Honey and Maria, a pair of beautiful, healthy Dachshunds, lived with their family on five fenced acres of oak woodland, where they roamed freely. Honey was a strong, smart and spirited dog, and Maria a beautiful, sweet puppy. All who met them were charmed and fell in love immediately.
One June, there was an unseasonable rain and, soon after, both dogs suddenly became violently ill. They were rushed to an emergency animal clinic where veterinarians suspected mushroom poisoning. For three days, no effort or expense was spared to save these beloved dogs. They endured many procedures and transfusions designed to flush out the toxins. Their guardians endured every moment with them. One dog died on her own and the other was euthanized when her suffering became insurmountable and incurable. Other dogs with similar symptoms were also brought in, but only the largest survived. Even humans do not always survive the ravages of the Death Cap (Amanita Phalloides) or the Destroying Angel (Amanita Ocreata) mushrooms.
These innocuous-looking mushrooms can spring up quickly after a rain and are found under or near trees, almost always oak. For an experienced mycologist, they are easily identified, but to the untrained eye, they can be confused with similar-looking, edible mushrooms, particularly in their early developing stages. The Death Cap varies greatly in size and color, from one to eight inches across, and colors include shades of white, green, yellow and brown. For humans, especially new immigrants or visitors from other countries, the mushrooms look very much like other edible wild mushrooms found in their country. But these deadly fungi destroy the liver and, many times, the only way to save a human victim is through a liver transplant. For dogs, survival requires a miracle.
During the rainy season and after any unseasonable rain, dogs must be watched carefully — especially breeds that like to dig and root things out — to make sure they do not put any mushrooms in their mouths. Marin and Sonoma Counties’ oak-studded open spaces provide perfect habitat for these deadly mushrooms. Any dog that is known to have ingested a mushroom or even just chewed on one and spit it out, or any dog that becomes suddenly violently ill, should be seen by a vet immediately. It is a life or death situation. The Sonoma County Mycological Association offers emergency mushroom poisoning identification (free for residents and medical professionals of Sonoma County) at (707) 829-0596. The Mycological Society of San Francisco (mssf.org) offers a similar service. In Marin County, Marin Humane Society employee, Margareta Luff, can help with mushroom identification.
Honey and Maria were buried together in a box containing their favorite bed, bones, toys and treats in the little dog cemetery on the property they loved to roam. Today, this property again knows the patter of small Dachshund feet, but the new girls, Sugar and Star, live a more circumscribed life. A large area has been fenced in front of the house for them to enjoy nice days, and they are taken on longs walks daily. This is all they’ve known; they don’t know they are not able to roam freely as their predecessors did, but they are happy and healthy. Each day, their family searches the area for mushrooms, and any they find on the property are immediately uprooted and taken to a local expert for identification.
The deaths of Honey and Maria have left enduring pain in their hearts, but their spirits are big enough to embrace more joy. Sugar and Star are very different personalities than Honey and Maria, but they are loved in their own right, and always under their family’s watchful eyes.
Maggie Rufo is a volunteer and Margareta Luff an employee with the Marin Humane Society.
Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal
