Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs: How They Benefit Your Pet
Medicinal mushrooms for dogs have been used for at least centuries to help boost your pets’ immune system. Each different mushroom contains a slightly different kind of beta-glucan, an essential chemical that contributes to their health-promoting effects.
The most popular use of medicinal mushrooms that you’ve probably heard about lately is cancer therapy and prevention. Both research and findings indicate that whole-mushroom extracts include chemicals that reduce carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis at various stages.
Below we will examine the latest research into the advantages of medicinal mushrooms for dogs, particularly concerning animals that are getting older, developing arthritis or other medical problems or are in need of stress or anxiety reduction.
Table of Contents
- What Are Medicinal Mushrooms?
- Is It Safe for Dogs to Eat Medicinal Mushrooms?
- Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs
- How to Prepare Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs?
- What Medicinal Mushrooms are Good for Dogs?
- Are There Any Risks Associated with Thеse Supplements?
- The Takeaway
- Nutrition Strength Turkey Tail Mushroom for Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Turkey Tail Mushroom for Dogs here.
What Are Medicinal Mushrooms?
Medicinal mushrooms for dogs are fungi that are used to treat and prevent a range of illnesses, as well as to improve general well-being.
Maitake (Grifola frondosa, Polyporous umbellatus, Grifola umbellatus, and Boletus frondosus), shiitake (Lentinus edodes), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), cordyceps (Cordyceps ophioglossoides) and turkey tail (Trametes Versicolor) mushrooms are examples of medicinal mushrooms for dogs.
It should be noted that not all mushrooms are medical and others are poisonous and lethal.
Polysaccharides (complex sugars), proteins and glycoproteins (sugar-protein complexes) are active components in medicinal mushrooms. They are often used as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting supplements.
If you are interested in immunity support, research into mushrooms for dogs has shown many benefits. Diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, lung illness, infection, gastrointestinal sickness and nerve disease have all been treated using medicinal mushrooms for dogs.
Dietary supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, botanicals, enzymes and probiotics, are substances that may be used to enhance the diet. They can be taken in complex with medicinal mushrooms for dogs.
While many supplements are available without a prescription, the mushrooms include substances with biological effects that should be handled by your veterinarian.
Follow your veterinarian’s instructions and precautions carefully since they may change significantly from those on the label.
Different nations regulate supplements in different ways. In the United States, these compounds are not as strictly controlled by the FDA as other pharmaceuticals.
That means they may be marketed without the manufacturer establishing their usefulness, safety or the consistency or accuracy of the contents.
Is It Safe for Dogs to Eat Medicinal Mushrooms?
It is not only safe for dogs to consume medicinal mushrooms, but it may also be beneficial to their health. Veterinary homeopathy practitioners applaud the potential advantages medicinal mushrooms have on companion dogs.
Simultaneously, hiking (which may be risky) and incorporating adaptogenic mushroom supplements in your pet’s food may be helpful for overall health maintenance and sickness prevention.
With that in mind, you need to be careful because sometimes your dog can eat dangerous mushrooms while you are outdoors.
Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs
Medicinal mushrooms provide several health advantages. Many are antiviral and may help avoid urinary tract infections and other virus-related disorders.
Because of this, many species are known as an immunity medicinal mushroom blend for dogs.
Certain mushrooms are popular because of their anti-cancer effects. That makes medicinal mushrooms for dogs with cancer so suitable.
Lion’s mane mushrooms, for example, seem to hasten the death of cancer cells. In contrast, cordyceps mushrooms are especially effective in treating lung cancer.
Many medicinal mushrooms for dogs have anti-diabetic qualities. They seem to reduce blood sugar levels and even protect against diabetes complications.
How to Prepare Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs?
Medicinal mushroom supplements and extracts are the best methods for dogs to receive adaptogenic fungi. Dogs cannot digest raw mushrooms and may not get the full range of advantages even if they consume cooked mushrooms.
