Is Fibrecap Mushroom (inocybe Spp.) 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, fibrecap mushrooms are unsafe for dogs. Inocybe species contain muscarine, which causes the SLUDGE syndrome: salivation, tearing, urination, diarrhea, GI cramping, and dangerously slow heart rate. A published case series documents acute Inocybe poisoning in dogs.
🚨 Emergency: Yes — contact your veterinarian immediately.
💡 Why
Fibrecaps (Inocybe spp.) are small, dull brown mushrooms that are easy to overlook on lawns and woodland edges. Their muscarine toxin overstimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, producing profuse drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, constricted pupils, and bradycardia. A peer-reviewed case series (JVECC 2017) describes 5 dogs with acute Inocybe toxicosis. The good news: the antidote atropine reverses muscarine effects, so prompt veterinary treatment is highly effective.
🩺 What to do
- Scan lawns and garden beds for small brown mushrooms, especially after rain.
- Drooling plus vomiting/diarrhea after mushroom exposure is an emergency -- atropine treatment is time-sensitive.
- Note the time of ingestion and bring a photo if possible.
❓ Common questions
What is SLUDGE syndrome?
SLUDGE stands for Salivation, Lacrimation (tearing), Urination, Diarrhea, GI upset, and Emesis -- the classic muscarine poisoning pattern.
Is there an antidote?
Yes -- atropine blocks muscarine's effects and is the specific treatment. This is why fast vet care matters so much.
What do they look like?
Small, brown, fibrous-capped mushrooms growing in grass or woods. They are nondescript, which is exactly why they are dangerous.
📚 Sources
- UC Davis Vet Med: Mushroom Toxicity in Dogs
- Pet Poison Helpline: Fungus Among Us presentation (2019)
- Zoetis PetCare: Are Yard Mushrooms Bad for Dogs
🔎 How the sources compare
What each authority says about Fibrecap mushroom (Inocybe spp.) \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 | Toxic — the article names Inocybe species (fibrecaps) for their muscarinic effects in pets: vomiting, diarrhea, decreased heart rate and severe drooling | Toxic — the article names Inocybe species (fibrecaps) for their muscarinic effects in pets: vomiting, diarrhea, decreased heart rate and severe drooling | — |
| Pet Poison Helpline | Genus named — the page's alternate-names list includes Inocybe and muscarine, i.e. the muscarinic fibrecap group; its general advice is that all mushroom ingestions by pets should be considered toxic unless a specialist can accurately and quickly identify the mushroom as non-toxic, and that muscarinic toxins can act within 15-30 minutes | Genus named — the page's alternate-names list includes Inocybe and muscarine, i.e. the muscarinic fibrecap group; its general advice is that all mushroom ingestions by pets should be considered toxic unless a specialist can accurately and quickly identify the mushroom as non-toxic, and that muscarinic toxins can act within 15-30 minutes | — |
| Merck Veterinary Manual | Species not named — Merck's mushroom overview does not name the fibrecap or Inocybe; it lists muscarine among its mushroom toxin classes (cyclopeptides, gyromitrin, orellanine, muscarine, ibotenic acid and muscimol, psilocybin) - muscarine is the fibrecap toxin - and names only Amanita phalloides as a species | Not covered | — |
| VCA Hospitals | Not named as a species — VCA's mushroom overview does not name Inocybe or fibrecaps; its gastrointestinal category singles out 'the muscarinic mushroom' as a noted variety causing vomiting and diarrhea, with possible weakness, dehydration, slow heart rate (bradycardia) and respiratory problems - the muscarinic group to which fibrecaps belong | Not named as a species — VCA's mushroom overview does not name Inocybe or fibrecaps; its gastrointestinal category singles out 'the muscarinic mushroom' as a noted variety causing vomiting and diarrhea, with possible weakness, dehydration, slow heart rate (bradycardia) and respiratory problems - the muscarinic group to which fibrecaps belong (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
- Vitamin D3 / Cholecalciferol ⛔ Unsafe
- onion ⛔ Unsafe
- peach pits ⛔ Unsafe
- Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) ⛔ Unsafe
- Fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) ⛔ Unsafe
- nutmeg ⛔ 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.
