Man tests wild mushrooms on pet dog before feeding family, ends up in hospital. Netizens call it 'karma'

A 74-year-old man in Sichuan province learned a painful lesson about testing nature’s bounty after feeding wild mushrooms to his pet dog — and later to his family. According to South China Morning Post, the incident left the entire household hospitalized and sparked online debates over animal respect and human caution.

Mushroom experiment goes horribly wrong
The man discovered several clusters of wild mushrooms on his herb farmland on July 13. They appeared white and slippery, resembling the termite mushrooms commonly sold in local markets, according to his son, surnamed Jiang, who spoke to Shandian News.

Despite knowing the risks of wild mushrooms, Jiang senior decided not to discard them. Instead, he cooked some and fed them to his dog as a safety test.

“The dog only lost its appetite,” Jiang recounted, believing the mushrooms were harmless. After waiting two days without other symptoms, he prepared the remaining mushrooms for his wife and son, who were hesitant to eat them.

Family falls ill within hours
Within three hours of eating the mushrooms, both his wife and son experienced nausea and diarrhea. They rushed to the hospital, where doctors pumped their stomachs to remove the toxic contents. It was only then that the family realized their dog’s lack of appetite was an early sign of mushroom poisoning.

Karma or cautionary tale?
The bizarre and risky decision quickly went viral online, with netizens criticizing the man’s approach and highlighting lessons in respecting both animals and natural hazards.

“One must respect the life of animals,” wrote one commenter. “What goes around comes around,” added another. Others noted that humans and dogs metabolize foods differently and that ignoring this knowledge can be dangerous.

China does not yet have comprehensive laws protecting domestic pets from abuse, and animal cruelty cases often escape legal consequences. Meanwhile, Sichuan’s mushroom season, running from June to October, has inspired a growing trend among young people to pick wild mushrooms for cooking. Experts warn that wild fungi can contain potent toxins and that tasting them is extremely risky.