You may use two approaches if you wish to administer mushroom supplements to your pets. You may use mushroom supplements designed specifically for dogs.
These supplements are sometimes prohibitively costly and difficult to get and many include dubious components.
You may also give your dog mushroom supplements that you take. If the supplement does not include toxic substances for dogs, it is safe for your canine companions. Just maintain the dose between 10 and 25 mg per pound of body weight.
What Medicinal Mushrooms are Good for Dogs?
While we talk about mushrooms for dogs, benefits of each species are very well-known. But even though many medicinal mushrooms are suitable for dogs’ health, no one mushroom will fix all your furry friend’s problems.
Consider any health difficulties your dog may be experiencing while selecting the finest mushroom supplements for dogs.
Lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, chaga, turkey tail, maitake and shiitake mushrooms are among the adaptogenic fungi with the most promising studies in pet care. Let’s examine how each fungus may help your pet.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Hericium Erinaceus, colloquially known as the lion’s mane mushroom, is a medicinal fungus helpful to humans and dogs. This fungus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for generations as a natural cure for infections and chronic ailments (such as diabetes).
If you have a dog that suffers from neurological difficulties such as Parkinson’s disease, a lion’s mane mushroom supplement may help. By encouraging nerve development and regeneration, this mushroom seems to decrease the course of Parkinson’s disease.
Hericium Erinaceus may also help senior dogs. This mushroom has neuroprotective effects and may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment in people and dogs.
Even if your dog is young and healthy, it’s a good idea to incorporate lion’s mane mushroom products in their pet care routine. This fungus is high in vitamins, minerals and bioactive substances and may help with general health maintenance and illness prevention.
Turkey Tail Mushrooms
A new randomized, double-blind research found that the turkey tail appeared to boost the survival rate of cancer-stricken canines.
The study looked at how the turkey tail mushroom affected dogs with hemangiosarcoma, one of the dogs’ most frequent (and lethal) malignancies. That makes it one of the best mushroom immune support for dogs.
Compared to the canines that did not get the medication, the dogs who got the turkey tail mushrooms extract lived longer and had fewer metastases.
As a result, if your dog has cancer, turkey tail is an excellent fungus to add to their diet (with traditional cancer treatment options, of course).
Cordyceps Mushrooms
Cordyceps is one of the most nutritious mushrooms you and your dog can eat. This mushroom is rich in bioactive substances that seem to decrease cholesterol and blood pressure, activate the immune system and even protect against some types of cancer.
Cordyceps should be your high-quality go-to mushroom if you have an active puppy. Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps Sinensis, the two most common fungi in the Cordyceps genus, may provide remarkable energy replenishment advantages.
This edible mushroom may also aid in managing your dog’s diabetes. Compounds discovered in cordyceps fruiting bodies seem to reduce blood sugar and protect against diabetic complications.
A cordyceps mushroom combination, for example, has been demonstrated to protect against diabetes-related kidney damage.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in dogs. When we talk about benefits of mushrooms for dogs, the immune system is the one that is the most affected and shiitake mushrooms help activate it. They alleviate some health conditions and enhance the animal’s general health when used regularly.
Research from 2022 shows that when healthy dogs eat shiitake over a long period, they feel more energized, are less likely to gain weight and have less inflammation.
Maitake Mushrooms
The maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushroom seems to help in lymphoma therapy in dogs. The benefits of maitake mushroom extract on dogs with lymphoma were investigated in a research published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine soon.
Although further study is required to understand the underlying mechanisms of maitake’s anti-cancer potential, these mushrooms seemed to decrease lymphoma development and were well tolerated by dogs.
This doesn’t mean you should only use maitake to treat cancer, but it may be wise to include these fungi in your dog’s food and other proven lymphoma treatments.
Chaga Mushrooms
Because of its advantages, many people use Chaga mushroom powders as a natural pet cure for itchy skin. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is vital for its antioxidants and seems to improve skin and fur health.
