Functional Mushrooms in Animal Health

Course overview

Functional mushrooms are increasingly incorporated into companion-animal supplements and integrative veterinary care, yet clinicians often encounter inconsistent terminology, variable product formats, and differing interpretations of the available evidence. This course provides a practical, evidence-informed overview of functional mushrooms and their use in animal health. The session will cover a brief background of fungi, including the mushroom life cycle and examples of the historical use of mushrooms in traditional medicine. Participants will review commonly used functional mushroom species and the major classes of bioactive compounds associated with them. This webinar will provide an overview of commercial mushroom products, including insights into how different types of mushroom-derived ingredients are manufactured and what quality considerations are important to consider when selecting a mushroom-based supplement. The course will explore proposed and evidence-supported relationships among mushroom-derived compounds, the gut microbiome, immune signaling, and host physiology. Attendees will learn practical guidance on how to better evaluate product quality and safety, dosing considerations, applications, and how to best integrate functional mushrooms into patient care plans.