The Power of Mushrooms & Why Pet Parents Need to Know

If you read our recent blog about CBD, you know I’m all about sharing the things I wish I had known sooner. And after seeing the incredible results from CBD, I wanted to share with you all the things I know about mushrooms. If you've been with us a while, you've likely heard how much we love mushrooms for the furry guys, especially because we're able to use whole foods to support their body and the results are unbelievable!

Honestly?At first I wasn’t convinced either. Mushrooms? For dogs? Even I thought it sounded like a stretch.

But then I dug deeper. I started learning about the science behind functional mushrooms and more importantly, I started giving them to Zaner. That’s when everything changed. His energy, his coat, his digestion, his everything improved. Now, I recommend mushrooms alongside CBD every single day, because I’ve seen firsthand what they can do.

There's a lot of fear around mushrooms, which makes sense! In one species, mushrooms can either kill you, or they can heal you! The easiest way to know whether mushrooms are safe and beneficial for the furry guys, is simple! If you can buy the mushroom in a grocery store, it's safe for our furry family! We're not roaming fields and picking wild mushrooms, we're serving mushrooms that are safe for us to eat and offer a huge array of healing properties! 

🍄 So What’s the Deal with Medicinal Mushrooms?

We’re not talking about the mushrooms on your pizza, though pizza mushrooms are still beneficial, the mushrooms I want you to know about are truly magical in helping to heal our furry family. These are functional mushrooms, known for their ability to support health at the cellular level. They're adaptogens, immune boosters, and inflammation tamers and pets benefit from them just as much as we do. In fact, if we were to add just a quarter cup of mushrooms to our own diet every day, we can reduce our chances of cancer by up to 30%! That's some powerful medicine in the form of food!

Here are the ones I trust, love most for our floofs and why I use them with Zaner because they're so powerful to get into our furry guy's diet!

1️⃣ Turkey Tail

Turkey Tail is one of the most well-researched medicinal mushrooms in both Eastern and Western medicine and for good reason. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s often introduced at the time of a cancer diagnosis to help strengthen the immune system and support the body through treatment.

It contains a powerful compound called PSK (polysaccharide-K), which has been shown to stimulate the production and activity of white blood cells, including lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. These are the frontline defenders that help the body recognize and fight off threats like infection, inflammation, and abnormal cell growth.

While Turkey Tail is not a cure for cancer, it plays a powerful role in helping the body defend itself, recover, and maintain immune resilience.

For pets, Turkey Tail is a go-to when you want to:

• Support immune health, especially during or after illness

• Help pets undergoing cancer treatment or in recovery

• Provide antioxidant support to reduce oxidative stress

• Strengthen immune response in older or immune-compromised pets

It’s gentle, trusted, and deeply effective, an incredible tool for helping our pets fight from the inside out.

2️⃣ Reishi

Often called the “Mushroom of Immortality,” Reishi has a long history in Eastern medicine as a tonic for vitality and longevity. It’s been used for centuries to help the body adapt to stress, support cardiovascular health, and gently nourish the liver and immune system.

What makes Reishi special is its ability to bring the body back into balance—physically and emotionally. For pets, that can mean:

• Supporting seasonal allergy relief

• Reducing inflammation

• Helping with liver detox (especially important for pets on medications or chemical preventatives)

• And even easing anxiety and stress, thanks to its calming, adaptogenic properties

It’s a gentle powerhouse, perfect for pets that are sensitive, stressed, or just need some extra wellness support on a deeper level. Reishi doesn’t target just one thing, it supports overall resilience.

3️⃣ Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane is known as the brain and nerve mushroom and for good reason. In both Eastern medicine and modern neuroscience, it’s celebrated for its ability to stimulate nerve regeneration, protect brain function, and support the entire nervous system.

In Eastern medicine, Lion’s Mane is often introduced immediately after a diagnosis involving the brain or nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or after a stroke. That’s because it contains compounds that help produce nerve growth factor (NGF) essential for rebuilding and maintaining healthy neural connections.

For our furry family, Lion’s Mane can make a huge difference when it comes to:

• Senior pets experiencing cognitive decline

• Pets with seizures or neurological issues

• Nerve injuries or trauma

• And most importantly, pets diagnosed with IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease). It supports the regeneration and repair of nerve tissue, which can be incredibly helpful in recovery and mobility outcomes.

It’s safe, gentle, and often overlooked but when paired with CBD or other supportive tools, it can dramatically improve quality of life for pets with neurological conditions.

4️⃣ Chaga

Chaga is the immune system’s silent guardian—packed with antioxidants and one of the highest natural sources of melanin, zinc, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps the body fight oxidative stress and cellular damage.

Traditionally used in Siberian and Eastern European medicine, Chaga has been called the “King of Mushrooms” for its deep restorative benefits. It’s not flashy but it’s incredibly effective.

