What To Do In The Case Of Suspected Mushroom Poisoning:

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IF YOU ARE FORAGING AND MAKE A MISTAKE:

If you have mistakenly put a poisonous look alike mushroom in your foraging bag with other mushrooms whilst in the woods, DO NOT TAKE THE CHANCE. Throw them  ALL out.

POISON INFORMATION FOR THE USA: If you have eaten a mushroom that is poisonous

Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or visit American Poison Centres .org for guidance on what to do. 

The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has a 24 hour hotline also for poisoning.

POISON INFORMATION FOR CANADA: 

Call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911 or call 911. 

The Ontario Poison Centre in Toronto is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 416-813-5900 and 1-800-268-9017.

If you are located in Québec, call 1-800-454-1212.

If you are located in Nunavut, contact your local health centre.

Unfortunately, while there are currently nine different phone numbers used to access the five poison centres in Canada, many Canadians don’t know the phone number for their local poison centre or even that the service is available. For this reason, Health Canada has launched a new toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, in collaboration with four Canadian poison centres, to make it easier for people in Canada to access critical medical advice for poisonings. 

Keep a sample of the mushroom for testing.It is important that you call as soon after the ingestion as possible. Do not throw any left over mushroom away, put in a bag incase furthur identification is needed.

How long after eating a poisonous mushroom do you get sick?

The symptoms usually appear within 20 minutes to 4 hours of ingesting the mushrooms, and include nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea, which normally pass after the irritant had been expelled. Severe cases may require hospitalization. 

Are All Poisonous Mushrooms The same?

Toxins range from those that attack the gastrointestinal tract and the renal system (kidneys) to those that affect the central nervous and immune systems. A single poisonous mushroom species may have only one toxin, or it may have several. This variability often complicates treatment. This is also why it’s critical for emergency personnel to identify the type(s) ingested—hence the importance of preserving samples. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to severe injury and death from toxic mushroom ingestion. 

How do you treat mushroom poisoning at home?

If you find that the nearest emergency room is many hours away, research suggests that the administration of activated charcoal can delay or limit the absorption of most toxins, and it's often used for victims of mushroom poisoning, regardless of when the mushrooms were eaten.  Activated charcoal sold at retail stores typically comes in capsule or liquid form. Use it only as a last resort and if you can’t reach a hospital quickly. If possible, contact a poison-control center by phone before administering. 

If you’re deep in the backcountry:

The BSA Fieldbook (No. 33104) advises Scouts who’ve ingested poisonous plants to induce vomiting. Save the vomit in a plastic bag to help identify the mushroom. Seek immediate medical attention. Ipecac, or syrup of ipecac (SOI), is a medication  used to induce vomiting. This medicine in amounts of more than 1 ounce is available only with your doctor's prescription. It is available in ½- and 1-ounce bottles without a prescription. 

If your pet has eaten poisonous mushrooms: 

You could start seeing the signs of mushroom toxicity in as little as 15 minutes, but it can be delayed for 6–12 hours after your dog has eaten a toxic mushroom. It is very much dependent on the type of mushroom 

When you bring your dog (and the mushroom sample) to the vet, it’s important that you are prepared to answer the following questions:

• When did your dog eat the mushroom? What time?
• How much did your dog eat?
• Can you describe the mushroom?
• Is your dog showing any symptoms?

Being aware of the symptoms of dog poisoning and getting the right treatment can save your dog’s life.

Treatment for a poisoned dog is specific for the poison involved and the symptoms. In some cases, the treatment may begin by making your pet vomit up the poison by using salt water, diluted hydrogen peroxide, or Ipecac.

 If your dog needs to vomit, give your dog 3% hydrogen peroxide, which irritates the digestive tract lining enough to stimulate vomiting. The recommended dose for dogs is 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight by mouth.