Can Cats and Dogs Eat Mushrooms?
Our pets are naturally curious, especially when it comes to food. If you’re a mushroom fan or grow your own mushrooms at home, you might wonder if they’re safe for your cat or dog. Pets find a way of getting into everything, from clawing for food to sniffing wild mushrooms outside. Although natural scavengers, domesticated cats and dogs can’t differentiate between safe and toxic mushrooms.
Generally, cats and dogs can eat some mushrooms. Most mushrooms that aren’t safe for human consumption also are unsafe for your pets. It’s best to avoid allowing your cat or dog anywhere near wild mushrooms. Certain wild mushrooms – such as ‘death cap mushrooms’, known formally as ‘Amanita Phalloides’, can be fatal to cats and dogs.
You can feed your cat or dog mushrooms if they’re commercially grown or considered safe for human consumption. We’re sharing our guide on everything to know before your cat or dog eats mushrooms.
Can Cats Eat Mushrooms?
Cats can eat mushrooms in moderation if they are considered to be commercially grown. It’s best to keep your cats away from any type of wild mushroom, as ingesting these can prove fatal. Toxic wild mushrooms can cause organ failure in both humans and cats. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t give it to your cats either.
Store-bought or commercial-grade mushrooms, like the type you can grow at home, are suitable for cats to eat. Mushrooms are a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, fibre, and protein. Eating safe mushrooms can help improve your cat’s bone health, digestion, immune system, and metabolism.
Cooked mushrooms are easier to digest but should not be fed to your cat if they’re seasoned or cooked in butter. Common kitchen seasonings, like onion and garlic, can also be toxic to cats. You can feed your cat unseasoned mushrooms in moderation if they’re a safe type.
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?
Just like cats, dogs can also eat certain types of mushrooms in moderation. You’ll want to avoid feeding them mushrooms cooked in butter, garlic, or onion seasoning as these can make your dog sick.
If you want to give your dog mushrooms, cook them separately from your own food. Unlike cats, dogs can get mushrooms in a cooked or raw state. While mushrooms are naturally low in salt and rich in vitamins B and D, you’ll want to give them to your dog in moderation and not as a replacement for their regular food.
Safe Types of Mushrooms for Cats and Dogs
Most mushrooms on supermarket shelves are considered safe for cats and dogs. Alternatively, many of our mushroom growing kits are also pet-safe. Mushrooms that are safe for cat and dog consumption include:
- Chestnut mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
- Maitake mushrooms (Grifola frondosa)
- Portobello mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
- Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum)
- Oyster mushrooms (pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus citrinopileatus)
- Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes)
- White mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
Treating Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs / Cats
Veterinary treatment options for mushroom poisoning depend on the type of mushroom, the symptoms, and when the mushroom was consumed. IF you think your pet has consumed mushrooms and it is possible to get a sample, you should take a gloved hand or damp paper towel and collect a sample and bring this to the vet for examination.
Your veterinarian may induce vomiting if the ingestion was recent, and in some cases may administer drugs to counteract affects of the mushroom if poisonous.
Discover Your Green Thumb with Our At-Home Growing Kit
Are you exploring the health benefits of mushrooms for you and your four-legged friends? Our ready-growing mushroom kits give you a head start as the mushrooms are already growing, ensuring a healthy crop. You’ll get your first cook able mushrooms in just days.
Got a question about what mushrooms are safe for your cat or dog? Contact our team today, follow us on Instagram, and explore our blog for more mushroom growing tips and tricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat raw mushrooms?
It’s safe to eat most common types of mushrooms in their raw state without the need to cook, including chestnut, oyster, and white button mushrooms. Our in-depth guide answers the question of “Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms?”
Care Are Mushrooms Vegetables?
No, Mushrooms are not vegetables they are classed within the kingdom of Fungi