For our pets, Chaga is a fantastic option when you’re looking to:

• Strengthen immune function, especially for pets who seem to catch every bug

• Help reduce inflammation in pets with arthritis, allergies, or chronic conditions

• Support skin health from the inside out

• Provide antioxidant support for pets in cancer recovery or prevention plans

Chaga is also a wonderful “maintenance” mushroom for pets with no specific issues, just to keep the immune system sharp and cells protected from daily environmental stress. It pairs beautifully with Turkey Tail for immune strength and with Reishi or CBD for inflammatory balance.

If you’ve got a pet with a compromised immune system, or one that just needs that extra layer of wellness protection, Chaga is a brilliant addition.

5️⃣ Cordyceps

Cordyceps is all about energy, vitality, and recovery. It’s often used in traditional Chinese medicine to support lung function, endurance, and physical stamina and it's just as valuable for our pets.

In fact, Cordyceps has been used for centuries by athletes (both human and animal!) to help the body perform better under physical stress and to recover faster after exertion. It works by helping the body produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) the fuel source cells use for energy.

For our floofs, Cordyceps is a go-to when you want to:

• Support active or sporting dogs who need help with performance and endurance

• Boost energy in aging pets who are starting to slow down

• Help pets with respiratory issues like collapsing trachea or chronic cough

• Assist with recovery after surgery, illness, or intense activity

It’s also a gentle option for pets with adrenal fatigue or low stamina due to chronic illness. While some mushrooms support immunity or inflammation, Cordyceps is your revitalizer, great for pets who just need that little boost to feel like themselves again. It's also our go-to for kitties since Cordyceps does not have that bitter mushroom taste and kitties seem to like it!

✨ Why Mushrooms & CBD Are Better Together

I actually started with mushrooms first. When I first learned abou the power of mushrooms, I added Turkey Tail to Zaner’s diet as a preventative because I knew how important immune support is, especially as our pets get older.

Then, when he was misdiagnosed with IVDD, I immediately included Lion’s Mane to support his nervous system and cellular health and to help his body heal. The difference I saw in his energy, mobility, and comfort was incredible. We have customers who's pups have IVDD and have noticed a difference in their mobility just by including Lion's Mane in their diet!

When I later combined mushrooms with CBD, it was like everything synced up, faster results, deeper healing, and longer-lasting comfort.

CBD helps calm the body, ease inflammation, and manage pain, while mushrooms help restore balance, rebuild systems, and support long-term vitality.

Together, they’ve become one of my favourite and most effective combinations to recommend, especially for pets dealing with:

• Cancer

• Chronic illness

• Anxiety

• Mobility or neurological issues

• Senior wellness

If you’re already using one, consider adding the other, you may be amazed by the difference. If you haven't tried either, adding one or the other or even both is a game changer for the furry guys!

🛑 Not All Mushroom Products Are Equal

Just like CBD, when it comes to mushrooms...there’s a lot of junk out there.

Many of the mushroom products you’ll find on pet store shelves (and online) are made using mycelium, which is the root-like system of the mushroom. Sounds fancy, but here’s the truth:

➡️ Mycelium is usually grown on grains like oats, rice, or sorghum.
➡️ What you’re actually getting is mostly ground-up grain with a little bit of mushroom residue and very little of the therapeutic compounds you’re after.

That means you could be paying for a “mushroom supplement” that contains more filler than function. 😬

What you want is the fruiting body, the part of the mushroom that grows above ground and produces all the powerful compounds like beta-glucans, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides.

That’s where the real health benefits are!

When choosing a mushroom supplement, always look for:

✅ “Fruiting body” clearly listed on the label (not just “mycelium” or “myceliated grain”)
✅ No added grains, starches or alcohol
✅ Extraction method listed (hot water or dual extraction is ideal)
✅ Trusted sourcing from reputable, third-party-tested companies

It might sound like a small detail, but it makes a massive difference in how well the product works and how much benefit your pet gets.

This is exactly why we only carry mushroom products that meet these standards and why we’re always happy to answer any questions you have if you’re unsure.

Let’s Build a Plan for Your Pet 🍄🐾

Whether you’re already using CBD or just beginning to explore natural support options, mushrooms are the next natural step and we’re here to help you make the right choice with confidence.

You can shop online anytime (we’ve linked all our trusted mushroom options for you), or come by the store to chat with us in person. We’ll walk you through what each mushroom does and help you find the blend that fits your floof’s specific needs. No pressure. No overwhelm.

We only carry mushroom supplements I use with Zaner and recommend to our own families. If it’s not good enough for Zane, it won't be on our shelves. 🩵

Your pet’s wellness journey is personal and we’re here for it, every step of the way.