Is an autumn skullcap mushroom (galerina marginata) safe for Dogs?
⏳ Pending source check by the Eaoae Safety Review · Drafted 2026-10-06
⚠️ AI-generated answer \u2014 not yet verified. This check was generated by AI and has not been source-checked by the Eaoae Safety Review, so it is not part of Eaoae’s verified database. Use it as a starting point only: confirm with an authoritative source such as ASPCA Animal Poison Control or Pet Poison Helpline, or ask your veterinarian. If your pet may have eaten something dangerous, contact your vet or a poison helpline now \u2014 don’t wait on a website.
No, autumn skullcap mushrooms are unsafe for dogs. Despite their small, unassuming brown appearance, they contain the same deadly amatoxins as the death cap and can cause fatal liver failure.
🚨 Emergency: Yes — contact your veterinarian immediately.
💡 Why
Autumn skullcap (Galerina marginata, also called funeral bell) is a small brown mushroom that grows on decaying wood -- logs, stumps, and wood chips common in yards and parks. It contains amatoxins identical to those in the death cap. Its innocent look makes it especially dangerous; dogs (and people) easily overlook it. The poisoning course mirrors death cap: delayed GI signs, false recovery, then liver failure.
🩺 What to do
- Check wood piles, mulch beds, and decaying stumps for clusters of small brown mushrooms.
- Any suspected ingestion is an emergency -- go to the vet immediately.
- Photograph the mushroom in place before removing it; growth on wood helps identification.
❓ Common questions
It looks harmless -- is it really deadly?
Yes. Its small brown appearance is deceptive; it contains the same amatoxins as the death cap.
Where does it grow?
On decaying wood: logs, stumps, wood chips, and mulch -- very common in suburban yards.
How quickly do symptoms start?
Typically 6-24 hours after ingestion, with the dangerous false-recovery phase following.
📚 Sources
- Which mushrooms are dangerous to dogs?
- Pet Poison Helpline: Mushroom Poisoning in Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline: Fall Toxins to Pets
- UC Davis Vet Med: Mushroom Toxicity in Dogs
🔎 How the sources compare
What each authority says about Autumn skullcap mushroom (Galerina marginata) \u2014 compiled 2026-10-28. Eaoae’s verdict summarizes these sources; it is not our own diagnosis.
| Source | Dogs | Cats | Dose info |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Animal Poison Control | Not named — ASPCA's mushroom-safety article for pet owners is a general overview and does not name the autumn skullcap or Galerina; it names Amanita phalloides (death caps, liver toxicity), Scleroderma species and Inocybe species, and advises that it is best to avoid giving pets mushrooms of any type | Not named — ASPCA's mushroom-safety article for pet owners is a general overview and does not name the autumn skullcap or Galerina; it names Amanita phalloides (death caps, liver toxicity), Scleroderma species and Inocybe species, and advises that it is best to avoid giving pets mushrooms of any type | — |
| Pet Poison Helpline | Genus named — the page's alternate-names list includes Galerina, and its text identifies Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota as the genera responsible for the majority of confirmed fatal mushroom toxicities in pets; the autumn skullcap species itself (Galerina marginata) is not separately named; PPH advises that all mushroom ingestions by pets should be considered toxic unless a specialist can accurately and quickly identify the mushroom as non-toxic | Genus named — the page's alternate-names list includes Galerina, and its text identifies Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota as the genera responsible for the majority of confirmed fatal mushroom toxicities in pets; the autumn skullcap species itself (Galerina marginata) is not separately named; PPH advises that all mushroom ingestions by pets should be considered toxic unless a specialist can accurately and quickly identify the mushroom as non-toxic | — |
| Merck Veterinary Manual | Species not named — Merck's mushroom overview does not name the autumn skullcap or Galerina; it classifies mushroom toxins (cyclopeptides, gyromitrin, orellanine, muscarine, ibotenic acid and muscimol, psilocybin) and names only Amanita phalloides; the cyclopeptide (amanitin) poisoning it describes - the autumn skullcap's toxin class - has a latent period of about 6-12 hours and is often fatal; the overview notes dogs are particularly susceptible because of their indiscriminate eating habits | Not covered | — |
| VCA Hospitals | Not named — VCA's mushroom overview is organized by toxin category and does not name Galerina or the autumn skullcap; its hepatotoxic category (built around Amanita mushrooms) describes liver failure that can be deadly, with gastrointestinal symptoms 6-24 hours after ingestion progressing to jaundice, weakness, lethargy and sometimes coma | Not named — VCA's mushroom overview is organized by toxin category and does not name Galerina or the autumn skullcap; its hepatotoxic category (built around Amanita mushrooms) describes liver failure that can be deadly, with gastrointestinal symptoms 6-24 hours after ingestion progressing to jaundice, weakness, lethargy and sometimes coma (the page addresses dogs and cats together) | — |
| Eaoae summary (dogs) | ⛔ Unsafe \u2014 Known to be harmful or toxic. Keep it away from your pet. | ||
🔗 Related checks for dogs
- Marijuana / THC (Cannabis) ⛔ Unsafe
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- Panther cap mushroom (Amanita pantherina) ⛔ Unsafe
- Tulips (bulbs) ⛔ Unsafe
- Oatmeal ✅ Safe
- Castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) ⛔ Unsafe
Checked with Eaoae’s safety lookup. Answers are generated for reference and may be incomplete — always confirm with your vet for your individual pet. Spotted an error? Let us know.
