Medicinal mushrooms are becoming a popular alternative and are now widely available to pet owners. You will not find very many traditional veterinarians prescribing mushrooms as a form of treatment; however we are starting to see more and more veterinary nutraceutical companies incorporating mushrooms into their formulas. Nutramax, for example, is a well known nutraceutical company that veterinarians have been recommending for decades. Many of you probably use or have at least seen their products Dasuquin and Cosequin. Nutramax now offers a product called Avmaquin, that includes mushroom extract, and has shown promise in treating patients with transitional cell carcinoma.
Medicinal Mushrooms and What They Do
Medicinal mushrooms can be purchased at your local grocery store, farmers market, supplement aisle, and even online. Many of these mushrooms can be found in their raw, natural form, as well as in powder or capsule form. My personal favorites for pets are Turkey Tail Mushrooms and Maitake Mushrooms, although there are many more. Everyone that knows me personally is fully aware that I, in fact, do not like mushrooms and will push them to the side of my plate. I avoid consuming mushrooms at all costs, despite their amazing health benefits, simply because I don’t like the taste or texture. But that didn’t stop me from using a mushroom complex for two of our dogs. Maybe one day I will acquire a taste for them…
Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Several studies have been done with Turkey Tail mushrooms, suggesting they have the ability to slow the growth of certain cancers, specifically hemangiosarcoma, and increase survival time. Turkey Tail mushrooms contain prebiotics, help reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system with their beta-glucans (soluble fiber).
Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms have become a favorite across the human and animal health world. Maitake mushrooms contain components (beta-glucans, alpha-glucans, and d-fraction) that are amazing at helping to fight cancer, boost the immune system, and even regulate glucose levels. Studies have shown that d-fraction, a bioactive extract from maitake, completely inhibited cancer cells and had the potential to kill cancer cells in dogs.
While hundreds of studies have shown the significant impact that mushrooms can have on the body, one study took a look at how a mushroom complex, in conjunction with chemotherapy, affected dogs and survival rates. This study concluded that quality of life was, without a doubt, improved for the dogs receiving both the mushroom complex and chemotherapy.
When To Incorporate Medicinal Mushrooms Into Your Pets Diet
There is no need to rush out and buy mushrooms for your pets today. Although, if you are cooking them up for yourself and have some left over, feel free to add them to your pets bowl. You can add about 2 teaspoons per 20 pounds of body weight. Be sure to steam or boil the mushrooms before serving, as raw mushrooms are hard to digest. For older pets or pets that have a history of tumor/cancer diagnosis or immune-mediated diseases, then you should certainly consider adding a mushroom complex to their diet. Certain breeds prone to cancers may benefit from starting on a mushroom complex earlier in life.
No, mushrooms will not cure your pets cancer. However, studies have proven that adding a mushroom complex to their daily diet can greatly improve their chances at survival in conjunction with traditional treatments. When adding a concentrated supplement form of mushrooms to your pets routine, start off with half of the recommended dosing for the first few days to ensure your pet’s stomach can tolerate the supplement. The most common side effect of mushroom supplements, is gastrointestinal distress when given high doses.
Below are a few products I prefer and have used with my pets.
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