This article was published in the May/June 2025 issue of Pet Food Processing. Read it and other articles from this issue in our May/June digital edition.
Mushroom supplements for humans was a dominating category at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., in early March 2025. The continued humanization of pet products is now fueling mushroom innovations for cats and dogs.
Mushroom ingredients are an emerging market with very little regulation in place in the United States. Most people tend to classify mushrooms as plants — after all, the fresh ones are sold in the produce department and the canned ones near other tinned vegetables. Mushrooms, however, are not part of the plant kingdom. They are fungi, a distinct kingdom of life.
Mushrooms — the stalk and cap of the fungi, which is also known as the fruiting body — grow above ground. There’s also a part of the fungi — the mycelia — that grows in the soil. These “roots” are the fibers that grow underground to support and produce the fruiting body.
Benny Bullys® Beef Liver Plus Mushrooms freeze-dried dog treats contain shiitake mushrooms.
|Mycelia are found throughout all soil, according to Betsy Bullman, vice president of sales and marketing, Fungi Perfecti LLC, Olympia, Wash., who spoke as part of the 2025 Expo West Soapbox Series. That’s how a mushroom can pop out overnight.
“The mycelia breakdown food and fend off predators [in the soil, and when doing so, produce] many different compounds and chemicals,” Bullman said. “We’ve only identified a fraction of those in the last couple of decades.”
In the US pet food and treat sectors, formulators are only using the fruiting body. That’s because the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), Champaign, Ill., does not define fungi, mushrooms or mycelia. It does however identify five species of mushrooms — champignon (white button), king oyster, oyster, maitake and portobello — as approved common foods, which are defined as: “Food items commercially available and suitable for use in animal food but are not defined by AAFCO, including but not limited to certain whole seeds, vegetables or fruits. Common food for animals may include common human foods that are known to be safe for the intended use in animal food. Manufacturers are responsible for determining whether a common food is safe and has utility for its intended use prior to commercial distribution as animal food.”
Supplement vs. food or treat
Both fruiting bodies and mycelia are used in pet food supplements, however, this category of products remains unregulated. Unlike human supplements, which are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), there is no comparable legislation for animal supplements.
“The FDA has stated very firmly that DSHEA does not apply to animal supplements,” according to Rob Silver, chief veterinary officer, Real Mushrooms, Calgary, Alberta. “In the eyes of FDA, if an animal supplement product is not a food or a drug, there is no legislated guidance to regulate that product.”
In other words, FDA recognizes pet supplements as “unapproved drugs.” The agency forbids companies from describing the benefits of their supplements with medical claims.
To assist with navigating these unapproved drugs, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) was formed in 2001. The NASC worked with FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) to provide NASC members with compliancy guidance, enabling them to continue to manufacture and market products to the animal health industry without fear of being pulled from the market.
“Real Mushrooms and its parent company, Nammex, have undergone the multiple-year rigorous approval process that the NASC demands,” Silver said. “The NASC seal of quality is displayed on labels and marketing.”
To be compliant with NASC guidelines, the word dosage cannot be used. Instead, administration guidelines are provided.
“The use of mushrooms for pets is still so new that most veterinarians aren’t sure how to recommend them,” said Rob Silver of Real Mushrooms.
“These guidelines recommend administering a range of mushroom extract amounts based on weight,” Silver said. “The use of mushrooms for pets is still so new that most veterinarians aren’t sure how to recommend them or guide their clients on administering an effective amount. Real Mushrooms and I, an integrative veterinarian with 43 years of practical experience, have been working to collect case reports from veterinarians and feedback from pet parents about using these mushrooms to support pet health. I’ve also been conducting pilot studies and research to establish a solid, objective foundation for their use in promoting pet wellbeing.”
Silver’s book, “There’s a Mushroom for That,” provides veterinarians and pet parents with a comprehensive guide to understanding and using mushrooms to support their pets’ health and their own.
