10/10/2024
PSA: Please beware of "Death Cap" Mushrooms. They are extremely toxic and lethal to pets (as well as humans) and are popping up in the Pacific Northwest this time of year.
As recently as 2014, Death Caps had not been documented in the Seattle area. Not so, now. This species "Amanita Phalloides" is the most deadly of all mushrooms, is odorless or pleasant smelling, and difficult to identify. It contains Amatoxin, which binds to an enzyme responsible for making new proteins in the liver, resulting in liver failure, organ failure, coma and death. Ingesting even a small amount can kill a dog, or a human. With treatment, 90% of humans will survive but treatment often includes a liver transplant. Most dogs aren't so lucky, and successful recovery requires prompt treatment and - most likely - Biliary Centesis (ultrasound guided gall bladder drainage) and Octreotides. Very few specialty vets in the area offer these therapies.
We are sharing this information with great sadness, as we just lost sweet Conan, a curious 10 month old puppy who should have had his whole life ahead of him, to Death Cap poisoning. He was hospitalized for treatment but he was already in liver failure. We are so sorry for sweet Conan, and for his fosters - who were by his side through his entire hospitalization and with him as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
The Death Cap Conan ate was in the Montlake neighborhood. Please check your yard for these lethal mushrooms. They are found growing near the base of trees such as oaks, birches, elms and pines, and adults have a characteristic flange-like ring under the cap. Young Death Caps do not have the ring. It's important to check frequently, as mushrooms will literally pop up overnight.
If you see your dog ingest a mushroom:
1) Collect a mushroom of the same species for identification purposes; if you are not certain the mushroom is not toxic...
2) Induce vomiting immediately with hydrogen peroxide (time is of the essence!) and administer activated charcoal if you are able. Activated charcoal is not effective once the mushroom is no longer in the GI tract
3) Go straight to an emergency vet that can see you immediately.
Quick action may be key to your dog's survival. Sadly Conan's foster was not aware that he had ingested a Death Cap until many hours later when he vomited it up. By that time, the amatoxin was already wreaking havoc on his poor body.
We don't want to cause panic. Mushrooms are everywhere this time of year and 97% of mushrooms are not toxic to humans or dogs. Even most toxic mushrooms are not fatal. During this ordeal we learned that most physicians and veterinarians never see a case of amatoxin poisoning. However, it happened to poor Conan and so we must get the word out. Amanita Phalloides are here, they're deadly, and they absolutely should be on your radar.