Dogs will try to eat almost anything, including some things they shouldn’t. But sometimes, it can be fatal.
Dog mom Andrea Safir is warning others after her puppy, Ginger, died from eating a death cap mushroom, per Berkleyside.
When Andrea realized that Ginger was unconscious, she rushed her to the animal hospital. But after the vet told her that her pup had likely eaten a death cap mushroom, and that there was nothing more they could do, they euthanized Ginger.
Usual Walk Turns Tragic
Andrea took Ginger for a walk that morning as normal, and let her off the leash for a while. For a few minutes, Ginger was out of sight.
But a few hours later, during their afternoon walk, Ginger became more sluggish than usual. Then, at home, Ginger lost consciousness on the couch, probably due to a decrease in blood sugar levels. However, Andrea thought that she was simply sleeping.
Andrea blames herself, as many dog parents would in such a tragic situation, and wishes that she could have learned more about the risks of poisonous mushrooms in a different way.
Most mushrooms we find are harmless, but some can be seriously dangerous both to humans and to our pets. These include the death cap mushroom, as well as the destroying angel mushroom. Both contain amatoxin, a chemical compound that can cause liver failure.
Since Ginger died a year ago, Andrea hasn’t adopted any more pets, though she’d like to at some point. “I will not try to replace her,” she said.
Mushroom Warnings
And now, she’s determined to warn other dog parents so their pups won’t suffer the same fate as Ginger. When she sees dogs running off-leash where mushrooms might be, she’ll approach their parents, and she also posts on social media about the dangers. And when she discovered mushrooms growing by her front steps a few weeks ago, she destroyed them.
If you’re concerned that your dog has consumed a poisonous mushroom, consult a vet or the ASPCA’s pet poison hotline, at (888) 426-4435, right away.