According to 2019 research, four of the five tested Chaga chemicals exhibited an anti-alopecia effect. Even though this research was conducted on human cells, anecdotal data shows that Chaga may have a comparable impact on dogs.
Chaga mushrooms are also known for their anti-cancer effects. Although the majority of current research on the advantages of Inonotus obliquus for cancer patients has been conducted on mice and other rodents, the findings undoubtedly justify an additional investigation by veterinary medicine practitioners specializing in canine cancer therapy.
Reishi Mushrooms
The reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) is high in protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, essential for maintaining your pet’s health.
Antioxidants present in this fungus may protect your dog from liver illness by reducing the impact of free radicals (liver damage is associated with free radicals).
When it comes to cancer therapy, this mushroom stands out among medicinal fungi. Reishi is beneficial in treating bladder cancer because it increases the production of cytokines (a kind of protein that regulates the body’s immunological response).
Despite an absence of study on the advantages of reishi for dogs, the mushroom’s established medical effects for other animals and humans make it a must-have in any pet care routine.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Thеse Supplements?
Because there have been few studies on these supplements, information on risk factors is scarce. The risk varies depending on the species of mushroom used.
Still, medicinal mushrooms for dogs should not be used in canines sensitive to mushrooms. Medicinal mushrooms should be cautiously handled in dogs with bleeding problems, low blood pressure, renal or liver illness, or immune-mediated diseases.
They should be used cautiously in pregnant or nursing dogs since their safety has not been proven. Do not use medicinal mushrooms without veterinarian supervision since long-term usage or large amounts may be dangerous.
The Takeaway
Keep in mind that medicinal mushrooms for dogs take time to function. Most advantages will not be apparent for 1 – 3 months, and are often modest.
For example, you may perceive an overall sense of well-being or a reduction in unpleasant symptoms but be confident that positive things are occurring inwardly.
These mushroom kinds are also considered nutraceuticals or therapeutic foods. They are real adaptogens that are typically safe for every dog and effective at decreasing stress, preventing infections and balancing hormones. All these substances are also known as an immunity mushroom blend for dogs.
Including any of these fungi in your pet’s diet might mean the difference between ordinary health and bright health, as well as an improved lifespan.
Explore medicinal mushrooms for your pet. They might be the potent, nutrient-dense component that transforms your closest friend’s life.
Nutrition Strength Turkey Tail Mushroom for Dogs
Check out our Nutrition Strength Turkey Tail Mushroom for Dogs here.
Nutrition Strength Turkey Tail Mushroom for Dogs to Support a Strong Immune System, Promote Gut Health, Antioxidant Activity & Inflammatory Relief, Reduce Fatigue & Boost Stamina, 120 Chewable Tablets are our premium chewable tablets, formulated with organic Trametes versicolor (turkey tail), which has been shown to help support your pet’s immune system and promote gut health and general well-being.
Trametes versicolor mushrooms contain a wide range of beneficial phenols and flavonoids, such as quercetin and baicalein. These antioxidants may help prevent the oxidative stress caused by free radicals in your pet’s body.
A great way to support your pet’s well-being, our tasty turkey tail for dogs supplement may benefit your four-legged friends by helping to:
- Boost the immune system.
- Strengthen the antioxidant defenses.
- Confer inflammatory relief.
- Support gastrointestinal health.
- Reduce fatigue and promote stamina.
Our specially developed turkey tail supplement for dogs is formulated to help ensure that your pet gets a sufficient amount of this mushroom, whose unique properties offer potential benefits to your dog’s overall health, including support for the lungs, spleen and fatigue, among other things.
Research has shown that turkey tail mushrooms are filled with polysaccharide peptides (PSP), which act as a powerful probiotic to help promote gastrointestinal health.
A great source of antioxidants, turkey tail mushrooms may help limit the oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
Turkey tail mushrooms have been used in traditional societies over the millennia as a natural way to relieve fatigue and boost stamina.
Image source: Wikimedia / Waldo Jaquith.