Doing due diligence
There’s no textbook for formulators on how to use mushrooms as ingredients. They need to do their own research before choosing how they source mushroom and mycelia ingredients, according to speakers at a SupplySide West session held in Las Vegas in October 2024.
Mushrooms are starting to play a larger role in the health and wellbeing of pets.
|Julie Daoust, chief science officer, M2 Ingredients, Vista, Calif., gave examples of questions manufacturers should ask: Have tests been done to ascertain the identity of the mushrooms? Where and how were they grown? What elements are in the mushroom ingredients? Have the ingredients been spray-dried?
Bullman said if you want quality fungi ingredients, they should be grown in the United States and certified organic. She also suggests looking for brands that have been clinically studied.
“[Fungi] are a reflection of the environment they are grown in,” Bullman said. “And we know they can be good for the planet.”
That’s because mushrooms are, “one of the most sustainably produced foods in the United States,” according to a fresh mushroom sustainability study conducted by researchers at the University of California-Davis. Mushrooms have a unique growing process unlike any other produce item and can be grown in the absence of sunlight in a climate-controlled environment. They use significantly less water and energy to grow than other crops and livestock, and they may be produced vertically stacked in growing facilities, allowing a high volume of mushrooms to be grown in a relatively small space, according to the report.
Exploring functional benefits
As scientists learn more about mushrooms, specific species are recognized for possessing health and wellness benefits, with many described as adaptogens. This term refers to compounds that help the body fight off the effects of stress and promote balance in physiological function. In other words, they help one adapt to the environment.
“Mushrooms are now beginning to play a much larger role in the health and wellness of pets,” said Rita Hogan, a clinical canine herbalist.
“In the past decade, [such] medicinal mushrooms have become well known for their positive impact on health and longevity in humans,” said Rita Hogan, a clinical canine herbalist based in Olympia, Wash. “They are now beginning to play a much larger role in the health and wellness of pets.
“Medicinally, mushrooms modulate the immune system, provide a rich base of antioxidants and bring down systematic inflammation, which is key to disease prevention,” Hogan added. “Each [mushroom] species has its own unique mechanisms of action and effects on the immune system.”
It’s not the fungi, per se, that possesses the health benefits, it’s the beta-glucan fibers located in the mushroom’s cellular walls. Hogan explained that the cell walls of mushrooms have a hard coating called chitin. In order to reap the benefits of the medicinal components of mushrooms, the chitin needs to be broken down.
“The two main solvents used for this purpose are alcohol and hot water,” Hogan said. “I usually extract mushrooms using both, a process that is referred to as double extraction.”
Consumption of functional mushrooms is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. They do not cause any psychedelic or hallucinogenic effects, rather they support many bodily functions in humans, as well as in pets.
“They are packed with antioxidants and essential nutrients that offer benefits for the brain, gut and overall body health,” Angela Ardolino, a certified fungi clinician and founder of MycoDog, Lutz, Fla., a company that produces sustainable mushroom extracts and adaptogen tinctures for cats and dogs. “Each functional mushroom brings a unique set of benefits that contribute to overall health. The holistic synergy of these mushrooms offers immune support, cognitive enhancement, stress relief and more.”
Ardolino described the health and wellness benefits associated with some of the species used in MycoDog products. It’s key to note that no medical claims are made or allowed to be made, according to current US policy.
“Turkey tail mushrooms are one of the most well-known and extensively researched immune activators and cancer fighters. In fact, turkey tail has been approved as a cancer therapy for patients in Japan,” Ardolino said. “Maitake mushrooms are a common remedy for arthritis in Japan. They also show potential benefits for lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing immune function.
“Shiitake mushrooms are immunomodulators,” Ardolino added. “They are great liver protectants and provide cardiovascular support. They have also been shown to possibly extend survival periods if conventional cancer treatments are pursued. Chaga has been used for centuries to protect the heart and as an anticancer remedy aid. It has an anti-histaminic effect and antibacterial properties. It’s also known for its free-radical scavenging antioxidant effects. Cordyceps has the potential to protect the kidneys, increase oxygen uptake in the lungs to effectively deliver it to the tissues, boost energy levels, and can activate energy and warmth.”
