Warning: Bad Mushrooms Harm Humans, Pets

By: Sharon Stevens

KSDK -- The soaking rains leave a bumper crop of mushrooms but health experts say beware: some of those mushrooms can be deadly! And that warning is not just for humans.

Some veterinarians tell us this year, they're seeing more dogs with allergies, insect problems and mushroom poisoning.

That's what happened to a cute yellow lab named Cammie.

She's only 9 weeks old but Cammie is already the star of the three-dog Fugel household.

The second day she became a family member, owner Madonna Fugel says Cammie decided to root around on the front lawn. She ended up eating a poisonous mushroom that almost killed her.

"We called the animal emergency clinic and we had to run her over there. They put an I-V on her, they put her on oxygen and they had her on fluids all night."

Fugel says shortly after Cammie bit into the mushroom she came into the front yard and there were like 50 of them in one area.

The family pulled up as many as they could. But it's rained again and the mushrooms are back.

Fugel says, "They were bright red in color and cream-colored..some were huge, some were small. They were all over."

Cammie's back to her playful self. But the sudden, violent sickness gave the Fugels a scare.

Now, all three dogs are only allowed to frolic in the sunny backyard where there are no mushrooms.

Veterinarians at the Millis Animal Hospital in Richmond Heights, have seen a larger-than normal share of mushroom cases this year.

Dr. Dave Hargrove says the best way to help your pet is to be a conscientious owner.

Dr. Hargrove says once you determine that something is wrong, move quickly because the poisonous mushrooms could cause liver and kidney damage in pets.