Mushrooms for Your Pup

In this era of all things COVID-19, I am constantly thinking about ways to support not only my immunity, but that of my sweet pups, Cookie and Romie. As we creep towards fall and winter, this is especially important if you have a pup that is a senior or who has medical issues that make her more vulnerable to illness.  I hope that you are already using a high quality probiotic, as maintaining a healthy gut biome is essential to overall health and especially immunity maintenance.  Those of you who know me well know that I am a strong believer that all dogs, regardless of age or overall health, need to be on a high quality probiotic.

Mushrooms are a fabulous way to support the immune system of your pup, or yourself for that matter.  The use of medicinal mushrooms in Traditional Chinese Medicine has been documented since 100AD.  In the traditional allopathic medical community,  mushroom research has been ongoing since the 1960s.  But not all mushrooms are safe for dogs and all mushroom supplements are not created equal.  According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, but the 1% that are toxic can cause life threatening problems in pets.  Even if you are an expert in mycology, I would advise against foraging in the woods for mushrooms for your dog.  There are just too many species that look similar and one mistake can cost your dog her life.  That also means that routinely patrolling your yard and any area that your pup might be able to forage on her own for mushrooms is essential for safety.

Mushrooms can be used to promote immunity during seasonal changes, during senior years when we know that function of the immune system declines, when your pup will be stressed by travel or boarding, and for competition dogs before and after events.  Juvenile dogs also are great candidates for mushrooms as they are susceptible to exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites due to their immature immune systems.  Dogs with cancer, infections and inflammatory issues can benefit greatly from the use of mushrooms.  So which mushrooms are safe for your pup and what should you look for when selecting a product?  

Maitake (Grifolia Frondosa) mushrooms contain fabulous substances called Beta 1,3 D-glucan and Beta 1,6 D-glucan.  These have been shown to have the ability to encourage T-cell and macrophage production, which help the body fight bacteria, viruses and cancer cells.

Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidium) mushrooms contain terpenes, polysaccharides and alkaloids that are particularly helpful in immune function and in reducing the blood supply to cancer cells.

Shiitake (Lentinus or Lentinula Edodes) mushrooms are also very helpful in immune system modulation and specific for their toxic effect on liver cancer cells.

Cordyceps (Cordyceps Subsessilis) mushrooms are very powerful anti-oxidants, known to reduce tumor size, to lower cholesterol levels and to protect the liver and kidneys.

Turkey Tail (Coriolus Versicolor) mushrooms have a strong impact on the immune system and are known to restore immune function which has been damaged by illness or drug effect, such as after vaccines or steroid use.

Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) mushrooms contain a substance known as Inotodial, which is toxic to cancer cells and a powerful substance to support immune function if your pup is on chemotherapy .

Mushrooms that are not safe for dogs in any circumstance include:  Fly Agaric, Elf's Saddle, Jeweled Death Cap, Death Cap and Autumn Galerina.

Remember that all mushrooms are fungi and they absorb all the substances, both good and bad, that are produced by the media on which they grow, many of which require heat to inactivate them.  Mushrooms are also protected by what is known as a "chitinous wall" which means that nutrients can only be released by heat.  So you should never feed your dogs raw mushrooms. They must be well cooked in order to be safe if you are using fresh mushrooms.

If you are selecting a prepared mushroom supplement rather than fresh mushrooms, you should look for a product that is made not only from the roots, but from the fruiting bodies in order to capitalize on the positive effects.  It is essential to read product labels.  Look for labels that state that the product is made from both the roots and fruiting bodies.  Avoid products that state that they are mycelium grown on a grain like rice.  These products contain very low levels of beta-glucans, and these are essential for immune function and anti-cancer effects.

So what products do I personally prefer?  One of my very favorites is Four Leaf Rover Immunity Organic Mushroom Mix.  I also really like the Mercola Organic Mushroom Complex.  Lastly, Holistic Hound Mighty Mojo Mushroom Powder is fabulous too.  I have used all for my fur babies with great results.  Below are links to these products. Acupressure for your pups is also great for immune function, as there are specific therapy protocols to boost immune function geared to both dogs with medical issues and those who are healthy but could just use some seasonal support.

Immunity - Organic Mushroom Mix | Four Leaf Rover

Organic Mushroom Complex for Pets 8 oz 1 bottle - Mercola.com (mercolamarket.com)

Mighty Mojo Mushroom Powder | Holistic Hound

As a "human" aside, don't forget that adding immunity building mushrooms to your soups and sauces will not only be delicious, but give you a great boost during cold weather and this nasty COVID time.    Here's to staying healthy, whether we have a fur coat or not.  

THIS FACT SHEET IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE OR SUPERCEED THE ADVICE OF YOUR VETERINATIAN.  ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFORE MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR DOG’S DIET OR MEDICATION REGIME.