THE MAGIC OF MUSHROOMS
For Your Pup’s Microbiome
Adog’s gut (intestines, stomach, and beneficial bacteria (microbiome) is the foundation of their overall health, influencing everything from digestion to immune function, skin health, and behavior.
When a dog has a sensitive gut, it can show up as chronic diarrhea, gas, food intolerances, or even anxiety. While many pet parents turn to prescription diets and probiotics, an often-overlooked solution comes from the world of medicinal mushrooms.
The combination of Tremella (tremella fuciformis) and Lion’s Mane (hericium erinaceus), stands out for their ability to soothe, repair, and protect the digestive tract in ways that go beyond basic probiotics. Whether your dog suffers from chronic digestive upset or occasional sensitivities, this combination can be incredibly healing.
WHY MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS FOR GUT HEALTH?
When looking at medicinal mushrooms, research focuses on the actions of bioavailable polysaccharides including beta-glucans, antioxidants, and prebiotic (food for good bacteria) compounds that nourish the gut lining, regulate inflammation, and promote beneficial gut bacteria.
Polysaccharides help hydrate and soothe the gut lining while supporting immune function. Beta-glucans act as immune modulators, helping to regulate inflammation and promote gut microbiome balance. Antioxidants reduce inflammation and protect your dog’s body from cellular damage. Enzymes and fiber aid digestion and support beneficial bacteria in the large intestine.
TREMELLA: HYDRATE, SOOTHE, REPAIR
Tremella has a damp texture made of dense polysaccharides that help retain moisture in the gut lining, prevent dryness and soothe irritations that often lead to weakness in your dog’s gut lining, allowing undigested food particles to make their way into the bloodstream. When this happens, your dog can get food sensitivities.
The gut lining has a mucosal barrier that protects against harmful pathogens. This jelly-like mushroom strengthens this barrier, reducing gut permeability and improves nutrient absorption. All these actions reduce inflammation helping settle chronic digestive upset, calm and eliminate food sensitivities, allergies and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Promoting beneficial gut bacteria, Tremella mushroom acts as a prebiotic, encouraging microbial balance. A thriving gut microbiome is crucial for digestion, immune function, and your dog’s overall well-being.
LION’S MANE: HEALING GUT-BASED NERVE TISSUE
Lion’s Mane looks like a white, rubbery, pom-pom. Revered for its ability to regenerate nerve tissue and support brain function, it also plays a vital role in gut health by containing two unique compounds, hericenones and erinacines, that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF). These two substances help regenerate damaged nerve endings in the gut lining and support the gut-brain axis which is an integral component of a resilient immune system.
The gut-brain axis in dogs is the communication system between their digestive system and brain. The gut has its own network of nerves and bacteria that send signals to the brain, affecting mood, digestion, and overall health.
When the gut is unhealthy it can lead to digestive issues, anxiety, stressed-based indigestion and behavioral changes. This connection explains why a healthy gut supports both physical and mental well-being. Lion’s Mane is truly an excellent choice for nervous or high-strung dogs. It also helps support balanced digestion and gut motility improving chronic constipation and digestive upset by increasing nerve signaling in the gut.
COMBINING TREMELLA & LION’S MANE FOR MAXIMUM GUT SUPPORT
When used together, Tremella and Lion’s Mane mushroom create an amplifying effect by hydrating and repairing the gut lining, supporting nerve regeneration and gut motility, reducing inflammation and balancing your dog’s gut microbiome.
HOW TO USE TREMELLA AND LION’S MANE FOR DOGS
When using mushrooms for the gut, one of the best forms for dogs are hot-water extracted powders using organic fruiting bodies (cap and stem). Use 1/8 tsp per 15 lbs of body weight, once or twice daily in a small amount of food.
You can also make a mushroom broth with simmered fresh or dried Lion’s Mane and Tremella mushrooms.
To learn more about Dr. Fishman, please visit strutanimal.com
GUT-HEALING MUSHROOM BROTH RECIPE
Here’s a nutritious, gut-healing Lion’s Mane and Tremella Mushroom Broth recipe using whole fruiting body mushrooms for dogs.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried Lion’s Mane mushrooms
1 cup fresh or ½ cup dried Tremella mushrooms
4 cups filtered water
Instructions:
1. Prepare the mushrooms: For dried mushrooms, chop any large pieces and soak them in warm water for 20 minutes to rehydrate. For fresh mushrooms, simply cut them into small pieces
2. Simmer the broth: In a pot, add 4 cups of water to mushrooms and bring to a simmer (not a rolling boil) and cook for 90 minutes.
3. Strain and cool: Strain mushrooms and save broth. Let cool and pour into glass storage jars. Place in the refrigerator or freezer in an ice cube tray. Tip: Chop the spent mushrooms and add small amounts to your dog’s food for beneficial prebiotic fiber.
4. Dosages: Small dogs (under 20 lbs): 1–2 teaspoons per day Medium dogs (20–50 lbs): 1–2 tablespoons per day\ Large dogs (50–80 lbs): 1/4 cup per day Extra-large dogs (80+ lbs): 1/2 cup per day.
A sensitive gut can be a struggle for many dogs, but synergistic combinations like Tremella and Lion’s Mane offer a gentle yet powerful way to support digestion, heal the gut lining, and improve your dog’s overall well-being.
Rita Hogan is a clinical canine herbalist with more than twenty years of experience specializing in holistic canine herbalism. Her book, The Herbal Dog is available everywhere books are sold.
(Editor’s Note: The suggestions in this article are solely that of the writer and not Pet Lifestyles Magazine
