Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?

Any caring dog owner knows there are some foods that aren’t safe for their canine friends to eat. Are mushrooms dangerous to dogs? Find out if your pooch can eat mushrooms in this guide, and find out which types of mushrooms might not be safe for dogs.

Which foods are bad for dogs?

Even people who don’t have pets know not to feed dogs chocolate. You might not know, however, that onions also cause toxic reactions in canine digestive systems that can have serious consequences. It’s not only onions—other vegetables in the onion family, including garlic and chives, are also a no-go for fido. Additionally, avoid giving dogs citrus fruits, grapes, macadamia nuts, and a few other common human foods listed by the ASPCA as dangerous for canines.

Are mushrooms safe for dogs?

Most store-bought mushrooms are perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Canines do not have sensitivities to mushrooms like they do to chocolate, onions, and other dog-unfriendly foods.  As a general rule, if a mushroom is safe for a human, it’s also safe for a dog.

This rule goes both ways, though. If a mushroom is toxic to you, it will also hurt your dog. Poisonous mushrooms don’t generally grow in places your dog spends time, but you should still periodically check your backyard for fungal growths that could be toxic to your pooch.

Why can’t dogs eat mushrooms?

The only reason a dog wouldn’t be able to eat a mushroom is if that mushroom were also unsafe for human consumption. Dogs don’t have any inherent sensitivities toward mushrooms, but it’s good to check since canine digestive systems are considerably different from the digestive systems of their human companions.

Will dogs eat mushrooms in the yard?

Yes, dogs have an unfortunate tendency to eat mushrooms and other unsavory items they might find in your backyard. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows these pets have a tendency to get into things they have no business getting into, and if you have mushrooms growing in your yard, chances are your dog will take a bite sooner or later. To keep your dog from eating toxic mushrooms, periodically check your yard, and remove any fungal growths.

What happens if a dog eats a mushroom?

Under most circumstances, your dog eating a mushroom is no cause for concern. Some wild mushrooms are toxic to both humans and dogs, however, in which case food poisoning is a realistic possibility. If you’re concerned your dog has ingested a toxic mushroom, take your pet to an emergency veterinary care clinic immediately.

Can dogs eat cooked mushrooms?

Yes, dogs can eat cooked mushrooms, and in fact, cooked mushrooms are the only kind of mushrooms you should be feeding your dog. Experts suggest that you fully cook mushrooms before feeding them to your dog, but avoid combining mushrooms with meals containing foods to which dogs are sensitive.

Can dogs have breaded mushrooms?

There’s no reason a dog should not eat breaded mushrooms unless the breading contains substances that are dangerous to dogs. Avoid cooking breaded mushrooms using avocado oil, for instance, and just to be on the safe side, it’s probably best to stick to feeding your dog mushrooms without any breading.

Can dogs eat mushrooms from pizza?

It is best to avoid giving your dog mushrooms that you removed from the toppings on your pizza—even if you don’t like mushrooms and your dog is begging for them. Some of the oils and other ingredients in your pizza could be harmful to your dog, so instead, cook mushrooms separately if you intend to give them to your pooch.

Can dogs eat mushroom soup?

Mushroom soup often contains a medley of ingredients, some of which could be harmful to your dog. A simple mushroom soup consisting of only mushrooms and water would be fine, but we think your dog would probably prefer to simply eat cooked mushrooms instead.

Can dogs eat mushroom gravy?

No, avoid giving your dog mushroom gravy since it may contain ingredients that are toxic to canines. When feeding cooked mushrooms to your dog, it is generally best to keep your recipes as simple as possible.

Can dogs eat mushrooms cooked in butter?

No, you should not cook mushrooms in butter when you’re planning to give them to your dog. Dairy isn’t strictly toxic to dogs, but it can cause digestive discomfort. Instead, choose a dog-safe cooking oil like coconut oil or olive oil.

Can dogs eat morels?

