Can Dogs Also Benefit From Mushrooms?
While the decriminalization of cannabis has been liberating for us humans as a whole, it also has another major benefit for us: extending the lifespan of our furry companions.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products have been proven to offer a wide range of health benefits for our pet cats and dogs, most especially when it comes to the treatment of pain, anxiety, cancer, and other symptoms that cause them a great deal of discomfort. Any pet parent can tell you how frustrating it can be to see your furry companions in pain, and not being able to help them. Many animal CBD medications are also more affordable and effective than conventional veterinary medications.
That said, can we expect the same with the psychedelic revolution?
Part of Nature?
In a Pharmaceutical Journal article written by Andrew Haynes back in 2010, he talks about animals purposely seeking out psychedelics in their natural habitat. According to Haynes, just like humans, animals look for these psychedelic substances in nature to cure boredom.
And, there are many other examples of this in the natural world. In Siberia, reindeers look out for the famous red and white amanita muscaria mushrooms, which are well-known for their hallucinogenic properties. Amanita muscaria is also significant in Siberian religion. These reindeer are interested in muscimol, a compound found in these mushrooms, which gives them a relaxing and hallucinogenic effect.
Cats – whether our lovable domesticated housecats or the feisty felines of the jungle – are all known to enjoy catnip. Catnip is actually a psychedelic plant for cats, and it’s abundant all over the world. It releases a chemical, nepetalactone, which makes cats deliriously delightful when ingested or inhaled. Some scientists even have a theory that catnip can cause hallucinations among cats.
In other words, it isn’t just humans who can actually enjoy the benefits of psychedelics.
So What About Magic Mushrooms For Dogs?
At the moment, research on the use of magic mushrooms for dogs (and cats) is still limited since these topics are still in its infancy. It’s only ketamine that’s commonly used by veterinarians these days, particularly for pain management and general anesthesia. Ketamine possesses psychedelic properties, which we know very well in humans though much less of its effect in animals. That said, we do know that giving animals ketamine does alter their consciousness and results in memory loss and pain relief for them.
However, using psychedelics could be promising for progressive veterinarians especially when it comes to treating severe anxiety, depression, pain, and even behavioral issues. But we need more published research to consider it as proven therapy, since we don’t even understand the dosing protocols required for safety and efficacy.
Some ancient cultures, who have long been using entheogens and plant medicine, have naturally mastered using these sacred, magical plants. The Quichua and Shuar peoples of Ecuador utilize hunting dogs, without which they wouldn’t be able to have any food for their survival. And since there are no veterinarians in tropical Ecuador, the hunters of Quichua arm their dogs with an array of plant medicines to improve the success of their hunt. These include Piper and Siparuna to minimize the risk of evils pirits, Ilex guayusa to give them more energy and alertness, and even hallucinogens to sharpen their hunting abilities.
The Quichua and Shuar peoples even give their dogs doses of Angel’s Trumpets, a beautiful yet insanely toxic flower to humans – notorious for effectively dislodging one from reality. Yet, for them, it improves the hunt of their dogs.
But it’s going to take much more research for us to have as much information on the use – and safety!- of psychedelics for dogs as it is with cannabis. That’s because dogs have a very unique physiology as well as biology, which we need to take into consideration before giving them any kind of psychedelic medicine.
There are certain things we must be wary about, so don’t go on giving your dogs magic mushrooms just yet:
For one, dogs are extremely prone to overheating. Consuming psychedelics can cause your dog to heat up and it can even cause heat stroke. Additionally, giving dogs the wrong kind of magic mushrooms can be fatal: without the right education and guidance, one trip for your dog could end up being their last. Even the most common mushrooms can have poisonous effects on dogs, so it’s critical to avoid feeding them mushrooms if you aren’t experienced with it.
Medicinal, non-psychoactive mushrooms can have great health benefits for dogs, though. These include Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Maitake, and Shiitake mushrooms. All of these mushrooms contain abundant anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties for dogs, strengthening their immune system and helping treat a wide range of conditions. However even the use of medicinal mushrooms for dogs requires more research.
Conclusion
Magic mushrooms, and other kinds of psychedelic drugs, do hold a lot of potential for treating different ailments that dogs suffer from. They can also improve the overall quality of life for senior dogs, or dogs in pain. That said, we need so much more research.
Until then, there’s no way we can advocate for pet owners to start using psilocybin on their dogs and cats just yet. Clear data for each species is necessary, and we need stringent guidelines on dosing and efficacy. For now, it’s important to learn as much as we can.
CANNABIS FOR DOGS, READ ON...
