Mushroom poisoning of dogs

[Stephan Helfer]

Dear Adolf
There is a publication in MYCOLOGIST 8, page 50-51(1994) by Philippa 
Yam, myself and Roy Watling here at Edinburgh. The case involved a 
Springer Spaniel who had eaten Inocybe phaeocomis (apparently 
preferentially) and was admitted to the small animals clinic of the 
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies with 
obvious symptoms of poisoning. The dog eventually recovered after 
emergency treatment and care at the clinic.

A letter to the editor of The Veterinary Record by the same authors 
was also published (Vol 133, page 24; 1993).

I have since been told by readers of the Mycologist that similar 
poisonings have happened before [Labrador dog, again involving Inocybe 
sp. (probably lacera), in southern England]. Unfortunately most of 
these cases never get recorded.

I wonder if there is any scent or taste in certain Inocybe species 
under certain circumstances which lead to this unusual behaviour in 
dogs. The Spaniel had never been known to forage for mushrooms before in her 
life, I don't know about the Labrador.

Yours sincerely


Dr Stephan Helfer, SSO
Mycologist / Plant Pathologist

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, EDINBURGH EH3 5LR,
Scotland UK

email: 
s.helfer at rbge.org.uk

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