Do you have a dog and do you take your dog out for walks in Kirkland?  As a diehard dog lover and dog owner, I thought everyone should know about this safety concern.

Karen Story, The Kirkland Highlands Association President sent this email out to the neighborhood:

A neighbor says that her two new puppies incurred some serious vet bills after having to spend several days in the Animal ER from ingesting toxic mushrooms while out on a walk. They thought we had lost one but the magic of medicine (and a very quick reaction when they noticed some odd behavior) saved them both. She says that the real nasty mushrooms are darkish, with rather flat tops and get slimey after a rain.

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Google says:

Dogs who like to “graze” will sometimes eat wild mushrooms along with lawn grasses, leading to mushroom poisoning. Dogs can sometimes become ill by just licking a poisonous mushroom. Also, some dogs, like some people, are allergic to edible, normally safe mushrooms.

Always watch for mushrooms in areas where you walk your dogs or where they run and play. Be especially cautious of parasol-shaped mushrooms and all small brown mushrooms. Check your yard each morning, especially in damp weather, before letting your dog outside. New mushrooms can appear overnight. Whenever you find mushrooms in your yard, dig them up. Smashing or kicking them spreads the spores and even more will grow.

It can be very difficult to tell the difference between poisonous and edible mushrooms.

If you see your dog eating mushrooms, remove any pieces from the dog’s mouth, save the pieces for identifiation, and call your veterinarian.

If symptoms have already begun, take your dog to a nearby emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

Has anyone taken a photo of these mushrooms?  If so, I can post it on the blog, so people know what to look for.