Medicinal Mushrooms, Herbal Medicine & the Science Behind Natural Dog Health

Medicinal mushrooms are everywhere right now...but what does the science actually say?In this episode of Short Leash, Dr. Sue Howell and Kay Stewart, RVT, CPCN are joined by medical herbalist and educator Lee Carroll to explore medicinal mushrooms, herbal medicine, and the science behind natural dog health.Lee breaks down lion’s mane and cognitive health, the gut-brain connection, mushrooms vs. mycelium, ergothioneine and longevity, and what to look for when choosing a mushroom product.Before the deep dive, Sue and Kay unpack three stories from the latest Short Leash: mushrooms and canine cognitive decline, inconsistencies in gut microbiome testing, and whether changes in human food regulation could eventually influence what goes into our dogs’ bowls.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS01:27 — This week in dog news02:37 — Mushrooms & aging dogs08:32 — The problem with gut microbiome testing13:03 — Could MAHA influence pet food?17:53 — Meet Lee Carroll19:11 — Mushroom science or hype?20:20 — Ergothioneine & longevity22:06 — The growing interest in herbal medicine26:09 — Mushrooms & cognitive decline26:56 — Lion’s mane & the gut-brain axis32:06 — What makes lion’s mane different?35:42 — Mushroom vs. mycelium40:56 — Understanding mushroom chemistry43:24 — Is “What’s the best herb for ___?” the wrong question?45:20 — Herbs, mushrooms & pharmaceuticals49:24 — Natural medicine as a lifestyle50:19 — Mushrooms for everyday wellness51:26 — The future of mushroom research52:03 — Separating science from hype52:12 — Where to see Lee next52:44 — Lee’s Feed Real Summit workshop52:50 — What’s next on Short Leash🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESCan Mushrooms Help Aging Dogs Stay Mentally Sharp?https://athenaeumpub.com/evaluation-of-a-mushroom-derived-nutraceutical-for-canine-cognitive-decline/Same Sample, Different Results: The Problem with Gut Microbiome Testshttps://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-09301-3Will the MAHA Movement Reach Your Dog’s Bowl?https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/20648-the-maha-effect-how-evolving-human-food-regulations-could-impact-pet-food-down-the-lineRead these stories + more in The Short Leash, Issue 183:https://shortleash.co/issues/the-short-leash-issue-183-aug-18-2026Learn more about Lee Carroll:https://realmushrooms.com/pages/science-medical-team/lee-carroll-medical-herbalist🎙️ COMING UP NEXTDr. Tejinder Sodhi joins us to explore how Ayurveda, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other integrative approaches can work together to support the whole dog.Short Leash: Dog news, with real context.