Mushroom Alert! Toxic to Dogs

What did you do last weekend?  I spent part of mine mushroom picking.  Not as in mushrooming for gourmet mushrooms to eat – rather getting rid of the little ones that started growing in my backyard after the rain we recently had.  Some of these fungi are poisonous to our pets and every year the emergency hospitals see cases of dogs sickened by eating them.  I don’t put anything past my dogs so I’m not taking any chances.

This is important especially if you have a new puppy or kitten in your home.  It’s easy to forget how mischievous they can be, especially if you’ve lived with a mature pet for a long time before getting a new little one; and you become complacent when you’ve lived with your pet for a while – but occasionally even an older pet can surprise you.  I was in my kitchen the other day when one of my older cats shocked me by casually strolling out of a cupboard!  It wasn’t even a food cupboard (fortunately) but what the appeal was that enticed him inside in the first place is beyond me!

Young puppies and kittens test out everything with their mouths (I’m sure you’ve noticed that!) and it’s easy for them to get into trouble.  Good thing to keep in mind as you decorate for the upcoming holidays as well as a good time to be sure you have a few essential first aid items on hand.

Dangers include things like electrical cords as you run lights around your house, the holiday tree, rich foods like turkey left out to defrost (or just cooked), other holiday plants like holly and mistletoe, gifts that might contain food items (don’t think wrapping paper will hide the scent!), tinsel and ribbon, candles and probably a hundred other things that I can’t think of at the moment.

A couple staples to have are hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting), benedryl (for allergic reactions), a good triple antibacterial ointment and a good antiseptic wash for small wounds.  You might ask your veterinarian if there is anything else they would recommend you keep on hand so you have a good first aid kit available if needed.  Something else to have close by is the phone number to the animal poison hotline run by the ASPCA.  That number is: (888) 426-4435.  They do charge a consultation fee, but it’s a small price to pay if it saves your pet’s life or saves you from a costly trip to the emergency room.  And of course, the phone number and directions to the closest veterinary emergency hospital, just in case.

Prevention is so much cheaper than treatment in all situations, but first you have to be aware of the danger and willing to put in the work to fix it.  It might mean installing a screen door so your little door dasher is cut off; putting up coyote rollers (tubes that roll around the top of your fence to prevent a dog from jumping out – or a coyote from coming in!), or an invisible fence around your yard if your pet has learned how to escape, repairing or replacing the fence if there are gaps and holes, putting baby latches on cupboards doors (that’s what my husband’s doing this weekend!), making sure electrical cords are hidden or covered, keeping toxins like paint remover and bug spray securely out of reach of our pets and more.  I’m sure if you look around your house with fresh eyes you will see something that needs improvement.

Get your home safe before the holidays and keep your pets in mind as you start decorating.  What are you waiting for?  The mushrooms are popping up and this weekend is as good as any to start these little projects.