Turkey tail: not as obvious as it sounds!

It's turkey month, for all of us Americans! While turkey is a great poultry to keep in your dog's rotational diet, this month I want to shed light on something different with a similar name - turkey tail mushrooms!

There's a good chance that if you see a mushroom with colored rings that look like a turkey tail, and it's also growing on a dead log, you've hit the jackpot! Of course, I never recommend eating anything from the forest unless you are 100% sure of what it is - and besides that, turkey tail mushrooms are available in powders, tinctures, and other supplements for both you and your dog to utilize!

Components of turkey tail mushrooms have been linked to strong immune system support, and some scientists say it is a promising anti-cancer agent. In fact, the results when compared to chemotherapy were very similar, except mushrooms had fewer side effects!

It doesn't stop there - these little fungi can also help with the overgrowth of yeast and reduce inflammation in the body (digestive, urinary, and respiratory tracts). How cool is that?

Remember, not all dogs are created equal, and just because one will benefit from a product does not mean everyone will. If you're thinking of using turkey tail mushrooms, run your ideas by me! I might suggest a seven-mushroom blend, or something like lion's mane mushrooms, depending on what we are targeting.

Mushrooms are powerful in all forms - and some are highly poisonous! Please don't let your dog eat anything they come across under the assumption that mushrooms are nothing but beneficial. Other than that, mush right along!

Thanks to Dogs Naturally Magazine, my educational outlet, for helping me double-check my mushroom statistics.