Top 7 Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs
Top 7 Medicinal Mushrooms For Dogs
Did you know there are medicinal mushrooms for dogs? Humans are not the only species that can benefit from healing mushrooms. Dogs and other pets too can take advantage of the numerous health benefits of mushrooms. Various types of medicinal mushrooms are great for supporting your furry friend’s immune system.
Each mushroom has a slightly different beta-glucan, which is an important compound that’s responsible for the health supporting qualities. With each different type of beta-glucan, the mushroom has a different effect on the dog’s immune system.
If your dog has started aging, is developing medical conditions or arthritis, or simply needs stress or anxiety relief, you should consider trying out medicinal mushrooms. Here’s all that you should know when it comes to choosing the best medicinal mushrooms for dogs.
7 Best Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs
1. Agaricus Blazei
Agaricus is highly regarded as an immune-boosting mushroom since it has a high content of polysaccharides as well as compounds that support cellular growth. Polysaccharides are the essential sugars in the body that are responsible for activating the immune system and protecting the body from disease and infection.
Agaricus blazei can help dogs with the following:
- Blood sugar regulation
- Maintaining cardiovascular health
- Promoting healthy cholesterol levels
- Promoting healthy digestion
2. Cordyceps
Cordyceps has strong immune boosting properties, which is why you should include it in your pet’s diet. According to research, cordyceps are essential in boosting your dog’s health as well as staving off dangerous diseases. Studies have also shown that they have antitumor properties and can protect against both heart and liver disease.
Wild cordyceps mushrooms grow on caterpillars, which is why they are so expensive to harvest. Fortunately, they are now increasingly cultivated by growers. While cultivated cordyceps might not match the potency of the wild ones, they are considerably cheaper.
Cordyceps mushrooms help dogs with the following:
- Promoting heart and respiratory function
- Supporting endurance, vitality, and performance
- Providing intense immune support
3. Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms are packed with enzymes, amino acids, as well as health-supporting minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc. The mushrooms are an excellent addition to maintaining your dog’s health through the stimulation of white blood cells as well as improving circulation.
Shiitake mushrooms help dogs with the following:
- Normalizing the symptoms of allergies
- Soothing bronchial inflammation
- Regulating urinary incontinence
- Reducing the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy
4. Maitake
Maitake literally translates to “dancing mushroom” in Japanese. Maitake is a powerful mushroom that boosts immunity and supports regular blood pressure. The mushrooms are known to inhibit the growth of tumors, stimulate T-cells, and even lower cholesterol levels.
Maitake helps dogs with the following:
- Cancer prevention
- Regulating blood sugar levels
- Supporting the body during chemotherapy as well as other forms of cancer treatment
- Promoting healthy digestion
- Weight regulation
- Supporting dogs with liver problems
5. Reishi
Reishi has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for millennia. It is known to help boost the immune system. It is also known to have anti-tumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it an excellent option for boosting overall health.
Reishi mushrooms can help dogs with the following:
- Improving liver function
- Inhibiting the release of antihistamines
- Supporting critical organs such as the liver and kidney
- Regulating blood sugar and blood pressure
- Supporting the immune system
6. Turkey Tail
Turkey Tail is known to be rich in polysaccharides that have been shown to support immune function. It is a powerful immune modulator that’s useful for a variety of health conditions in dogs especially if their immune system has been compromised.
A study conducted recently by Penn State’s Veterinary School looked at dogs with hemangiosarcoma, which is a type of cancer found almost exclusively in dogs. The dogs were treated using a compound that was derived from turkey tail mushroom. In the end, they had the longest ever survival times for dogs with the disease. However, the mushrooms are good for more than just cancer.
Turkey tail mushrooms can have these benefits for dogs:
- Promoting normal cell growth
- Reducing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy
- Healing pulmonary disorders
- Soothing irritation in the digestive and urinary tract
- Promoting health of the immune system
7. Lions Mane Mushroom
Just like its name might suggest, the mushroom has an appearance that’s similar to the mane of a lion. It is essentially the go-to mushroom for brain health. Lion’s Mane mushroom also stimulates nerve growth factor, which is why it has a high potential for preventing cognitive decline.
The mushroom also has powerful anti-cancer effects. It can reduce the size of tumors while doubling the white blood cell count. Lion’s Mane can also reduce the number of blood vessels in a tumor thus making it harder for them to turn malignant.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms help with the following:
- It has a strong anti-inflammatory effect
- It helps slow tumor growth
- It helps promote better circulation in dogs
- It helps in the regulation of blood sugar
Final Thoughts on Healing Mushrooms for Dogs
Medicinal mushrooms for dogs have so many benefits, which is why they are such a powerful supplement to your dog’s health. Medicinal mushrooms have powerful antioxidant as well as other supporting properties and provide invaluable support to the overall health of your dog.
To allow your dog to effectively adjust to the supplements, you should consider starting slow and introducing them to the dog’s daily regimen to avoid a digestive upset. To ensure that the positive effects of individual mushrooms are enhanced, you should consider using different types of mushrooms at the same time.
