If you have got a tiny little pooch at your home, it is quite obvious that you would find him staring at you with hungry eyes and watering mouth while you are having your portion of food.
- Shimeji Mushrooms Recipe
- Shimeji Mushrooms For Sale
- Brown Shimeji Mushroom
- Where To Buy Shimeji Mushrooms
- How To Cook Shimeji Mushrooms
Shimejis are little characters (desktop buddies or mascots) who play around in your windows of Google Chrome (web browser) or Chrome OS, while you are browsing the internet. Pick up a shimeji with the mouse pointer, drag them around, and drop them where you want. They walk, crawl, and climb all over your screen and interact with elements on web. Shimeji mushroom is a potential natural anticancer agent Shimeji mushrooms are rich in glycoprotein (HM-3A), marmorin, beta-(1-3)-glucan, hypsiziprenol, and hypsin. These compounds inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells such as leukemia, hepatoma, breast, sarcoma, lung carcinoma cells (6).
In such a scenario, it seems to be really confusing to decide whether or not you should share your meal with him. Well, today we would be discussing whether cooked mushrooms are good enough for these canine friends or not!
Yeah, they are, at times depending on the species of mushrooms you are serving and the way you are presenting the meal before your dog.
I am Daniela Carrera, a professional dog trainer with experience of around 10 years and I love to help dog owners in solving various kinds of problems they face with their pet dogs.
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Are mushrooms actually good enough for your pup?
Based on whether you are cooking it in oil, spices, and butter – something that you personally prefer to have for your taste buds, it might not be the same for your pup though!
It is essential to understand that all that’s good enough for you might cause an upset stomach for your pup. All things do not go the same way around!
It’s high time that you understand that both of you have two different kinds of metabolism that are completely different for each other, and thus, it is bound that you two will have your own sets of recommended diets too!
On the contrary, there would be times when you should ensure not including mushrooms in your dog’s meal while at the same time, taking care of the fact that you may need to ignore him in several situations even though your pup seems to be longing for that portion of mushrooms from you!
Yeah, be strict, no matter even if you cannot resist its innocent face, you will have to adjust to the situation and not let him get something that’s not healthy enough for your dog.
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Safety concerns for your dog-related to mushroom consumption
The only variety of mushroom that is safe for your dog’s consumption is the one that’s available in the supermarket. As per the ASPCA standards, it is recommended that the species of mushrooms that are put on sale at the local grocery stores is safe enough for your dog to consume.
However, make sure that you are washing it time and again, or choose to boil it in warm water so that all the germs get eradicated prior to cooking.
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Do mushrooms cause diet interruption for your dog?
The amount of mushroom you should serve to yourself or any other human member of your family should not be equal to the one you are serving to your pup.
At times, dogs tend to suffer from diarrhea, vomiting and a stomach ache after consuming a new kind of food for the very first go!
Shimeji Mushrooms Recipe
The best idea is to make sure that you get into a trial method at the very beginning and thus, offer only a minimal amount of cooked mushroom for the first time.
Once you find that things are going well, and your dog seems to have adapted to the foreign food item, you may choose to offer it to your pup once in a while.
It is generally advised to prevent causing rapid changes to your dog’s diet. This is because your canine friend may become uncomfortable to digest the new kind of food that he wasn’t accustomed to, previously.
If you actually want to change its taste and offer it something elsewise, prefer to offer it in a minimum quantity and if your pup doesn’t show any complication, you may go ahead. Take care of the portion though!
Symptoms of Mushroom poisoning
Mushroom poisoning in your dog depends on the species of mushroom your dog has consumed. Yeah, it is based on the toxic content in the mushrooms.
In most cases, your doggie is likely to show GI complications, kidney and liver failure, eye-watering, frequent urination, diarrhea, neurological signs and even death in the worst cases.
What would you do if you notice any complication in your pup after offering mushrooms?
Shimeji Mushrooms For Sale
Although such a situation may not arise until and unless you have extended the portion in a large quantity, it is essential to note that you should notice your dog properly and in case he shows any complication, consider not giving mushroom to him ever again.
The probable issues may be an upset stomach or an ache leading to mood swings and irritation in your pup. Your doggie may get annoyed at small things post that!
In such a scenario, if you see that your dog feels to be really disturbed and seem to be serious, prefer consulting to a vet immediately.
Also Read: Can Dogs eat Prunes? Is it Safe?
Wild mushrooms are an absolute no-no!
Wild mushrooms are an absolute no-no to your dog. If you allow your dog to consume anything that grows outdoors, it can be really life-threatening to your pup.
It will indeed be a dangerous and toxic fill to your dog. As per the reports received from the ASPCA, wild mushrooms may cause damage to the kidney and liver of your pup.
It may also cause digestive and neurological consequences to your pup. Toxic mushrooms may be fatal to your dog in several situations.
It is important to understand that mushrooms picked from your ward could be either toxic or safe for your dog, but why take a chance? There’s no point in risking the health and happiness of your dog.
What are the things to note while offering mushrooms to your dog?
If you are offering mushrooms to your dog, take care that you have cooked it simply without adding any spice or flavor to it, as that would make digestion difficult for your pup.
Avoid adding butter or cheese to the mushrooms while cooking as that would contain milk, and many dogs are intolerant to lactose.
Adding an additional amount of salt may also cause trouble for your dog. Therefore, it is best if you offer bland to your pup.
Also Read: Can Dogs eat Whipped Cream?
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A couple of years ago the topic of bone broth came up in a raw feeding group and within that discussion, someone mentioned that they make mushroom broth for their dogs. What? Mushroom broth? That's a thing?
