The
recent rains have brought up a bumper crop of mushrooms around the Cape and
South Shore. We see them everywhere, from woodland trails to manicured lawns to
open pastures, popping up in every shape
from tiny parasols to golf balls, soft balls, fluted goblets and one that
resembled a bowler hat or perhaps a space ship.
Albeit
charming in appearance, we've all been warned many times not to eat wild
mushrooms. Delectable sautéed with butter and herbs or stirred into sour cream
for stroganoff or soup, yes, but unless you are a mushroom expert and 100% sure
of what you've collected, wild mushrooms shouldn't be on your menu, nor your
pet's.
This
spring one of our customers on the South Shore told us about nearly losing her
beloved Golden Retriever because the dog had eaten some harmless looking
mushrooms growing in her suburban yard. Luckily she was able to rush the dog to
an emergency vet who was able to save the dog, but had she not been home or
noticed her pet's distress the result would have been tragic.
The ASPCA reports that 99% of mushrooms are harmless but the 1% that
are toxic are extremely dangerous. They recommend that you should immediately
call your veterinarian and/or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888 426 4435 if you see your pet eating a wild mushroom. If you have a yard, keep an eye on any mushrooms that appear and remove and discard
them safely as soon as possible.
We
recommend that you take advantage of this beautiful fall weather by taking as
many long walks with your dog as possible, but keep an eye on your pooch when
walking in the woods.
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