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Can dogs eat Puffball mushrooms?

can dogs have puffball mushroomsCaution

Overview

dog-food-safety-information

Caution. Young puffball mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat in moderation, providing a healthy dose of protein and minerals. However, when puffballs mature, they become toxic. Inhaling the spores in large quantities may also cause lung inflammation in dogs.

Benefits

health-benefits
  • Puffball mushrooms are rich in protein. They also contain nutrients that can boost the immune system and help reduce cholesterol levels.
  • Puffball mushrooms are a good source of minerals, including manganese, selenium, and phosphorous.
  • The clavacin in puffball mushrooms acts as an antibiotic to fight off infections.

Risks

health-risks
  • There are many types of puffball mushrooms; while the common puffball is edible, many that share similar appearances are poisonous to dogs and humans.
  • In rare cases, it has been reported that exposure to large quantities of mature puffball spores can cause lung inflammation, leading to a respiratory disease called lycoperdonosis. Dogs that inhale the spores experience lethargy, shortness of breath, fever, and severe respiratory distress. It may even cause a fatal result.
health-risks-dog

Servings

serving-suggestions
  • True puffball mushrooms are edible when they are still young, characterized by a pure white spongy flesh on the inside. As puffball mushrooms mature, the flesh turns yellow, brown, or gray. At this stage, they are no longer edible and can make dogs sick.
  • The best way to know if the puffball mushroom is not a poisonous look-alike is to cut the mushroom in half to check the color of the spongy flesh if there are other things inside the mushroom beside the white flesh.
  • It's recommended to lightly cook the puffball mushrooms by boiling, steaming, or grilling. Peel the outer layer before cooking. Cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • If you're unsure whether or not a puffball mushroom is safe to eat, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding it to your dog.

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