Think mushrooms are not safe for your dog? Think again! Just be sure to cook them first, and do not feed them raw.
Xena was just diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis, which is a fancy way to say inherited inhalant allergies. I was quite shocked and dismayed to hear this – even while rejoicing that it was NOT the sarcoptic mange that I had suspected. I took great care to find a reputable breeder as well as doing everything I can to support her gut health, where the immune system originates. And sometimes, even with the best bred dogs, something can go wrong. Hence, my dismay.
So now, we have nowhere to go but forward, and it seems that reishi and shiitake mushrooms are going on that journey with us. Here’s a quick overview of the best mushrooms to keep both dogs and people healthy as well as to help with certain conditions, from regulating blood pressure to treating allergies and cancer.
You can follow this link to find out more about these fungi that are power players for both you and your dog. We’l let you know how the journey goes, and if we notice a difference after feeding some of these cooked mushrooms for a while.
We hope you enjoyed another episode of Friday Food for Thought.
I’m Xena, and I approve this message. Wait, what? The election is over? Well, I still approve it ’cause it’s about giving me food! ~Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess
Then it was Xena’s turn.
Mom dragged her out a couple of times to go potty, but she wouldn’t do her bizness. All she wanted was to go back in her kennel. Mom put her food and water in there, too, but she wouldn’t eat, either.
Dad was a bit skeptical about holding Chaz while playing word games with Mom.
But then Chaz helped him win. Mom said, “No fair!” but Chaz and Dad just laughed. They got to be such good friends that at bedtime Chaz slept on Dad’s pillow, right next to his head. Chloe was invited too, but she still wouldn’t come out of her kennel, and growled every time Xena walked past.
Mommy said they are both very, very loving and great pups, too. And she met the birds, the fancy chickens, the pig, the rabbits, the koi fish, and I don’t remember who all else. 
Noodle sat with his Dad while Molly laid on Mommy’s lap and the Moms visited. Mrs. Noodle’s Mom said to come again and be sure to bring me and Lucy, too. Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can hardly wait. Hi-i-i- Noodle. 🙂
Angel Lexi: Lookout, Xena, here I come. You may eat raw meat every day, but I have not yet had my fill of blood. Eating kibble all my life has left me very, very thirsty. (in best Bela Lugosi voice) I come to suck your…oh forget it, that’s just too corny, even for me. Now, where was I? Tonight, Xena, you become like me!
So Mommy helped me off with my sweater, since the day was warming up, and I went on a long walk through the Fat Man’s Squeeze and caverns and magical places. (And I wasn’t a-scared at all!) We didn’t see any fairies this time, even though I checked in all the places they might hide.
Nope, nothing up there but my shadow. Hi, shadow!
These rocks were much too slippery to try to explore.
Oooh, it looks like jewels up on the rocks. Maybe there are fairies here!
Are we lost, Mommy? I heard something behind us. Oh look, directions, sorta’. 
Now let’s see if we can find any gnomes.
We only found Ik, and he’s not a gnome. I turned and headed back to the pavilion to find my Daddy. I could hear him teaching polka, so I followed the sound of his voice. When we got back, I got my very own sauerkraut, and then I ate half a nice lady’s sauerkraut, too. (She said it was ok, she was done with it.) A few minutes later I gave them back their sauerkraut, as well as a bonus of some of chicken innards from my breakfast, too. Mommy had to find someone to help clean up the mess.
Before the day was over Daddy grabbed Mommy to dance a swing and a foxtrot. The guy who played the elk horn and the ringy dingy bells came over to 
I told her to quick, get some pictures, ’cause we all know what happens to most of the stuff she plants, BOL! Don’t you think the color goes pretty with my furs? 
It was nice to sit in the orange chair and…
smell the 
Be sure to drop by 
He found my vibrating dog – the one I hate – and tried to make me jealous (I’m not) by carrying it all over the house, like it was his girlfriend or something. Doesn’t it look just like him? Twinsies! Mommy said he could keep the doggie, ’cause Lucy and I don’t like it anyhow. 
Once they got home from Octoberfest Saturday afternoon, Achilles totally ignored Lucy. There she is in the chair behind him, mooning over the big lunk. 
At least I still had the tin schnauzer my Auntie and Uncle gave us. They said tin is the correct gift for wedding anniversary number ten. (He, he, that’s funny — tin for ten.) Now, if I can just get to the wine bottle inside of it… I know that always makes Mommy feel better.
Maria (L) owned a ballroom dance studio and Dad became her 
I don’t know if these ferns count, since they don’t have flowers on them.
Daddy said, “No, I’m here, little girl. You sit with your Mom and I’ll get you both there safe.” 
So Daddy drove up Lookout Mountain to Rocktoberfest at Rock City. On our way in, we passed by some pretty flowers, but we are going to save those pictures for Flower Friday. I also got to check out some pumpkins. I tried to carry it so Mommy could make us pumpkin pie, but she said it is easier to buy the kind growing in the can in the store.
So that I didn’t get scared by the band like last year when I was only 4 months old, we found a seat down below the pavilion. This year, it didn’t scare me at all!
