DOG STORIES - EXPERIENCES MY CLIENTS HAVE HAD
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TO THE MEMORY OF SHILOH
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Fatal Mushroom identified in Hamlin after local family loses Beloved Dog Shiloh Thank you for helping me attempt to prevent any further tradgedies for mushroom poisoning in our area. On Sunday August 17th Tami Mungenast woke up to find her 13 month old Great Pyrenees Shiloh very ill. Shiloh was very lethargic and jaundice. the family rushed Shiloh to the Emergency Animal Clinic in Henrietta and she was treated for acute liver failure of an unknow cause. Up to this time Shiloh was a perfectly heatlhy dog. Shiloh's condition deteroiated quickly and she was transfered to the family vet Dr. Orr for further treatment and diagnosis. Her condition continued to dramatically worsen and she eventually passed away on Tuesday 8/19/08. Dr. Orr recommended a liver biopsy on Shiloh to help find the cause of her tradgic and untimely death. The liver biopsy revealed that her liver was destroyed by a strong toxin. The medical professionals felt that a mushroom toxicity could have caused Shiloh's death. Dr. Orr prompted the Mungenast Family to send a sample of a mushroom that was in their yard to a Fungal Expert at Cornell University. After analysing the specimen the Fungal Expert, Dr. Hodge identified the mushrooms as the Galerina species, one of the most toxic and deadly mushrooms on earth. Under professional analysis the mushrroms tested a strong positive with amatoxins. Amatoxins are a deadly toxin found in the Amanita and Galerina Mushroom. Injestion of these toxins is deadly to both people and pets. The Mungenast Family learned shortly after Shiloh's death that the NY State Dept of Health issued a warning at the end of July of wild mushroom poisoning. The weather during July and early August spawned an unusually large crop of poisonous mushrooms which have killed several dogs and a person. Agricultural experts said wild mushrooms grow in many areas of the state and multiply in wet weather conditions, and also cluster on decomposing stumps from trees downed for new development. If you suspect a family member or pet have eaten a poisonous mushroom, immediately call the New York State Regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 and inform the health-care provider. People who have eaten any wild mushrooms may experience symptoms within hours or days of ingestion. Providing a description of the mushroom eaten by humans or animals can help diagnosis and treatment. According to the Health Department, eating poisonous Galerina or Amanita mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage, and even death. Abdominal symptoms may be delayed eight to 12 hours following consumption of the mushrooms, so people may not initially connect their symptoms to the wild mushrooms. Initial gastrointestinal symptoms may subside, but serious liver damage may still occur. For more information on posionous mushrooms visit http://www.mushroomexpert.com/yard.html. |