“The mushroom of immortality,” reishi mushrooms are prized in traditional Chinese medicine for their numerous health benefits. These mushrooms have tons of health benefits when eaten by humans, but can dogs eat reishi mushrooms to reap the benefits?

Read on to find out everything about feeding reishi mushrooms to dogs.

So, Can Dogs Eat Reishi Mushrooms?

Yes! Dogs can eat reishi mushrooms. These mushrooms are some of the healthiest veggies you could ever feed your dog. Reishi mushrooms contain a ton of vitamins and minerals which can be extremely beneficial for your dog’s health. The nutrients in these fungi have been known to help with cancer, diabetes, gastric conditions, liver issues, and more. Reishi mushrooms have a lot more health benefits. They can improve your pooch’s energy, digestion, immune system, and heart health. Due to the fact that they are a highly nutritious food, reishi mushrooms are an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.

Now let’s look at the health benefits in detail below, shall we?

Health Benefits of Feeding Reishi Mushroom to Dogs

1. Helps Fight Against Cancer

Studies suggest that the reishi mushroom contains cancer-fighting properties. These mushrooms contain triterpenes, which help kill cancer cells and reduce tumor size. Additionally, reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which are compounds that trigger the body’s immune response. This, in return, helps kill off cancer cells and tumors. Research also shows that reishi mushroom extracts can help reduce the size of tumors and cancer cells and prevent further growth of tumor cells. These mushrooms are also a good supplement to dogs undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

2. Helps Lower Blood Sugar Levels

The anti-oxidants found in reishi mushrooms can help reduce blood sugar levels in both humans and dogs. They are known to reduce appetite, which helps with weight loss and also regulate the sugar cycle in the body. The anti-oxidants are also effective at fighting against free radicals in the body, which can help prevent damage to the cells. Furthermore, these antioxidants can speed wound healing in diabetic dogs.

3. Improves Cardiovascular Health

Reishi mushrooms help improve the cardiovascular system in dogs. The presence of polysaccharides can help lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol levels in dogs. This helps reduce heart disease and lower the chance of a heart attack. Elderly dogs can also benefit from these healthy and natural supplements.

4. Better Liver Health

Reishi mushrooms are effective at protecting the liver. The antioxidants found in reishi mushrooms can also fight off harmful free radicals, which are known to damage liver cells. These compounds prevent oxidative stress on dogs’ livers, which helps avoid liver disease and liver damage. It also helps renew liver cells, bolster the liver, and enhance the body’s detoxification process.

One study on rats showed that reishi mushrooms reversed liver fibrosis, which is the final stage of fatty liver disease. Treatment isn’t usually possible in this stage.

5. Anti-aging properties

An amazing fact about reishi mushrooms is that they are one of the best anti-aging foods for humans and dogs alike. They help fight off free radicals in the body, which inhibits the production of wrinkles and fine lines. The beta-glucans found in reishi mushrooms can also help lower cholesterol levels in the body, which helps maintain a young-looking coat. Additionally, these antioxidants can help prevent cognitive decline and also help with aging joint issues like arthritis.

6. Helps Prevents Allergies

Reishi mushrooms contain ganoderic acid. Ganoderic acid has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce allergic reactions in dogs by blocking the release of histamines that cause allergic reactions. These anti-histamine properties can reduce symptoms of dog allergy symptoms like itchy skin, sneezing, and watery eyes. Thus, reishi mushrooms are an effective way to help manage allergy symptoms.

You might also be interested in Can Dogs Eat Maitake Mushrooms?

Feeding Reishi Mushroom to Dogs

Reishi mushrooms have a bitter taste that dogs wouldn’t want to eat as a standalone dish. Make sure the mushroom is thoroughly cooked before feeding it to your pup. You could cut the mushroom into small bits and add it to your dog’s food. Keep in mind that dogs should eat any food in moderation, mushrooms being no exception. In moderation, these mushrooms can be very beneficial to dogs, but in large amounts, they could lead to gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and nausea. These symptoms aren’t exactly life-threatening and can be treated at home, but if they persist for a few days, see a vet.

Conclusion

Reishi mushrooms are a great addition to your dog’s diet. They come loaded with numerous health benefits, from fighting cancer to preventing allergies and from boosting heart health to helping with liver issues. The anti-oxidants in reishi mushrooms can be very beneficial for your dog’s overall health and well-being. Just make sure you feed these healthy fungi to your pooch in moderation. All in all, these mushrooms are a great addition to any dog’s diet.

Thank you for reading the article.

Now that you know how reishi mushrooms are not only edible but also provide several  health benefits to dogs, check out our other mushroom-related dog articles. 

Did you know about the health benefits of reishi mushrooms? Have you ever shared reishi mushrooms with your dog? What was their reaction? We would love to hear from you. Please share with our community by leaving a comment below!