“My Dog Ate a Mushroom”: What Happened to Lemon and What Every Doodle Owner Needs to Know

By Sherri Smeraglia

Late Sunday night, I got that kind of call every dog mom dreads.

It was my daughter Natalie. Her sweet Goldendoodle, Lemon, had thrown up multiple times and was now having diarrhea. Then came the words that made my heart drop:

“Mom… there was a mushroom in her vomit.”

She rushed outside with a flashlight and gathered every mushroom she could find in the yard. It was late—after 10 PM—and she was trying to figure out what in the world to do. This is the exact kind of situation where you ask yourself:
Do I rush to the emergency vet, or can I safely manage this at home?

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The Midnight Mushroom Crisis

Lemon had vomited several times and was clearly nauseated, but she was alert, drinking water, and able to stand and walk. These were good signs—but when it comes to mushrooms, there’s always that risk. Some cause mild GI upset. Others can cause neurological damage or even organ failure.

Natalie and her husband Sam called me on speakerphone. I watched Lemon through FaceTime and immediately knew we needed to bring in someone with a steady hand. So we contacted Carol, our medical supervisor at Smeraglia. Carol has years of veterinary knowledge and knows how to bring calm clarity to an emotional moment like this.

The four of us—Natalie, Sam, Carol, and I—discussed the symptoms, observed Lemon, and carefully evaluated the mushrooms Natalie found in the yard.

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A Grand-Doodle Emergency

This wasn’t just any dog. Lemon is Natalie’s only female doodle—her baby girl—and my grand-doodle. Natalie has three boys in her doodle pack, but Lemon is her heart dog. You can imagine how emotionally invested we both were. This was personal.

That’s why it was so important to have Carol’s professional guidance alongside our instincts. She calmly explained the medical facts, helped us evaluate risk factors, and talked us through possible next steps. Together, we all made the decision to treat Lemon at home—with a clear plan and close monitoring.

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Here’s What We Did:
1.    Collected mushrooms from the yard to identify and evaluate.
2.    Checked Lemon’s neurological signs—she could walk, drink, and respond.
3.    Consulted Carol, who calmly recommended supportive care steps.
4.    Administered Imodium to help control diarrhea (vet-guided dosage).
5.    Discussed activated charcoal, which binds toxins and is great to keep in your pet’s emergency kit.
6.    Natalie stayed up all night, checking Lemon every hour to monitor her progress.

After about 30–40 minutes of careful conversation and evaluation, we believed that the mushrooms were likely milk cap mushrooms—a variety that’s common in our region and known to cause significant gastrointestinal upset, but rarely anything more serious.

Thankfully, Lemon’s condition remained stable, and she showed signs of improvement overnight.

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Mushroom Toxicity: What Every Dog Owner Should Know

Dogs are fast, curious, and often mouthy—especially doodles. Mushrooms can appear overnight in your yard after rain, and it only takes a moment for your pup to get into something they shouldn’t.

Watch for these symptoms:
•   Vomiting
•   Diarrhea
•   Drooling
•   Disorientation or wobbling
•   Tremors or seizures
•   Inability to stand

Go to the emergency vet immediately if:
•   Your dog is unable to walk or is lethargic
•   Vomiting is violent or uncontrollable
•   You suspect a dangerous mushroom species (like Amanita)
•   Your gut tells you something is really wrong

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Top 5 Most Dangerous Mushrooms for Dogs

While not every mushroom is deadly, these five are especially toxic—and sadly, common in yards and parks:
1.    Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) – Causes liver and kidney failure. Just one cap can be fatal.
2.    Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) – Causes seizures, hallucinations, and tremors.
3.    Galerina marginata (Deadly Galerina) – Found on wood, highly toxic and easily mistaken for safe species.
4.    Lepiota spp. (Deadly Parasols) – Smaller mushrooms that can cause fatal liver failure.
5.    Clitocybe dealbata (Ivory Funnel) – Contains muscarine, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and even respiratory failure.

Golden Rule: If your dog eats any mushroom, treat it as toxic until proven otherwise.

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How to Prepare for a Pet Emergency

Every pet parent should be ready for moments like this—not just emotionally, but practically. We hope our story helps you feel more empowered and less panicked if something like this ever happens in your home.

Build a Doodle Emergency Kit:
•   Activated charcoal (available at most pharmacies)
•   Imodium or Pepto-Bismol (with guidance from your vet)
•   Flashlight for late-night yard inspections
•   Emergency vet contacts printed or saved in your phone
•   Thermometer, gloves, and a notepad for tracking symptoms

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Know Your Yard

This is a reminder to check your yard regularly—especially after rain. Mushrooms can grow fast and change in appearance quickly. Knowing what’s growing around your home is one of the best ways to protect your doodle.

Take photos of questionable mushrooms. Pull them up. Learn to recognize the most dangerous varieties in your area and the ones that are more likely to just cause stomach upset.

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From My Heart to Yours

At Smeraglia, we’re more than a business—we’re a family. And when you bring one of our puppies into your home, you become part of that family too. Lemon’s story is deeply personal to us, but we shared it because we want you to feel supported, informed, and never alone.

If you ever find yourself in a moment of worry or uncertainty, please know:
We are always here for you.

Whether it’s a stomach bug, a mystery mushroom, or anything in between—we’ll walk with you through it.

With love and gratitude,
Sherri