The Magic of Shrooms for Our Pets - Mushrooms, a Natural Healer!

Sep 07, 2022 Dan

 

The Magic of Shrooms for our Pets. 

 

I have been a strong believer, as a raw feeder, that supplements can play a key role in ensuring our dogs and cats are getting everything they need.  We want to have peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to minimize inflammation, provide optimal opportunity for excellent joint health and even to give our pets the best chance of living a long and happy life.   

16 years ago, when we started feeding raw, there were very few pet supplements that we had access to and felt necessary to include in our pet’s diets:  A useful source of Omega 3 and Sea Kelp.  Today, the different supplements and additions we can add to our pet’s bowls is overwhelming.  Joint health, anti-inflammatory, pre-biotic, pro-biotic, skin health, liver health, heart health, the list goes on.  I feel that some of these supplements are not necessary when offering a balanced-over-time real food diet to our healthy carnivores.  Many of the benefits can be realized just through what we decide to feed (or what we decide not to feed). Deciding on additional supplements is also very much a case to case basis, dependent on your pets needs (genetics, trauma, age, exposure, injury, etc.).

There is now some really interesting research that is telling us that we need to pay attention to a food source that has been used nutritionally and medicinally for thousands of years.   

 

THE POWER OF MUSHROOMS 

The science of mushroom nutrition and the medicinal impact mushrooms can have has been exploding.  One of the most researched foods on the planet.  The research has not been limited to humans.  The scientific community has been putting resources to our pets as well. 

“For dogs, the median survival time for hemangiosarcoma of the spleen is eighty-six days, but dogs lived beyond a year when turkey tail mushrooms were added as a sole form of treatment.” (1) 

 

Spermidine has been identified as a powerhouse longevity molecule.  The best source of spermidine are medicinal mushrooms, including shiitake, maitake, oyster, reishi, lion’s mane and turkey tail.  Texas A&M Institute of Biosciences has found that spermidine increases life span by as much as 25%.  That is a lot. 

Beta-glucans are a special immune-modulating compound that controls inflammation and keeps insulin low and steady.  Recent studies on immune-resistant obese dogs have revealed the power of beta-glucan supplementation: decreased begging behaviours and decreased appetite.  Beta-glucans can be found in all edible mushrooms. 

These are just a couple of examples of the power of shrooms. 

 

What mushrooms can we feed to our pets? 

 

All the mushrooms that are safe for people are safe for dogs to eat. 

All the mushrooms that are poisonous for people are poisonous for dogs. 

What is fascinating is that different types of shrooms can play distinct roles in our pet’s health. 

 

REISHI MUSHROOMS 

Do you know what the other name of Reishi mushrooms is? It is the mushrooms of immortality! And we all want our dogs to live FOREVER!  

Yes, sadly, too unrealistic to be true. But what is realistic is they increase the number of years of your dog’s life. 

Chinese have been using this medicinal mushroom for over 2 millennia! This powerful blend of over two hundred active ingredients is best taken as an extract. They are hard and difficult to digest when taken as whole food.  

Their benefits are: 

♦  They stimulate the immune system hence extending the life span. 

♦  They are a source of triterpenes and have a molecular structure similar to that of steroid hormones. 

♦  They are a source of polysaccharides, thus helping in regulating blood sugar levels. 

♦  The combination of triterpenes and polysaccharides is effective in providing essential nutrients to tumors hence resulting in treatment (as well as prevention) of cancer. 

♦  The ganoderic acid in reishi mushrooms keeps your pet’s liver happy and healthy. 

 

TURKEY TAIL MUSHROOMS  

If there is a mushroom that has enormous cancer benefits, it is the turkey tail mushroom. These mushrooms are rich in beta-glucan polysaccharides, which help fight all kinds of diseases.  

These good-looking mushrooms have been in use by the Chinese as an energy booster and to reduce phlegm and clear dampness. 

 

Studies show their benefits in dogs which we have discussed under the following bullets. 

 

♦  This fungus helps in treating hemangiosarcoma; it is aggressive cancer that initiates from the spleen.  

♦  The beta-glucan in these mushrooms bind to the immune cell’s receptors directly and activate immune cells, increase antibodies production, suppress the spread of cancer cells, and reduce proinflammatory cytokines. 

♦  Prevention of infections in pets like canine flu, kennel cough, etc. 

♦  They are a reliable source of prebiotics and help control inflammation of the urinary and digestive tracts. 

 

CHAGA MUSHROOMS 

Chaga mushrooms are a gift from God! No, seriously, because of their tremendous health benefits.  

Their benefits range from improving the gastric health of your dog to boosting immunity and destruction of cancer cells. 

 

They have been in human use since the 16th century, and the recent research on these mushrooms proves all the benefits. 

 

Listed below are the benefits: 

 

♦  They work as a biological response modifier which means they not only boost the immune system but also decelerates the immune system that is on a roller coaster ride. Which means they are helpful in fighting autoimmune diseases in pets. 

♦  It helps in the self-destruction of tumor cells while does not damage the healthy cells. 

♦  They are used to treat stomach problems like pain, inflammation, ulcers, gastritis, and other bowel diseases.  

♦  They help in regulating blood sugar levels, reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, and help with hyperthyroidism as well. 

 

You can learn about mushroom supplements that are available in our stores by clicking HERE. 

 

To know more about the medicinal benefits of mushrooms Dr. Ihor Basko’s PDF book Medicinal Mushrooms for Pets: Multi-Dimensional Healing has a lot of great information.  The book thoroughly explains all the benefits and how pets can heal from mushrooms. 

 

  1.  Sourced from The Forever Dog, Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Shaw Becker