Healthybud showcased its Mini Training Treats, featuring reishi and Lion’s mane mushrooms, during Global Pet Expo in March.
| Source: Donna BerryGlendon Lloyd, chief executive officer, Bonza, London, said, “Reishi mushroom’s adaptogenic properties are particularly effective in supporting cognitive function and reducing stress. By enhancing mental clarity and focus, it can significantly aid in your dog’s training and overall cognitive health.”
Reishi mushrooms in training treats may reduce the stress that comes to pups when they are learning something new. It also may improve the ability to learn and retain new commands, making training sessions more effective and enjoyable.
Healthybud, Montreal, is rolling out single-calorie Mini Training Treats. They are made with reishi and Lion’s mane mushrooms.
“Ingredients like Lion’s mane and reishi give dogs a mental edge, helping them to be more focused during those tricky training sessions,” according to Healthybud. “It’s like feeding their body and brain at the same time.”
Reishi mushrooms can benefit fully grown dogs with an active lifestyle and can alleviate some of the pains associated with aging dogs.
“Reishi mushroom’s anti-inflammatory properties also make it an excellent supplement for dogs with joint issues or arthritis,” Lloyd said. “By reducing inflammation throughout the body, reishi mushroom can alleviate discomfort, improve joint function and enhance mobility.
“Further, regular consumption of reishi mushroom can support liver function, aiding in detoxification processes and reducing the burden on this vital organ,” he added. “The mushroom’s bioactive compounds, such as triterpenes and antioxidants, help promote liver cell regeneration, enhance detoxification pathways and reduce oxidative stress on the liver. By supporting the liver’s health and function, reishi mushroom contributes to the dog’s overall detoxification process and promotes longevity.”
Bonza premium vegan dog food includes reishi, along with a variety of herbs and adaptogens, to provide holistic, preventative health support for dogs throughout their life.
Fera Pets, Los Angeles, developed an organic mushroom supplement for cats and dogs. It is a proprietary blend of 10 different mushrooms that work together synergistically to support immunity.
Austin and Kat’s Mushroom Medley Health Supplement Powder features a blend of seven multi-functioning organic mushrooms.
| Source: Donna Berry“The organic mushrooms we use are derived from 100% fruiting bodies, which contain the highest levels of beta glucans, the active polysaccharides that support a healthy immune system,” said Michelle Dulake, DVM, chief executive officer of Fera Pets.
Each of the mushrooms supports the immune system in a unique way. Some provide additional benefits.
“Lion’s mane mushrooms, for example, have been shown to stimulate brain development, improve mood and support the gut,” Dulake said.
The Crump Group Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, is rolling out Gutsy Immune Bites. They feature a blend of prebiotic fibers and functional mushrooms, including chaga, Lion’s mane, shiitake and turkey tail.
Seattle-based Austin and Kat offers Mushroom Medley Health Supplement Powder for use as a topper at meal time. It features a synergistic blend of seven multi-functioning organic mushrooms.
Hemp Heros USA, Channel, NY, is entering the mushroom supplement business with three varieties of drops sold under the Mussh & Co brand. Each option features a single functional mushroom along with other established wellness ingredients.
“Clarity drops contain a blend of organic Lion’s mane mushroom, ashwagandha and ginseng, all of which are known for their cognitive benefits,” said David Hartigan, managing director. “Calm drops contain organic reishi mushroom, valerian and passion flower. These ingredients are known to possess natural calming properties. Defence drops are for immunity and inflammation. They contain organic turkey tail mushroom, turmeric and black pepper.
“All our products are made with mushrooms that have undergone a dual extraction process using hot water and alcohol,” Hartigan said. “Unfortunately, one of the biggest issues I’m seeing in the industry is that a lot of products on the market are just raw mushroom powders, which haven’t been extracted properly. These products are cheaper to make but are way less effective and won’t give the customer the effect they are after.”
Read more about product development, ingredients and formulation.
