that are known for sure should be collected; inedible or unknown mushrooms should be abandoned. Likewise, those mushrooms that are close to roads or highways (even if they are edible) should be discarded, since they will have a high content of pollutants. On the other hand, even if you do not dedicate yourself to collecting mushrooms, it is important that you take special care during walks in the mountains with your dog, since these poisonous mushrooms could attract their attention and cause poisoning due to ingestion of mushrooms. To avoid this, always be vigilant and prevent your dog from ingesting any unknown mushroom.
What mushrooms can dogs eat?
Within the edible mushrooms, we find wild mushrooms and cultivated mushrooms Wild mushrooms (milk caps, boletus or senderilla) can only be found in spring and autumn, while cultivated mushrooms (champignon, oyster mushroom, apricot, blue foot or shiitake) can be found in the market throughout the year. Mushrooms that are edible for people are also edible for dogs. Therefore, you can include them in your dog's ration as long as you do it properly. In the following sections we explain how you can include mushrooms, specifically champignons, in your dog's diet.
What if my dog eats mushrooms?
Dogs, unlike cats, are opportunistic omnivores, that is, they are carnivores but not strict carnivores. This implies that they have a digestive system capable of digesting foods that are not of animal origin, among which are mushrooms. In this way, it's okay if your dog eats mushrooms However, it is important to note that the highest percentage of food should come from meat of animal origin.
Although commercial feeds do not usually include mushrooms in their list of ingredients, exceptionally we can find some feeds that contain mushrooms as raw material, which confirms that it is a food that can be part of the dog diet. If instead of feeding your dog with commercial feed you usually do it with homemade rations, you can include mushrooms in his diet as long as you do it in the right way
In dogs, it is important to balance the supply of protein from animal and vegetable sources, so that the ingredients that provide protein of animal origin should represent at least 60-80% of the daily ration in homemade diets. The remaining percentage will be made up of foods of non-animal origin such as cereals, vegetables and fruits. You can also include other foods of non-animal origin such as mushrooms, as long as you do it in the correct proportion (around 3% of the ration may be adequate). In any case, remember that if you feed your dog with homemade rations, it is important that you consult a veterinarian specialized in animal nutrition to ensure that the diet you feed your dog is he althy and balanced.
Do you want to introduce your dog to a homemade diet? The first of all will be to consult with a veterinarian specialized in nutrition, as we have just commented. Then, do not hesitate to consult our article on Natural food for dogs to expand your knowledge.
Benefits of mushrooms for your dog
Mushrooms are foods that provide little energy, around 30 kcal per 100 grams. Therefore, it is a suitable food for dogs with obesity or overweight problems. In addition, they are a good source of fiber, which provides a feeling of satiety without increasing energy intake, improves intestinal transit, regulates stool consistency and favors the maintenance of the intestinal microbiota.
Compared to vegetables, mushrooms are a good source of essential amino acidsIn fact, although in low quantity, it is a food that contains all the essential amino acids. Among the vitaminas, its high content of niacin (vitamin B3) and riboflavin (vitamin B2) stands out, which play an important role in energy metabolism. In addition, niacin contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system, the digestive system and the skin, and riboflavin is necessary to maintain the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes. To a lesser extent, they contain thiamin (vitamin B1) and vitamin C. As far as minerals are concerned, mushrooms contain considerable amounts of potassium, phosphorus, selenium and iron
In addition, it should be noted that the consumption of mushrooms produces a retarding effect on the development of diabetes and reduces the clinical signs associated with this pathology (polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and weight loss). Find out more in this other article on Diabetes in dogs.
How to give mushrooms to a dog?
As we have mentioned, there are feeds that include mushrooms in their ingredients. However, if you usually feed your dog a homemade ration, you can include the mushrooms in the following way:
- Rinse the mushrooms to remove any traces of soil that may remain on the cap or stem. Then, finish cleaning them with a dry paper or cloth.
- Chop the mushrooms and sauté them in a pan until cooked. If you want, you can add a few drops of olive oil to cook them, but never add s alt. You can also cook them with the rest of the ingredients (proteins, cereals, vegetables, etc.) that you usually include in your daily ration.
At this point, it is important not to offer your dog mushrooms prepared with other ingredients that may be toxic to him, such as garlic or onion. Remember that they are toxic foods for dogs that can cause oxidative damage to red blood cells and cause hemolytic anemia if they are offered in large quantities. Therefore, when you decide to offer mushrooms to your dog, make sure that they are not accompanied by any other ingredient that could be harmful to him. In this other article we talk about the Forbidden foods for dogs.
Poisonous mushrooms for dogs
Those mushrooms that are poisonous to people are also poisonous to dogs As we have mentioned, in Spain there are around 300 species of toxic mushrooms. As a general rule (although there are exceptions), mushrooms that have white plates, ring and volva are usually poisonous. Therefore, we must discard the false belief that poisonous mushrooms are striking and colorful, since not all of them are.
Among the toxic mushrooms that we can find in our country, there are five that are deadly:
- Amanita phalloides: has white gills, volva and ring.
- Amanita verna: it is completely white.
- Amanita virosa: it is completely white and has a small central mamelon on the cap.
- Cortinarius orellanus: it is reddish brown (both the foot, the gills and the cap) and has a long but robust foot.
- Lepiota helveolla: it is white and has a cap with scales.
What happens if a dog eats poisonous mushrooms?
Poisonous mushrooms can cause poisoning of two types:
- Long incubation period. Those with a long incubation period are usually more serious and, in many cases, lead to death.
- Short incubation periodThose with a short incubation period are usually milder, presenting with digestive disorders and hallucinations. Therefore, we must bear in mind that poisonous mushroom poisoning does not always show its face immediately after ingestion, but rather the first symptoms may take several hours to appear.
Taking into account the amount of poisonous mushrooms that we can find in our country, it is important that during walks through the mountains or the countryside, you pay attention and prevent your dog from ingesting any mushroom that is find. Whenever you suspect that your dog has ingested an unknown mushroom, you should Go to your veterinarian immediately If possible, take a sample or take a photo of the mushroom in question, as this will make it easier to identify the species of fungus and determine whether or not it is poisonous.
