Three functional foods for dogs: golden paste, bone broth and medicinal mushrooms

Reading time: about 6 min

Food need not be merely a way to fill the stomach. It also supplies fibre, fatty acids and thousands of plant compounds whose effects we are still learning to understand. That is why integrative veterinarians were discussing functional foods long before the word “functional” appeared on every other packet.

The three options that have interested me most are turmeric-based golden paste, bone broth and medicinal mushrooms. Their purposes and evidence differ. They should not be bundled together with a promise that each definitely treats inflammation, cancer or intestinal disease.

What does “functional food” mean?

The term generally describes a food whose ingredients may have biological effects beyond ordinary nutritional value. A claim is meaningful only if we immediately ask: which ingredient, in what amount, for which animal and based on what outcome?

Dr Karen Becker has introduced golden paste, bone broth and medicinal mushrooms for many years. Her experience and that of other integrative veterinarians provide important directions for research. At the same time, laboratory effects must be distinguished from what has been clinically demonstrated in dogs. An absence of measured laboratory effects does not itself mean an effect certainly does not exist or that these foods could not help some dogs. It simply is not guaranteed at present.

Golden paste: turmeric, fat and black pepper

Turmeric contains curcuminoids, including curcumin. Their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms have been studied extensively. Specific turmeric extracts have also been investigated in canine osteoarthritis, but studies have not provided a consistently strong answer, and ordinary kitchen turmeric is not the same as a standardised preparation used in research.

Turmeric raises another practical question: curcumin is generally poorly absorbed. Piperine in black pepper can affect absorption, but also drug metabolism. Improving absorption is therefore not always unambiguously better, particularly for dogs receiving medication.

Golden paste recipe

In previous articles, I have used the recipe introduced by Dr Becker. Here are the ingredients, as the recipe itself is useful to many readers:

• ½ cup turmeric powder.
• 1 cup water.
• ⅓ cup coconut oil or another suitable oil.
• ½–1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper.

Mix the turmeric with the water and heat gently over a low heat until it begins to thicken. Cool slightly, then stir in the oil and pepper. Allow to cool and divide among small clean containers. Refrigerate briefly or freeze in small portions to avoid prolonged storage. The same food-hygiene principles apply as with other homemade foods.

This recipe is not a dosing guide suitable for every dog. In the original article, I also mentioned a range from ¼ teaspoon to a tablespoon per day, but that cannot be applied without considering the dog, the mixture’s strength, medication and health. Particularly with piperine-containing paste, I would not simply copy an amount from the internet. If a dog takes medication, has surgery planned or has biliary, digestive, blood-glucose or clotting problems, discuss with a veterinarian whether the paste is appropriate at all.

What have I noticed in my own dogs?

I previously made golden paste for our four dogs and have wondered whether it was one factor that helped Ossu move more comfortably. One dog’s story cannot establish this: age, activity, other dietary changes and health also affect movement. My experience is a reason to investigate, not proof that the paste replaces arthritis treatment.

Bone broth: a simple homemade addition

Bone broth is easy to make at home, and I like knowing exactly what goes into the pot. It can add smell, flavour and fluid to food. For some picky dogs, it is a practical way to moisten kibble or encourage appetite.

This does not automatically make it a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals or a treatment for the intestinal lining. Homemade broth varies with the bones, meat, water and cooking process and is usually low in energy compared with a complete meal. It must not replace a sick animal’s complete nutrition.

Simple homemade broth

• Put bones intended for food use, with a little meat, into a pot and cover with enough water.
• Simmer gently, ensuring the liquid does not boil away completely.
• Do not add onion, leek, strong seasonings or salt. If you add garlic, observe an amount considered safe for dogs.
• Strain carefully and remove all bones, cartilage, sharp particles and other leftovers the dog should not swallow.
• Cool quickly, refrigerate and remove excess fat from the surface. Refrigerate briefly or freeze in small portions.

Do not feed cooked bones to dogs. Use small quantities of broth to moisten food. With pancreatitis, heart disease or another special diet, account for fat, sodium and fluid. “More broth” is not automatically a better recommendation for a dog with heart or kidney disease.

I have preferred homemade broth to shop-bought versions because I can control the ingredients. When I can choose ingredients of good origin, I gladly do so, but an attractive provenance label does not automatically turn a product into a therapeutic food.

Medicinal mushrooms: what do we actually know?

Medicinal mushrooms are the most complex of these three subjects. Dr Susan Wynn and other integrative veterinarians have discussed mushroom polysaccharides and beta-glucans as potential modifiers of immune responses. Species studied include turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), reishi and others.

Small clinical studies in dogs do exist. In 2012, for example, a polysaccharopeptide derived from turkey tail was studied in dogs with haemangiosarcoma. The findings justified further research, but the study was small and cannot establish that every mushroom product extends survival or replaces cancer treatment. Products from different species, extracts, growing conditions and manufacturing methods are not interchangeable.

How can you assess a mushroom product?

Before buying, I would at least ask which species it contains, whether it uses fruiting bodies or mycelium, how it was extracted, whether active-compound content was measured and whether the raw material was checked for heavy metals and other contaminants. “100% mushroom powder” alone does not tell you how much of the researched active compounds it contains.

I have not previously used medicinal mushrooms for my own dogs and have wanted to understand whether the products available contain meaningful amounts of the compounds cited to support their benefits. I would pay particular attention to drug interactions, especially with chronic illness or cancer treatment.

Could you give all three together?

I would not offer all three at once simply because they seem “natural”. Start by asking what problem you want to address. Sometimes the most sensible solution is an appropriate main diet and clean water. If you choose an addition, introduce one thing at a time and monitor tolerance. The familiar principle applies: more does not automatically mean better.

FendaF’s practical recommendation

If you want a simple homemade addition, unseasoned, well-strained broth is often the least complicated starting point. Golden paste should be treated as a mixture containing active compounds whose suitability needs assessment. With medicinal mushrooms, species, extract and actual active-compound content matter more than an attractive label. I would not automatically choose any of them “for support” for a sick dog or one receiving medication.

Frequently asked questions

Is turmeric an arthritis treatment for dogs?

Yes, turmeric is one of the more extensively researched medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin’s effects on inflammatory pathways have been measured in dogs, and osteoarthritis studies have produced promising results. In a meta-analysis of human osteoarthritis studies, some turmeric preparations had effects on joint pain comparable to NSAIDs, with fewer side effects. Integrative veterinarians therefore also use turmeric with the aim of reducing the need for conventional pain medication. I have had very good personal experience with golden paste for Ossu. Nevertheless, it cannot be promised that every homemade paste acts like a medicine for every dog or is completely free of side effects: tolerance and drug interactions matter. I discuss this in more detail in FendaF’s turmeric article.

Does bone broth supply all necessary minerals?

No. Its exact composition varies, and it is an addition, not a complete food or balanced mineral source.

Do all medicinal mushrooms work the same way?

No. Species, the part used, processing and active-compound content determine how comparable two products are. Findings for one extract cannot be applied to every powder.

Sources

• Original integrative veterinary discussion (Dr Karen Becker)
• Curcuminoids and canine osteoarthritis: scientific review
• Curcumin absorption and dogs
• Turkey tail PSP and canine haemangiosarcoma (2012)
• WSAVA: nutrition guidelines for dogs and cats

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