Gourmet mushrooms should not harm pets and may benefit dogs: reports

You don’t have to worry about your dog or cat if they get into a mushroom grow kit at home. While cats are carnivorous and shouldn’t be eating mushrooms as part of their regular diet, initial studies suggest dogs may benefit from gourmet mushrooms in their diet.

Regarding toxicity, your dog or cat should not get sick if they eat mushrooms from a grow kit. Eating too many raw mushrooms may affect digestion, but they are not toxic.

The obvious option to keep a grow kit away from a dog is to place it on a shelf or on top of the fridge where Fido won’t be able to reach. For cats who like to climb anything and everything, you could try placing your kit in a closet or in a closed-off bedroom.

There have been few studies specifically on the benefits of mushrooms in a dog’s diet, but pre-existing initial research of the nutritional content and studies on humans or other animals suggest mushrooms could be worth bringing up in a conversation with your veterinarian or health care practitioner.

Beta-glucans from Oyster mushrooms may help support the immune system for dogs, according to a report by Anton C. Beynen, a researcher of diet and health for dogs and cats. The beta-glucans found in Oyster mushrooms are argued to make it more efficient to find and disarm harmful bacteria.

Raw Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms have some anti-inflammatory activity, according to a study by researchers in Australia. However, much of the anti-inflammatory activity was lost after cooking the mushrooms, and it’s always recommended to cook mushrooms before eating them to avoid digestive issues.

Mushrooms such as Lion’s Mane have been suggested to help people relax and support cognitive function when incorporated into a regular diet, according to researchers at Kyoto Bunkyo University in Japan. The researchers gave 30 women either Lion’s Mane cookies or placebo cookies to eat daily for four weeks. Those who took the Lion’s Mane cookies were reported to have less nervous and irritated feelings.

If you are interested in including mushrooms like the Lion’s Mane, Oyster or Shiitake mushrooms in your dog’s diet, be sure to talk it over first with your vet or health care professional so they can do their research first. But if your pet gets into a grow kit or mushrooms left on the counter, you shouldn’t have to worry about them getting sick.

Disclaimer: Despite the references provided, the information on this page is for educational purposes only. The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by Health Canada nor the Food and Drug Administration. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by licensed medical physicians or veterinarians. Contact your health provider for personal medical advice.