The two primary compounds that stimulate NGF are hericenones (found in the fruiting body) and erinacines (found in the mycelium). This is why it’s essential to look for mushroom supplements that use the whole mushroom, not just the fruiting body.
Lion’s mane for dogs is also shown to have more antioxidants than most other medicinal mushrooms, making it an ideal choice to help fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals in the environment.
If your dog seems stressed or mentally foggy, lion’s mane can be a great addition to their daily routine. It offers mental alertness without the drowsiness that often comes from medications, supports overall brain health, and can help your dog respond more calmly to everyday stressors.
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are one of the most well-studied functional mushrooms. They’ve made their way from traditional medicine to modern day supplements for pets because of the broad spectrum of health benefits they provide, especially for supporting adaptive immune responses.
Turkey tail is rich in beneficial compounds like beta glucans, polysaccharide-K (PSK), terpenoids, and polysaccharide peptides. These work together to support healthy immune and inflammatory responses, aid in digestion, and promote the body’s natural defenses against pathogens. PSK in particular is often used in Japan to help immunocompromised patients with gastrointestinal issues.
It’s a versatile and powerful addition to your dog’s wellness routine. Even though it doesn’t directly affect stress levels, the bioactive compounds in turkey tail mushrooms work together to benefit your dog’s overall health. When your dog is healthier, they’re better equipped to handle stressful situations while remaining calm and happy.
Reishi is an adaptogenic mushroom, meaning it helps the body balance itself and adapt to stressors more easily. It’s rich in beta glucans, antioxidants, and polysaccharides, so it’s great for promoting a healthy immune response.
Reishi mushrooms actually have a wide variety of polysaccharides, which studies have shown can support the liver and promote normal inflammatory pathways.
Reishi mushrooms for dogs can also help balance mood, support oxygen utilization (great for more energy and endurance), and promote a healthy detoxification process. At Earth Buddy, we pair Reishi with the four other top functional mushrooms for dogs to provide well-rounded supplements that can help your pet in peak condition.
4. Agarikon Mushrooms
Similar to reishi, agarikon mushrooms (Fomitopsis officinalis) are associated with longevity. Nicknamed “the elixir of long life,” this mushroom has an exceptionally long lifespan, often living up to 75 years. This exceptional mushroom is unfortunately in serious decline in the wild, as its native old-growth forests are destroyed. But in happier news, it’s alive and well in private cultivation, so your pup can enjoy its many benefits.
One of the reasons agarikon can live so long is that they’re able to defend against harmful microbes. They’ve been used since the time of ancient Greeks to support respiratory health and immune function, as well as to address a wide range of other ailments.
Agarikon mushrooms contain many bioactive compounds, including beta glucans, fatty acids, agaric acid, triterpenoids, and vitamins. It’s been shown to have immunomodulatory properties, meaning it can adjust the body’s immune response, as well the ability to inhibit tumor growth and increase the survival rate of immunocompromised subjects.
This powerhouse of a mushroom is a great addition to your dog’s daily routine. In addition to the benefits we’ve covered already, it also helps older pets deal with environmental stress, increases blood circulation, and strengthens the GI tract for better digestion.
5. Cordyceps
The beneficial effects of cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris, or Cordyceps sinensis) was discovered by Himalayan herders who noticed their cows were eating them and seemed more active, alert, and resilient. Since then, the mushroom has been used to help with lung function, boost energy, fight fatigue, and support patients with kidney disease.
As with the other functional mushrooms on the list, cordyceps also contains beta glucans, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and a range of other bioactive compounds that have been repeatedly shown to support the immune system, promote healthy inflammatory pathways, boost energy and the ability to deal with stress, and much more.
If you’re wondering why Earth Buddy chooses to use a blend of these five mushrooms when they all seemingly have the same nutrients, that’s a valid question. The reason is simple: each mushroom contains different amounts and varieties of these compounds. By combining them, your dog gets the best of each type of mushroom, giving them well-rounded support for their overall health and longevity.
How to Choose High-Quality Mushroom Supplements
When it comes to functional mushrooms to promote calm behavior, quality is really important. The pet supplement industry doesn’t have many standards in place for mushrooms, unfortunately. You’ve taken the time to educate yourself about mushrooms for dogs, so don’t be shy about fully evaluating the supplements you plan to give your pet.
Here are seven essential questions to ask when shopping for mushrooms for your dog:
- How are the mushrooms extracted? The extraction method determines whether your dog can actually absorb them. Poor-quality extracts have little to no effect.
- What are the beta glucan levels? The level of beta glucans indicates the efficacy of the extracts.
- Does the supplement provider have third-party testing to confirm these levels, or are they making unbacked claims?
- Does the supplement use the whole mushroom or just the fruiting body? If the supplement uses only the fruiting body, key compounds like erinacines (used in NGF activation) will be missing.
- Does it contain a single type of mushroom or a blend? A single type of mushroom isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but it’s important to know what you’re getting. The more variety a supplement includes, the more comprehensive and synergistic the effects are likely to be.
- Are the mushrooms grown organically? Most pet parents interested in mushrooms will also want to ensure that the ones they choose are free from pesticides.
Earth Buddy is happy to answer all of these questions (and any others you may have!).
- Extraction: We use a triple-extraction process that breaks down the chitin, a tough fiber found in mushrooms, to make the beneficial properties more bioavailable. This means your dog gets real benefits, not just a mushroom supplement that passes through their system undigested.
- Beta glucans: You can find the levels for our mushroom products in the active ingredients section on the product page.
- Third-party testing: We use third-party testing to ensure our mushrooms are effective.
- Whole mushroom: Earth Buddy’s whole-mushroom philosophy means your pup gets the bioactive compounds from both the fruiting body and the mycelium.
- Single or blend: We use a blend of five mushrooms—lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, agarikon, and turkey tail.
- Organic: We grow our mushrooms on a combination of organic millet, rye berries, and soy hulls.
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