Medicinal Mushrooms for Dogs
Mushrooms are a kind of fungi that can be consumed by dogs without issue, which is why it’s highly recommended that you consider using medicinal mushrooms for dogs
They that have been providing people and animals with numerous health and medicinal benefits for centuries.
Because of these benefits, the nutraceutical industry related to mushrooms is known to be worth over $14 billion per year.
Each kind of mushroom comes with a somewhat different beta-glucan, each of which bolsters the immune system and offers a variety of other health-supporting benefits.
If you’re searching for ways to keep your dog healthy, you should think about incorporating medicinal mushrooms into your dog’s diet.
Are Medicinal Mushrooms Good for Dogs?
If you’re wondering “Are medicinal mushrooms good for dogs?”, the answer is yes as long as you purchase them from a store.
Mushrooms in the wild are poisonous to dogs and would almost certainly cause health problems.
While it’s safe for your dog to eat store-bought mushrooms, you still need to exercise restraint when feeding them mushrooms during the day.
Too many mushrooms in a short period of time can cause indigestion.
At the right amount, mushrooms can provide your dog with numerous medicinal benefits.
Signs That Your Dog Has Eaten Wild Mushrooms
It’s perfectly safe to provide your dog with store-bought mushrooms or mushroom supplements, but wild mushrooms are poisonous for both dogs and humans.
If your dog ever eats a wild mushroom, it’s important that they obtain quick medical treatment.
No matter how many precautions you take, there’s always a chance that your dog could accidentally ingest a poisonous mushroom while outside.
The many signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Seizures
- Abdominal pain
- Coma
Keep in mind that the more serious health concerns typically only occur if your dog has eaten high amounts of wild mushrooms.
Types of Mushrooms to Consider For Your Dog
Your dog can basically consume any type of store-bought mushroom without issue, and there are certain types of mushrooms that have proven to be particularly beneficial for a dog’s health.
Chaga
You should definitely consider the chaga mushroom for dogs if you want to bolster your dog’s immune system.
Along with strengthening the immune system, chaga mushrooms consist of anti-cancer properties that may prove beneficial if your dog is fighting cancer.
It’s also possible for chaga mushrooms to be used for the regulation of blood sugar levels among dogs with diabetes. However, it’s important that you speak with your veterinarian to make sure that your dog will properly tolerate this mushroom.
Chaga mushrooms are comprised of many anti-oxidants such as polysaccharides, which are able to enhance liver and heart health.
Additional health benefits that are attributed to chaga mushroom for dogs include:
- Lowering cholesterol
- Balancing gut bacteria
- Treating stomach pain and ulcers
Cordyceps
Cordyceps mushrooms are known to provide high amounts of support to the immune system, which can help your dog maintain their health.
By bolstering the immune system, cordyceps mushrooms are able to keep harmful diseases at bay. These mushrooms also have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Along with the fantastic immune support provided by these mushrooms, they can provide your dog with:
- Better vitality and endurance
- Improved respiratory and heart function
- Reduced symptoms for such conditions as kidney failure, liver disorders, and other health issues
Agaricus Blazei
This type of mushroom has high amounts of cellular-growth supporting compounds and polysaccharides, which is why its primary benefit is that it boosts the immune system and protects from disease and infection.
The main health benefits that your dog will be provided with when consuming this mushroom include:
- Support for healthy digestion
- Improved cholesterol levels
- Enhanced cardiovascular support
- Better regulation of blood sugar levels
Turkey Tail
Turkey tail mushrooms are filled with polysaccharides, which are sugars in the body that help to activate a dog’s immune system.
A study that was performed by Penn State University in 2012 found that turkey tail mushrooms are highly effective when treating a cancer known as hemangiosarcoma.
This cancer occurs almost entirely in dogs. A specific compound taken from turkey tail mushrooms is able to help dogs survive longer when affected by this cancer.
Some of the additional medicinal benefits provided by turkey tail mushrooms include:
- Can be used for the treatment of pulmonary disorders
- Reduce the effects of radiation and chemotherapy
- Treat inflammation of digestive and urinary tracts
Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms are fantastic for dogs because they are comprised of 10 amino acids and 30 separate enzymes.
These mushrooms also come with such minerals as iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium.
This particular mushroom can stimulate your dog’s white blood cells, which will help to improve circulation.
The many health benefits derived from shiitake mushrooms include:
- Reduces allergy symptoms
- Lessens effects of radiation and chemotherapy
- Helps with the regulation of urinary incontinence
- Can treat Cushing’s disease
- Used to settle bronchial inflammation
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How to Get Your Dog to Eat Mushrooms
Now that you know which mushrooms are good for your dog, you might want to know how to get your dog to eat mushrooms.
Some dogs are very particular about what they eat. Likely the most effective way to get dogs to eat mushrooms is by cutting them up into small pieces and placing the mushrooms directly into the dog food or use a mushroom extract powder that can easily be mixed with normal food.
However, it’s also important to understand that dried mushrooms consist of higher amounts of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous when compared to canned and processed mushrooms.
Dried mushrooms are also easier to store, which means that you can use them even when mushrooms aren’t in season. You can store dried mushrooms for upwards of a year.
Despite the fact that raw mushrooms have more health benefits that canned or cooked mushrooms, they are also tougher and more difficult to digest. If you cook the mushrooms beforehand, they become simpler to digest, which makes it more likely that your dog will get the nutrients that they need.
In order to make it easier for your dog to get the essential nutrients that are found in mushrooms, it’s recommended that you use mushroom supplements, which are designed to be easy to consume.
If you slowly introduce these supplements to your dog’s daily meals, your dog shouldn’t suffer from any digestive problems.
Wrap Up
Now that you know about medicinal mushrooms for dogs and the many health benefits that they provide, you can begin to incorporate these mushrooms into your dog’s diet.
Whether your dog’s immune system has recently been weakened by an illness or your dog is suffering from cancer, the medical benefits provided by mushrooms are comprehensive.