Yep, it's a thing.
The idea of feeding mushrooms to dogs is as hard to accept as adding garlic to their diet. We've been told for years that these things are toxic, but as raw feeders, we're learning that those lists of toxic foods shared on social media aren't quite accurate. So now I'm learning to ask more questions.
Benefits of Mushrooms for Dogs
In my research, I learned that there are several medicinal mushrooms that help boost the immune system and protect dogs from cancer (and shrinks the size of tumors). So, to me, it's a no brainer that mushrooms should be a part of my dogs' diet:
- Reishi – cancer, allergies, heart disease, and arthritis
- Shiitake – allergies, Cushing's disease, cardiovascular health, incontinence, and digestive health
- Turkey Tail – cancer, digestive issues, arthritis
- Chaga – anti-inflammatory, cancer, immune system
I've added mushrooms to their diet here and there, but I haven't been consistent until now. Prior to digging into the health benefits of mushrooms, I would add Shiitake mushrooms (and a few others) to their bone broth from time to time. And I always add it to their vegetable mix (not fermented).
In this post, I'm going to explore how to add mushrooms without adding a ton of extra work to feeding my dogs. It's not that I'm lazy; it's that I don't like the idea of making raw feeding complicated or overwhelming for people following my blog.
Nutrients in Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are loaded with nutrients and the ones that stand out are fiber, copper, and Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid).
- Fiber supports gut health. #HealthGutHealthyDog
- Copper helps dogs form connective tissues and collagen.
- Vitamin B5 helps the system digest macronutrients while improving stamina.
With Rodrigo's history of gut issues and Sydney's issues of joint issues, Shiitake mushrooms already sound like something that would benefit them if added regularly to their diet.
How to Add Shiitake Mushrooms to a Dog's Diet
I sometimes buy dried shiitake mushrooms (they come in a blend) or fresh mushrooms when I find them on sale. I add them to my dogs' vegetable mix or bone broth, but that's about it. I have tried supplements in the past and Shiitake mushrooms are an ingredient in a base mix I often use and I find it easier to add the mushrooms to my dogs' raw diet this way because I know that they're getting enough to make a positive difference to their health. #FingersCrossed
Shiitake Supplements for Dogs
I prefer adding fresh food to supplement my dogs' diet. For example, I add sardines or carp for Omega 3 fatty acids and oysters for zinc. But sometimes, a supplement is better, more
If you prefer to add a supplement to your dog's diet, my advice is to do your homework before picking a supplement. Whenever a whole food becomes popular, everyone and their mom is putting out a supplement and I question the quality. I've seen this with turmeric and digestive supplements. Mushrooms are no different.
I trust the following brands because they are producing organic products that are safe for our pets and I've used their products in the past with my dogs:
Raw Vibrance by Dr. Harvey's
One of the many ingredients in the base mix Raw Vibrance is shiitake mushrooms. This is the easiest way to introduce this mushroom to a raw food diet; especially if you're new to raw feeding. I love to add Raw Vibrance to my dogs' diet and alternate this base mix with DIY and some premade raw brands. A base mix is perfect for when I'm low on ingredients or low on time because it makes it easier for me to feed a nutritionally balanced diet.
How Often I Add Medicinal Mushrooms to My Dogs' Diet
As I stated above, when I can get dried shiitake mushrooms (or fresh ones) on sale, I add them to my dogs' bone broth and vegetable mix. The problem with this plan is that I'm adding one or two small packages to 8-quarts of bone broth to be fed to four big dogs over several months. I doubt that they're enjoying many of the benefits I listed above.
So, while I still feed fresh or dehydrated mushrooms to my dogs, I primarily add supplements to their diet, alternating between the following:
With my dogs getting older and the rising rate of canine cancer, I want to make sure I support their immune system and I believe that consciously adding Shiitake mushrooms to their diet will give them more protection against cancer and other health issues.
Possible Side Effects of Shiitake Mushrooms
It's tempting to run off and start adding mushrooms to your dog's diet, especially when you learn about the cancer-fighting benefits. But it's important to know the possible side effects. For example, Chaga mushrooms are natural blood thinners and shouldn't be fed to dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma.
In my reading, I couldn't find any devastating side effects to shiitake mushrooms. In fact, I couldn't find any warnings for pet parents. Instead, I learned that the following side effects of consuming shiitake mushrooms exist for humans:
- some people get contact dermatitis from handling shiitake mushrooms; this hasn't been my experience, but it's a possibility
- long term use of a powder supplement can result in digestive upset and other gastrointestinal issues
- some people quickly learn that they have a mushroom sensitivity (allergy)
- long term consumption of shiitake mushrooms increases the production of one type of white blood cells in response to gastrointestinal issues mentioned above
Because of the risks, I feel more comfortable giving my dogs veterinarian approved supplements rather than mixing up a supplement on my own. If I had more education and experience in this area, I'd go for it – but I don't.
Brown Shimeji Mushroom
Resources About Feeding Mushrooms to Dogs
I'm not a veterinarian or an animal nutritionist. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of mushrooms for dogs, you can check out the following articles:
Where To Buy Shimeji Mushrooms
- The Many Health Benefits of Mushrooms (And How to Add Them To Your Pet’s Diet) [contains recipes]
This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for producing content that educates dog parents about feeding a fresh food diet and sharing my experience as a raw feeder who purchases and feeds Raw Vibrance base mix by Dr. Harvey's. All of the thoughts in this post are honest and real. I've sadly nearly finished my second 6 lb bag of Raw Vibrance – it's just that good.