Yes, since morel mushrooms are safe for humans, they are also safe for dogs. To avoid giving your pooch any digestive discomfort, however, make sure to cook any wild morel mushrooms you may come across in the forest before letting your dog eat them.

Can dogs eat psilocybin mushrooms?

With psilocybin mushrooms becoming legal in some parts of the country and rapidly gaining popularity, it’s natural to wonder what would happen if your dog accidentally got into your shroom stash. While we definitely don’t recommend giving psilocybin mushrooms to anyone aside from willing human participants, there’s no evidence that this potent psychedelic compound is any more dangerous to dogs and it is to humans. On that front, psilocybin has remarkably few side effects and appears to be incredibly beneficial for a wide variety of conditions.

Dogs & other foods

Well we’re on the subject, let’s find out if any other common household foods are dangerous to dogs:

1. Can dogs have zucchini?

Yes, zucchini is perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Some common vegetables that are safe for humans are toxic to dogs, but zucchini, a popular summer garden crop, is not among them.

2. Can dogs have cooked onions?

No, onions remain toxic to dogs even when they’re cooked. Regardless of how they’re prepared, onions can cause a dangerous canine condition called onion toxicosis. Avoid feeding your dog any type of food containing onions.

3. Can dogs have avocados?

Avocados are not as dangerous to dogs as certain other foods, but you should still avoid feeding this creamy fruit to your canine. Persin, a potent fungicidal substance, is present in avocados in high concentrations, and while dogs are more resistant to persin than other animals, it’s still not a good idea to expose canines to this substance.

4. Can dogs eat shrimp?

Yes, there is no reason you shouldn’t occasionally feed shrimp to your dog as part of meals or as a special treat. Just as is the case with humans, though, the high cholesterol levels in shrimp can be harmful to canine cardiovascular systems if they eat this shellfish too frequently. Keep your dog’s shrimp consumption relatively infrequent, and you shouldn’t have any problems.

5. Can dogs eat scrambled eggs?

Yes, experts agree that scrambled eggs are a perfectly fine snack to feed to your dog. Regardless which way you cook your eggs (over easy, sunny side up, etc.), they’ll remain safe for dogs, but just avoid cooking fido’s eggs using butter, avocado oil, or other cooking oils that can be dangerous to dogs or cause digestive discomfort.

6. Is cheese good for dogs?

No, cheese is not good for dogs, and in fact, cheese and all other dairy products are harmful to canine digestive systems. Unlike humans, dogs are not born with the digestive enzyme lactase, which means all dogs are lactose-intolerant. While giving your dog a small amount of cheese every once in a while is unlikely to cause any problems, just understand that dairy is not a food group dogs are inherently equipped to eat.

7. Can dogs have celery?

Yes, celery is safe for dogs to eat. Aside from foods in the onion family, most vegetables don’t cause any harm to canine digestive systems, and celery is among the foods that your dog can safely eat in any quantity or frequency—as long as they like the taste of these crunchy, fibrous vegetables, that is.

8. Can dogs eat peas?

Yes, you can feed your dog peas, and including peas in your canine’s diet will provide an additional source of important vitamins and minerals. All types of peas are safe for dogs to eat, but just make sure they’re fresh and not canned with added salt.

9. Can dogs eat broccoli?

Yes, you can feed broccoli to your dog, but just avoid giving fido an entire floret to chew on. Your dog will have an easier time digesting this fibrous vegetable if it’s cooked first, and you’ll probably have a better chance of getting your dog to actually eat broccoli this way as well.

10. Is spinach good for dogs?

Yes, spinach is safe for dogs to eat. High in protein, vitamins, and minerals, this leafy vegetable is very healthy for both dogs and humans. To make it easier for your dog to digest, however, consider cooking your spinach first.

11. Are carrots good for dogs?

Yes, carrots are safe for dogs to eat. Like other vegetables that are hard to chew and raw, however, it’s best to cook carrots before feeding them to your dog.