Five mushroom species in one daily powder: Host Defense has launched Immune & Whole-Body Support, a mycelium-based supplement that the company states is formulated for dogs and cats.
Host Defense, a United States functional mushroom supplement brand, announced on August 19, 2026 that it has launched Immune & Whole-Body Support, a supplement that the company says is formulated for dogs and cats specifically [1]. According to the release, the product is built on what the company describes as a synergistic five-species mushroom mycelium blend: Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Chaga, and Maitake.
What the five-species mycelium blend is
Mycelium is the vegetative growth stage of a fungus, as distinct from the fruiting body. According to the release, the mycelium in the blend is grown on the company’s own farm in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. In the nutraceutical trade, the five common names generally correspond to Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane), Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail), Inonotus obliquus (Chaga), and Grifola frondosa (Maitake).
Four of those binomials, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Trametes versicolor, and Inonotus obliquus, appear in a 2026 review among the most widely studied and utilized medicinal mushroom species, and the review associates their therapeutic potential with constituents including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and phenolic compounds [2]. The same review credits advances in cultivation and extraction methods with improving the availability and standardization of mushroom-derived products [2].
The company states that it formulated the blend to support three things in pets: healthy immune function, cellular health and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) activity, and overall well-being. It adds that the product is designed for support across every stage of a pet’s life.
The format is a daily powder. According to the release, it can be administered orally, the company describes it as easy to use, and it is described as suitable for pets at any age. Host Defense states that the product is formulated to provide what the company calls comprehensive daily wellness support.
The company’s president said in the release:
“Families have trusted Host Defense with their daily wellness routines for years, and we’re excited to extend that same support to the companions who share their lives.”
Host Defense says the daily powder formula reflects a commitment to scientific research and to sustainable cultivation that spans decades.
The president added:
“Immune & Whole-Body Support pet powder brings together decades of mycological expertise in a formula developed specifically to support the everyday wellness of dogs and cats.”
Host Defense said in its statement that the launch represents a milestone as the company broadens its range of supplements made with functional mushrooms grown in the United States.
The company added that the product is now available through its own website and participating retailers nationwide.
Sources
- Fungi Perfecti, LLC, Host Defense® Launches New Functional Mushroom Supplement for Pets, PR Newswire, August 19, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/host-defense-launches-new-functional-mushroom-supplement-for-pets-302855699.html (accessed August 24, 2026).
- Sadowska et al., Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Bioactive Compounds: From Traditional Use to Therapeutic Potential, Molecules, 2026, 31(10), 1749. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31101749 (accessed August 24, 2026).
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is provided for dietary supplement industry professionals and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
