How Turkey Tail Mushroom Can Assist With a Dog’s Cancer Treatment

Seeing your pet ill is worrisome. Unfortunately, cancer can often grow undiagnosed for many months and even years.

A lot of the symptoms of cancer can also signal other diseases. If your dog is over ten, its chances of cancer are increased by 50%. Make sure to take your pet for their annual or bi-annual physical exam. The key to overcoming cancer is early diagnosis.

At times there are no physical signs at all. When a pet isn’t feeling well, its behavior may change. Signs of pain include decreased energy level, loss of appetite, vocalizations, dull eyes, biting themselves, separation, and signs of depression. Rather than attribute this behavior to “old age,” take your dog for a checkup.

According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, the most common cancers in dogs include:

Regular wellness exams are an important responsibility for all pet parents. Keeping your pet’s body weight under control, caring for their health by exercising them, feeding a good diet, and boosting their immune system when they need it are all ways that you can be the best pet parent.

Veterinary oncologist Dr. Rachel Reiman was asked in an interview what pet parents must do if they suspect their dog has cancer.

“We rely on our family veterinarians to be our first line of defense because they see those patients on a yearly or semi-yearly basis. We want them to be the first to look at new lumps and bumps as they’re noticed since they keep track of weight, body condition, and all of those things. What we see as veterinary oncologists is a snapshot in time. Your family vet will be able to detect weight loss and keep track of new lumps or bumps that weren’t on their previous visit records. It’s important to set up a relationship with that veterinarian because they know your pet the best.”

Reiman’s response tells us that the best way to identify and treat cancer is to have a relationship with a vet with a record of your pet’s health information. Seeking advice, diagnosis, or treatment online or from a “know-it-all” neighbor will only make you panic.

Cancer tests are very specific, depending on the suspected cancer type. However, oncologists may run basic routine tests to identify other possible causes relating to the symptoms and history. Since most dogs diagnosed with cancer are in their senior years, other diseases are also a possibility.

Tests may include:

Once your veterinary oncologist has reached a diagnosis for your pet, you can discuss cancer treatment options. There is no one-size-fits-all for cancer patients, and while some methods of cancer treatments are highly recommended, like surgery, others are optional.

Often there are different approaches for different types of cancer, some more high risk than others. Discuss the risks versus benefits of each treatment type with your vet.

Vaccination – Animal studies have shown promising results for the development of cancer vaccines. A vaccine for the treatment of bone cancer in dogs saw dogs having almost doubled their remission time compared to those who went through chemotherapy.

Surgery – Surgery is often the most effective form of treatment for cancer, intending to remove cancerous cells and lumps. This method is effective before the tumor grows too large or spreads beyond its site. However, the removal of organs or cancerous limbs can affect your pet’s quality of life.

Chemotherapy and Radiation – Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy are executed through a series of visits and aim to destroy cancerous cells in the body. They can have toxic results in the body, and immunotherapy is needed following this treatment plan.

Immunotherapy – A process of stimulating an immune response against disease.

Some treatment plans will be used in isolation, while others will be used in combination with other treatments.

Turkey Tail mushrooms, scientifically named Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor, is a stemless, fanlike, colorful mushroom that grows on dead logs worldwide. The Trametes Versicolor mushroom, like many others, boasts medicinal benefits thanks to beta-D-glucans.

These beta-glucans are made up of protein-bound polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP). These important medicinal components form a part of the Turkey Tail mushroom cell wall.

Beta-glucans are non-digestible fibers (prebiotics) that help feed the microbial flora (probiotics). Foods and supplements of this nature have been associated with immune-modulating effects and other health benefits.

A clinical trial of Trametes Versicolor saw how beta-glucans could impact immune function and even alter immune cells. This is particularly beneficial for pet parents who want to carry out immunotherapy as part of their pet’s cancer treatment.

Turkey Tail Mushrooms aren’t just for dogs fighting cancer. They can also be taken as a dietary supplement for general wellness. The benefits include:

Turkey Tail Mushrooms are considered safe with very few adverse reactions. However, use caution when adding any new item to your pet’s diet or medical cupboard. Contact your vet if you have any concerns following administration.

Side effects may include:

Follow dosage guidelines to avoid overdose and toxicity.

In Asia, cancer is treated with over 100 different types of mushrooms. The more common mushrooms are Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor (Turkey Tail), Lentinus edodes (Shiitake), and Grifola frondosa (Maitake). In Japan, PSK is an approved mushroom supplement for integrative oncology treatment in humans.

Before treating humans, animal studies are performed to test the effects of PSK or PSP on the immune system and its natural killer cells. Following evidence of antitumor activity, people with cancer have tried the mushroom extract.

Here are some of the findings:

Chemotherapy controls the spread of cancer. It isn’t used for all cancer forms and is most effective for cancers that affect the whole body, like Lymphoma or tumors that cannot be fully removed. Dogs tolerate chemotherapy well, with less than 5% of adverse reactions being life-threatening.

Yun Zhi, the name for Trametes Versicolor mushrooms in China, has been used for some human patients as a co-treatment option with their chemotherapy. The results have shown that Turkey Tail mushrooms may prolong survival time in patients with breast cancer, gastric cancer, or colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy. For this specific study, there was a 9% reduction in 5-year mortality.

While the harsh drugs in chemotherapy can cause damage to healthy cells, it’s still one of the most effective forms of treatment. When given with mushroom Trametes Versicolor, the effects are more favorable with longer survival time and fewer adverse reactions. For women with breast cancer, turkey tail has been described as “chemotherapy-compatible.”

Cancer patients can have improved recovery, fewer side effects, and greater tolerance to their choice of treatment with medicinal mushroom dietary supplements. It’s important to note that the Food and Drug Administration does not approve dietary supplements like Trametes Versicolor. Therefore it is important to seek medical advice, diagnosis, and approval from your veterinary oncologist to use medicinal mushroom products.

Make sure you buy from a reputable company that uses organic, non-GMO, allergen-free ingredients. Products should be tested for quality and purity.

Seek advice, diagnosis, or treatment from an expert if you are concerned about your pet. Your animal’s health is your responsibility, but you don’t have to deal with a cancer diagnosis alone.

Cancer treatments can be supported, immune health can be improved, and life quality enriched with Turkey Tail medicinal mushrooms. Studies into this colorful little fungi are extensive, with rich historical use in traditional Chinese medicine and now a useful application for integrative oncology.

Why not speak to your vet about Turkey Tail Mushrooms today?

No, but cancer patients can have improved recovery, fewer side effects, and greater tolerance to their choice of treatment with the addition of medicinal mushrooms.

Turkey Tail can slow the spread of cancer cells by encouraging the growth of immune cells.

In Asia, cancer is treated with over 100 different types of mushrooms. The more common ones are Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor (Turkey Tail), Lentinus edodes (Shiitake), and Grifola frondosa (Maitake).

Turkey Tail Mushrooms are considered safe with very few adverse reactions. Follow dosage guidelines to avoid overdose and toxicity.