Mushrooms for Dogs

Certain mushrooms have been shown to shrink tumors in dogs with cancer, even though research have not been able to pinpoint exactly why that is.  Mushrooms are a wonderful source of protein and B vitamins with very few calories and no sodium.

Here are some of the mushrooms safe to feed to your dog and the health benefits they contain:

Maitake (Grifolia frondosa) Also known as the hen of the woods. Has been shown to inhibit tumor growth.

Reishii (Ganoderma lucidum).  Tea made from Reishi is the premiere immune tonics in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In clinical studies Reishii increased T-cell and alpha interferon production, shrank and eliminated tumors and improved quality of life for terminal patients.  Best taken as tincture 20 - 40 drops 3 times a day.

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) Those who eat Shiitake mushrooms regularly, increase their cancer-fighting interferon, reduce inflammation and improve their ability to produce and use Vitamin D.

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) A very ugly and hard fungi found growing on birch trees.
Traditionally grated into a fine powder and used to brew a beverage like coffee. See wiki for extraction methods

Read more on medicinal mushrooms for dogs on VCA's website here.

Source: Dogs Naturally; VCA

Turmeric Paste for Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup turmeric powder
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup coconut, olive or linseed oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

Method:

Add turmeric and 1 cup of water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  If it's watery, just add a little more turmeric and heat a bit longer.

Turn down the heat and simmer for 7-8 minutes.

Cool slightly and then stir in oil and pepper.  Mix thoroughly.

Store in the refrigerator.

Directions for use:

For Healthy Dogs use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon with each meal.

Medium to large dogs - 1/4 teaspoon twice a day in food.

Small dogs - 1/8 teaspoon twice a day.

Amounts can be increased slowly over time until you've reached noticeable pain relief.

Health Benefits of Turmeric:

Natural Detox and Anti-inflammatory

Antibacterial

Promotes Heart and Liver Health

*Blood thinning (talk to your vet if your dog is on medication)

Promotes Digestive Health

Anti-oxidant (prevents cancer - shrinks tumors)

Allergy Relief

Prevents Cataracts

Natural Pain Relief

Treats Epilepsy and diarrhea (overdose could cause diarrhea)

Prevents: diabetes, cancer, liver disease, gastrointestinal issues

Sources: The Hearty Soul, Turmeric for Health, Keep the tail wagging, Dogs Naturally

Bone Broth for Dogs

Basic Bone Broth:

• Raw or cooked bones - raw duck necks/ raw turkey necks/ beef marrow bones/ chicken frames or similar bones.  Organic raw bones are recommended.
• 1 - 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (substitute with white vinegar or lemon juice) used to draw nutrients from the bones.
• Water

Method:
Cover the bottom of a large pot with a layer of raw bones.

Add 1 gallon of water and 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar for poultry OR 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar for beef bones and soak it for 1 hour to extract the nutrients before cooking.

Bring to a boil.  Once at a boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 16-24 hours.

When done, strain the bones from the pot and allow the broth to cool.  The fat can be skimmed off the top and discarded.  Broth can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen and reheated as needed.

NOTE:
Bones can be used twice for two batches of bone broth. The second broth won't be as rich, but you can add chicken feet for added gelatin.

About Bone Broth:
Bone broth is a nutrient dense liquid stock made from cooking raw or cooked bones at a low heat for a long period of time.  The broth is packed with amino acids, such as arginine, glycine, glutamine and proline, and makes an ideal raw multivitamin supplement  for sick or senior dogs due to its gut soothing properties, easy digestibility and immune boosting effects. Bone broth also acts as a superior joint supplement as it contains gelatin, glucosamine and condroitin which supports good joint health.  Protein rich bone broth also contains vitamins C, D, K, iron, thiamin, potassium, calcium, silicon, sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus and trace minerals.

Commercially made broth (or stock) is not recommended for animals due to the high sodium levels and unhealthy chemicals and preservatives.  Homemade broth is slow cooked on low heat which increases the nutrient density and can also be supplemented with herbs needed for healing specific medical disorders.  Bone broth can be used to re-hydrate dehydrated foods or warm up frozen or refrigerated foods at the time of feeding.