Medicinal Mushrooms & how to use them

RFFDMSUK
Jul 18, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Apr 24

Mushrooms aren’t just a trendy health booster for humans—they offer incredible benefits for dogs too. Packed with immune-boosting beta-glucans, gut-nourishing prebiotic fibers, polyphenols, and more, medicinal mushrooms can enhance overall canine wellness.

Let’s explore how mushrooms can support your dog’s health and which varieties are safe to incorporate.

🍄 Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

For thousands of years, civilizations from Peru to Greece have relied on mushrooms for healing and wellness. While not all mushrooms are safe, a simple rule applies:

✅ If a mushroom is safe for humans, it’s generally safe for dogs.

🚫 If it’s toxic to humans, it’s toxic to dogs too.

🌿 Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms can be used in teas, broths, powders, and even frozen treats to provide various health benefits:

✔️ Detoxification – Helps cleanse and protect cells

✔️ Immune System Modulation – Supports and regulates immunity

✔️ Nutrient Boost – Packed with essential vitamins and minerals

✔️ Gut Health – Feeds probiotics and improves digestion

✔️ Anti-Viral & Anti-Bacterial – Helps fight harmful pathogens

✔️ Anti-Inflammatory – Reduces swelling and irritation

✔️ Brain Support – Aids in cognitive function and memory

🛠️ Safe Preparation & Cooking Tips

To maximise health benefits, medicinal mushrooms can be fresh, dehydrated, powdered, or used in supplements.

🔹 Cooking mushrooms often enhances their bioactive compounds.

🔹 For a vitamin D boost, place washed mushrooms upside down in sunlight for 15 minutes—this can increase vitamin D levels by 15% (shiitake mushrooms see an incredible 1,150% increase after 8 hours!).

🚨 Safety Reminder: If your dog eats a wild mushroom, contact your vet immediately and take a photo for identification.

🍄 Safe Mushrooms & Their Benefits for Dogs

Mushroom	Health Benefits	Preparation Tips
Reishi	Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, detoxifying, immune support, cancer-fighting	Sauté in butter/olive oil or make tea/broth
Chaga	Antioxidant-rich, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory	Best boiled into tea/broth or taken as a powder
Lion’s Mane	Supports nerve growth, gut health, anti-aging, mood regulation	Can be eaten raw, cooked, or boiled
Turkey Tail	Slows cancer growth, reduces inflammation, supports gut health	Best boiled into tea/broth or dehydrated
Maitake (Hen of the Woods)	Immune-boosting, anti-tumour, supports glucose metabolism	Boil into tea/broth or sauté
Oyster	Supports lung health, reduces blood pressure, inhibits cancer growth	Soft when sautéed
Shiitake	Immune-enhancing, slows tumour growth, antioxidant-rich	Best when sautéed or dehydrated
Cordyceps	Antioxidant-rich, immune support, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory	Common in supplements; best boiled into tea/broth
Shimeji (White Beech/Seafood Mushrooms)	Anti-cancer, heart-protecting, antimicrobial	Best cooked (bitter when raw)
Portobello	High in potassium	Sauté, grill, or dehydrate
Cremini (White/Button Mushrooms)	Supports insulin resistance, acts as a probiotic	Sauté, grill, or dehydrate
Cinnamon Cap	Reduces inflammation, lowers cholesterol	Great for sautéing
Shimofuri Hiratake (Black Pearl)	Lowers cholesterol, inhibits certain cancers	Best in soups/stews or sautéed