Four Leaf Rover - Seven 'Shrooms (Immunity Mushroom Mix)

From the manufacturer: 

Mushrooms are Mother Nature's proven way to support a normal immune response. Our whole mushrooms are double extracted, organic and low in starch.  We third-party test all of our mushrooms to be low in heavy metals and rich in immune-enhancing beta-glucans.

Benefits:

The demand for mushrooms is growing, thanks to their unrivaled ability to support a healthy immune system in all animals. 

Seven 'Shrooms is a veterinary formulated blend of 7 whole mushrooms. Our double extraction process makes sure that the beneficial beta-glucans and triterpenoids in the mushrooms are bioavailable and able to enhance immune, liver and kidney function.

The mushrooms in Seven 'Shrooms are grown in greenhouses on natural wood and substrates in filtered air. The whole mushroom is then double extracted and gently powdered, then tested for safety and a high beta-glucan content.  

It's important to note that most of the beta-glucan is found in the fruiting body of the mushroom. The downside is, mushrooms are expensive to grow.

In fact, most "mushroom" products are just mycelium, which is just the "roots" of the mushroom. To produce this, mycelium is put in plastic bags of sorghum, oats or rice, then put in a locker to grow. The mycelium is then ground up with the grains to make a high-starch product. Natural mushrooms are low in starch, averaging about 4% carbohydrate. 

The FDA doesn't allow mycelium products to say MUSHROOM on the package, but the market is saturated with these cheap mushroom alternatives. 

So how can you tell the difference between real mushrooms and the other guy (mycelium)?

Simply look or ask for the beta-glucan content. If the product doesn't provide the beta-glucan content (or if it's low), you can be fairly certain the product is mycelium and not mushrooms. And don't fall for a high polysaccharide content ... anything with a lot of starch will be high in polysaccharides. 

You can feel good about giving your dog Seven 'Shrooms. It's third-party tested for beta-glucan content and safety so your dog gets the unique mushroom benefits he needs.

Product Info:

Each mushroom in Seven 'Shrooms is carefully crafted and double extracted for maximum beta-glucan and triterpenoid content. Here is the guaranteed beta-glucan content of each mushroom:

Turkey Tail - 53%
Reishi - 47%
Cordyceps - 27%
Maitake - 36%
Phellinus - 23%
Shiitake - 32%
Chaga - 16%

Directions:

Give orally daily or as directed by your veterinarian.

Body Weight	Amount Per Day	Daily Supply
1-30 lbs	1/2 tsp daily	60 day supply
31-60 lbs	3/4 tsp daily	45 day supply
61-100 lbs	1 tsp daily	30 day supply
101+ lbs	1 1/2 tsp daily	22 day supply

Net Contents: 1.8oz (51g)

FAQs:

How do I pick the right mushrooms for my dog?

A blend of different mushrooms works best as they work synergistically. Next, look for the highest beta-glucan content. Beta-glucans are the active ingredient in mushrooms and your product should guarantee a large amount. Seven 'Shrooms is veterinarian formulated to provide immune support for all dogs.

What’s mycelium?

Mycelium is just the “roots” of the mushroom, and doesn’t contain the whole fruiting body (which is the part that grows above ground). Mycelium doesn’t offer the same high beta-glucan content found in the fruiting body. 

Mushrooms are expensive to grow on their natural substrate (typically wood and trees). So most mushroom products are what’s called “myceliated grain.” This cheap and fast way to grow mushrooms is just mycelium grown in bags of oats, rice or other grains. This whole bag, grains and all, is sold as “mushrooms” but differs from real, whole mushrooms in two ways. First, it’s much lower in beta-glucans and second, the resulting product is mainly starchy grains (real mushrooms are less than 5% starch).

Because of these differences, the FDA states mycelium on grain products can’t be called mushrooms - but many still are. Or, they add a small amount of fruiting body to keep costs down and still claim it’s a mushroom product. 

The only way to know if your dog’s mushroom product is whole mushrooms, is to ask for the beta-glucan amount - not the polysaccharide content or alpha-glucan content, because those are found in any product with a lot of grains

Every Four Leaf Rover mushroom is grown on its natural substrate in greenhouses with filtered air - they’re grown the way nature intended. 

 Do Seven 'Shrooms mushrooms come from the whole fruiting body?

Yes! Seven 'Shrooms uses every part of the mushroom which includes the fruiting body. Each mushroom is double extracted. The extract is then dried into a powder with all the essential mushroom elements (triterpenoids and beta-glucans) intact. 

How much beta-glucan content is in Seven 'Shrooms? 

A whole jar of Seven 'Shrooms averages 34.6% beta-glucans.

Beta-glucans are the active, immune-supporting compound found in mushrooms. Not all mushroom species are the same and carry different amounts of beta-glucans and immune supporting substances like triterpenoids. Our mushrooms are third-party tested to ensure they have a high, guaranteed beta-glucan content, while being low in pesticides and heavy metals.

Here’s the total beta-glucan content in each of Seven Shrooms’ mushrooms:

• Chaga - 16%
• Cordyceps - 27%
• Maitake - 36%
• Phellinus - 23%
• Reishi - 47%
• Shiitake - 32%
• Turkey Tail - 53%

Turkey Tail has the highest amount of immune-supporting beta-glucans, more than any other mushroom. For dogs needing extra support, we recommend adding Four Leaf Rover’s Turkey Tail product to Seven 'Shrooms.

Can’t I just buy mushrooms from the grocery store to give to my dog? 

You can. But, while mushrooms from the grocery store are nutritious, they lack high levels of beta-glucan. The mushrooms also have a tough outer wall that’s difficult for dogs (and humans) to break down, so double extraction is a good idea to make the beta-glucans and immune supporting compounds available. 

Are the mushrooms in Seven 'Shrooms raw?

The mushrooms in Seven 'Shrooms are not raw, but rather double extracted. Raw mushrooms can irritate your dog’s gut, which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and cause dehydration. The valuable part of a mushroom is “locked” in its chitin (cell wall). Dogs and people lack the enzyme required to break chitin down, so our mushrooms are double extracted to make them more bioavailable. This process releases the beneficial compounds such as beta-glucan. First, they’re extracted with alcohol and then with water. Don’t worry, they’re not high in alcohol - it’s released during the steaming process. This has been the process in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.

Where are Seven Shrooms' mushrooms grown?

Our mushrooms come from China, which, believe it or not, is the only place you can find the entire mushroom. With that said, we take safety and purity seriously. Our mushrooms are grown on wood, in filtered air, way up in the mountains, hundreds of miles from the cities. Before the mushrooms leave China, they’re tested for pesticides and heavy metals and once they arrive in the USA, they’re tested again, then tested a third time before we put them into jars.

Which should I buy? Turkey Tail or Seven 'Shrooms?

Mushrooms work best synergistically, which is why we recommend Seven 'Shrooms for all dogs. It includes 7 different organic mushrooms, which are veterinarian formulated for their benefits in dogs. 

For dogs needing extra support, we recommend combining Turkey Tail with Seven 'Shrooms because Turkey Tail is very rich in beta-glucans.