DENVER — Mushrooms are popping up across the Front Range as the recent rains have been good for lawns, but veterinarians say pets need to be watched more than ever.
“There’s a whole bunch of little brown mushrooms in our yard that cause vomiting and diarrhea in our dogs,” veterinarian Kevin Fitzgerald at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital said. “I think what happens with mushrooms a lot of the times goes under the radar. The dog is sick, but we don’t know exactly why.”
Fitzgerald said there are thousands of mushrooms in North America. About 100 are considered poisonous and 10 are dangerous to dogs in Colorado.
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Fitzgerald said nonpoisonous mushrooms can still make dogs sick and said it needs to vomit within three to four hours. If a dog consumes a mushroom, Fitzgerald suggests bringing the mushroom to a veterinarian so it can be identified for toxins.
Mushroom poisoning is a rarity in Colorado.