by Christine Mallar
In each of our newsletters I’ve started to write a little piece called “Amazing Things You’re Not Buying”, featuring a product that we love. We have a number of products that are truly amazing, and that we wish so many more pets could have access to, due to their ability to support their good health, or ability to help with common chronic health issues. But, too many customers buzz in and out of the store to pick up their bag of food without taking the time to explore some of the other ways they could be supporting their pet’s health and longevity. I’ve been reticent about posting specific products on the internet, as we don’t have the time to support online sales on our website. However, I would be happy if more pet owners everywhere used these products, and I know you’ll be able to ask your local independent pet supply stores to order them for you, or you can find them online. Of course there are many resources for other products containing medicinal mushrooms – the one featured is a good one, but not the only one! Don’t forget, these same benefits can be found for humans who might supplement with medicinal mushroom blends for people.
Today’s feature – medicinal mushrooms:
Medicinal Mushrooms are amazing. Many cultures around the world have used mushrooms for centuries for medicinal purposes. Modern research has shown us what ancient healers and scientists have learned through this practical experience – studies indicate that medicinal mushrooms have antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-tumor properties. Some mushrooms contain compounds that stimulate the immune system, activating the pet’s natural defenses and healing response. They can assist the healing of the liver, kidneys, and heart tissues. They can also support healthy digestion and support flexibility and ease of movement. The most impressive results we’ve seen in our store have been with dogs that have been diagnosed with cancerous tumors – many customers swear by the Bixbi Immunity mushroom blend for helping to slow down or shrink tumors and say they’re convinced it gave them longer survival rates and better quality of life. This is big stuff in our world!
We also have two other blends that deserve consideration if your dog has joint pain and stiffness, digestive issues, or if your dog has chronic skin issues. The Bixbi Skin and Coat formula is worth a try for dogs or cats with skin issues that don’t seem to resolve with diet changes, or if your pet seems to continue to develop allergies to increasing numbers of things in their environment. The reason for this is that allergies are often tied to the function of the gut, where much of the immune system lives. The amazing thing about medicinal mushrooms is their ability to modulate the function of the immune system, calming an overactive system or stimulating and underactive one. With allergies, supporting the immune function could really be the missing piece of the puzzle to calm down a pet’s reactivity to its environment.
The Bixbi Digestive Formula is for pets with occasional gastrointestinal disturbances, including gas, bad breath or loose stool due to environmental stress or changes in the diet.
The Bixbi joint formula pairs medicinal mushrooms with Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM), which contains a unique blend of chondroitin sulfates and hyaluronic acid, plus collagen that does not contain shellfish. NEM® is clinically proven and tested on humans to benefit connective tissues and cartilage while helping to improve range of motion and flexibility to keep your pets active and healthy.
Each container has a 60 day supply for a 50lb dog and approximately a 120 day supply for a cat. We recommend 
introducing them slowly and building up to the dosage – this is a good rule of thumb for any new supplement, to help avoid digestive surprises. Read more about medicinal mushrooms from holistic vet Dr. Karen Becker here. She wrote another good article about mushrooms used in a dog cancer study here.