6 Mushroom Superfoods that Won’t Turn Your Dog Into a Zombie

If The Last of Us has replaced White Lotus as your Sunday appointment TV, you know a lot about cordyceps, a.k.a. the “zombie-ant fungus.” Thankfully, mammals don’t have to worry about this nutrient-draining parasite that turns its insect host into a glorified puppet — shudder. Instead, we can focus on all the mushrooms that improve our health and make us, well, the opposite of zombies.

In fact, mushrooms used for medical or health reasons are positively booming. These “third kingdom” (neither plant nor animal) fungi have captured the imagination of a public that is seeking ever more nutrient-dense whole foods to supercharge their days. And it, turns out, your dog can benefit from that supercharge just as much as you.

Mushrooms Make A Healthy Difference 

Mushrooms have been used for their health-promoting properties for hundreds of years. Yes, they’re delicious on pizza, and yes they’re nutritious as a low-calorie, high-fiber, nutrient-dense food. Mushrooms have many components in them that provide individual benefits for specific needs, from brain health to weight management.

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One interesting shroom-y component is a type of carbohydrate known as a polysaccharide, in particular beta-glucans, which are helpful for immune function. Indeed, maybe the primary reason pet parents feed their dogs mushrooms is because research shows certain kinds can help with cancer.

“Cancer is a big one,” says Dr. Robert Silver, an integrative veterinarian, consultant to the animal nutraceutical industry, and author. “Once a pet owner has a pet that has had cancer, then they want to make sure their next pet is more resistant to cancer.”

Canadian researchers in 2020 surveying dog owners online, through vets or social media found dogs with a cancer diagnosis were more likely to be given mushroom supplements (as well as turmeric). And with good reason. A landmark study at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine compared cancerous dogs undergoing chemo with those who instead took turkey tail mushrooms. Surprisingly, chemo dogs live an average 86 days while the mushrooming dogs lived 199 days and some cancerous dogs on ’shrooms lived more than a year. The effective dose was 100mg turkey tail for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.

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Meet the Different Mushroom Strains

While there are about 14,000 different species of mushrooms, from a nutritional or medical perspective the number in commercial use is closer to only 14. Some argue there are a mighty six that highlight the group. Here’s the slate of them and what they can do for your pet.

Chaga

Known as the “ king of mushrooms,” it was first discovered growing on trees in Russia and used to help age gracefully. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) has the highest antioxidant potential of any mushroom, and its beta-glucans make it especially good for immunity.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps are used for endurance because of their ability to improve the availability of oxygen in the blood. Traditional Tibetans and Chinese didn’t know that exactly, but they knew enough to use Cordyceps sinensis to help with high altitude living where the air is thin, and also for stamina, longevity and to keep illness at bay.

Lion’s Mane

This scarcely looks like what you think a traditional mushroom is supposed to look like. With long, stringy, tawny if not white fruiting bodies, you could see why it’s been named lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus). In China, it has traditionally been used to boost the brain — mood, depression and overall cognitive function. It’s also known to support healthy immune function while acting as a general antioxidant for overall health and vitality.

Maitake 

Maitake mushrooms, specifically what’s called the maitake D-fraction, is a popular supplement. It has been widely studied and has been found to inhibit cancer cell growth or directly kill cancer cells in dogs. Cancer research with maitake mushrooms began in Japan, and the optimum dose for animals is 25mg for every kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, your pet weighs.

Reishi

Pronounced ray-she, the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom has been used for millennia in China to extend life and promote health. It’s marketed as an immune booster and also used for cancer. Reishi has antihistamine properties and can help down-regulate an overactive immune system (allergies are an autoimmune condition), which can help dogs who scratch “hot spots” related to allergies and poor overall coat health.

Turkey Tail 

Turkey Tail(Trametes versicolor) has been shown in a handful of studies in people with cancer to modestly extend lifespan. We’re not talking Methuselah, but still. These studies used extracted components from the turkey tail called PSK and PSP, which are an approved mushroom product used for cancer treatment in Japan. One study found cancerous dogs not treated at all survived 86 days. But those treated with 50 mg turkey tail containing PSP survived 117 days, and those taking 100 mg lived 199 days.

“Mushrooms are huge,” says Dr. Silver. “I believe mushrooms, probiotics, antioxidants, and healthy oils should be a part of a daily wellness program for all two-leggeds and four-leggeds.” A mushroom pizza might not do the trick, but in supplement form there’s enough power-packed, health-promoting nutrients to not just maintain good health but also potentially help with The Big C. Below, the best veterinarian-recommended mushroom supplements.

The Best Mushroom Supplements

Btw, our editors (and their pets) picked out these products. They’re always in stock at the time we publish, but there’s a chance they’ll sell out. If you do buy through our links, we may earn a commission. (We’ve got a lot of toys to buy over here, you know?)

Canine Matrix Joint

$40

Supports healthy joint and hip function with a certified USDA organic blend of seven mushrooms. For those of you keeping track at home, they are king trumpet, cordyceps, antrodia, agaricus, maitake, reishi and lion’s mane. Together, the mushrooms help the body repair connective tissue and joints, help the body’s inflammation response, and ease stiffness. Not to mention because it’s in a powder, it contains nothing but the mushrooms — no fillers, no preservatives, no capsules, no sugars, nothing artificial.

$40 at Chewy

Aloha Medicinals Turkey Tail

$25

This is straight-up organic turkey tail mushrooms at a whopping dosage of 500 mg. It contains both PSK and PSP, which activate the white blood cells known as macrophages that can fight multiple types of infections in the body.

$25 at Amazon

Holistic Hound Mighty Mojo Mushroom Powder

$30

Although the name and mascot of the brand is a dog, this mushroom powder is for both dogs and cats. The formulation contains five different mushrooms — reishi, shiitake, poria, mesima, turkey tail — and their mycelial biomass of organic fermented brown rice.

$30 at Holistic Hound

Mushroom Wisdom Maitake PETfraction

$43

This is the official stuff — maitake D-fraction, made especially for companion animals. Studies have shown it may help with cancer concerns for cats or dogs.

$43 at Amazon

NaturVet Mushroom Max Advanced Immune Support

$22

This is a blend of four mushrooms — turkey tail, shiitake, reishi and maitake. Because they’re chews, they’re designed to taste yummy so your dog or cat will gobble it right up.

$22 at Chewy

Super Snouts Hemp + Shroom

$45

This immune booster features a blend of mushrooms including lion’s mane, reishi, and turkey tail. It’s also Packed with USA farmed broad-spectrum hemp containing 5mg of CBD to help calm your pet and relieve inflammation.

$45 at Super Snouts

Disclaimer: This article is here to share information. But, much like pineapple on pizza, the topic may be controversial. Meaning, not all vets or pet professionals agree. Because every pet is a unique weirdo with specific needs. So, don’t take this as fact or medical advice. Talk things over with your vet when making decisions, and use your best judgment (about both your pet’s health and pizza toppings).