Hey Mommy, where’s that polka music coming from? Can we go see? I think my Daddy’s up there. After we went to the pavilion and listened to the music for a while, we went ‘sploring. There are lots of trails and I found some interesting pee mail to read.
It felt chilly outside, so I wore my nice sweater from last year. I hear the styles haven’t changed much, but I’m still asking Santa to bring me some new clothes this Christmas.
Mommy discovered that I’m not afraid of heights. In fact I jumped up on a great big rock and started to climb it before anyone could stop me. No wonder the place is called Rock City!
There was a steep drop off into a raving vine or something like that, so I turned around and went back to the trail. It was not because Mommy was coaxing me back to her. See, I’m not a-scared at all!
Then we went into these dark caverns. Soon, I came upon a gnome making moonshine. Can you see him back there behind me?
I found out that moonshine isn’t light from the moon. Noooo, it’s illegal whiskey, like what Daddy drinks, only his is legal. I don’t really understand the difference. But maybe that’s why the gnome is behind bars, right?
You still there, Mommy? It’s getting pretty dark in here.
There was sparkly, purple light coming from the rocks. I thought maybe it was fairy dust, especially since we had just met a great big fairy person. I looked up and just about jumped out of my skin! A real, live fairy person! The fairy was real sweet to me and we got to be friends right away. She and Mommy knew each other. Before she was a fairy, she was a Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Yep, that Angel Lexi thing again. We kept walking and finally came to the end of the cave (or light at the end of the tunnel?)
The danger – er, I mean fun – wasn’t over yet! Mommy insisted I take a selfie under a boulder (that’s a great big rock) that was balancing on another boulder. I said if I got smooshed, it would be all her fault.
I don’t look scared at all, do I?
Look, I even found my accordion from last year and couldn’t wait to play it. I hear that Lucy gets to go back this coming weekend, so maybe I can go again the last weekend of the month. We all love 
The picture on the left was taken in 1908 and is Mommy’s aunt (her Mom’s sister). She helped raise Mommy, so they were very close. Mommy called her Nan-Nan and, later, Nan, and other people called her Anna May. The picture on the right is of Mommy’s Mom in 1918. Some people called her “Marion” and she loved Angel Lexi very much. I hope they found each other in heaven. There’s just one thing I don’t understand…how can babies be Mommy’s aunt and mom?
Really, Mommy? You said it was a gift to Angel Lexi from a cast member, but her head was too big? 
Did you get your picture? Can I take it off now? I. Don’t. Like. Hats.
Hey Xena, whatcha’ got? Cool hat!
Oh, Mo-o-ommy, Lucy wants my hat. Tell her it’s mine and she can’t have it.
This is not our house or mailbox or address or flowers. Proof is that there are live flowers, BOL! We do not even know what kind of flowers these are, but they are pretty and still blooming in October. And you can see how bright the sun is by how I had to squint my eyes to try to look into the camera.
The Krill oil is good because it doesn’t have any bad mercury in it like a lot of fish, and it’s in a vacuum bottle so it doesn’t spoil. I love my kefir, too. It is full of problematics, er, probies, or something like that, and Mommy mixes my new powdered colostrum into it. The information about my colostrum says, 
Sometimes, when the itching got too bad, I was taking a benny pill, too. But we’re trying not to do that, ’cause it can mess up all the stuff we’re trying to make healthy. We learned that if we just cover up the problem with drugs, it will come back even worse next time.
I just got sprayed with sea salt mixed into organic apple cider vinegar. I feel better already, and am ready to take a nap in Mommy’s arm. I hope the itchy season is over soon.
Lucy: Uh, I was just playing with Monkey. He’s nice and I like him.
Don’t worry, Monkey, I’ll take care of you.
It was only $4 to go inside to see the pretty pictures because they got the “senior” discount, BOL! On the second floor they even got to visit the Goddess Athena.
There was even a diver cleaning it like Mom cleans the house.
Lucy: She will be home soon, little sister. I can’t wait for her to open the card we got her:
This is Lucy and Xena waiting for 
Is everyone ready for my song? Here goes.
The mate was fixed by the bos’n’s pike
Presented to you by Lucy the Pirate Dog, Xena the Pirate Warrior Princess and Pirate Pete
So, I was sitting there, wishing she would hurry up, when suddenly, outof the corner of my eye, I saw…
MONSTERS behind me!
Please Mommy, enough of the picture-taking. 
I think I hear them coming!
Overnight, my big girl time came to visit. I got some yicky blood on Mommy’s bed sheets, but she’s not mad. She said everything comes out in the wash. I feel all “off” today. I thought it might make me feel better to hug my blankie for a while.
It did help a little bit. For a little while.
Oh, that’s where my blue bone went!
Isn’t this ever going to end?
She held me and loved on me every time I asked for the rest of the day. Those were the best parts of the day – other than food time. Oh, and our walk was good, too. I sure hope this is all over by tomorrow.
Goodnight, everyone. I am Xena the Schnauzer wearing my Big Girl Panties.
Xena Schnauzer Warrior Princess with Lucy and Chia 