Do Cordyceps Really Help Dogs? We Tried HEH PAWS to Find Out
Published on September 15, 2025
Disclaimer: This content does not represent a direct veterinary endorsement of the product. Pet owners should consult their veterinarian before introducing any new supplements to their pet’s routine.
Meet HEH PAWS: Why I Gave This Dog Supplement a Try
When you have a senior pet, you may find yourself looking for new ways to support their health so that they can stay comfortable and active. HEH PAWS: Daily Wellness Blend offers a daily dog health supplement to support heart health, sensitive skin, the immune system, kidney function, digestion, and joint comfort.
My dog Anna is a 13-year-old foxhound mix who was recently treated for a mast cell tumor. I’d like to have her forever, but I know she’s getting older. As a veterinarian, I know that there are supplements out there which can be beneficial, so if a daily dog supplement like HEH PAWS could potentially help keep her healthy, I obviously had to try it.
I’ll cover what HEH PAWS aims to do for dog health, the ingredients in the product, and my own personal experience with giving HEH PAWS to Anna.
Cordyceps for Dogs: What Do They Actually Do?
One of the main active ingredients in HEH PAWS comes from a species of Cordyceps mushroom. According to HEH Paws, Cordyceps promotes energy, vitality, and healthy aging by helping the body adapt to stress, recovery faster, and stay active.
CordyBoost™, which is HEH PAWS’s propriety heart-health blend, contains Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium Extract, in addition to a few other ingredients I’ll cover later. CordyBoost™ was developed with the help of veterinary experts from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. The company grows their own Cordyceps, which are 99% genetically matched to wild C. sinensis.
According to HEH PAWS, a long-term veterinary study performed at Chulalongkorn University showed that their Cordyceps extract had no adverse effects on liver or kidney function in dogs. In addition, it resulted in a 24% improvement in walking distance during a 6-minute walk test, improved the stability of blood pressure following exercise, and resulted in a downward trend in resting blood pressure. While these results are encouraging, published studies looking at the effects of Cordyceps on dog health are scarce, with the few existing studies looking at combination formulas. As a veterinarian, I would like to see more published studies on Cordyceps use in dogs to better understand the potential health benefits.
There are human studies which show that Cordyceps could have beneficial effects on heart health. These impacts may include:
- Reduced arrhythmic events (1)
- Improved exercise performance and cardiopulmonary fitness (2)
- Reductions in C-reactive protein (a protein produced in response to inflammation) and improvement in renal function, with heart-protective potential (3)
Whether these improvements translate to animals is yet to be proven in published studies.
Our Real-Life Test: My Dog’s Experience with HEH PAWS
HEH PAWS was delivered to my house in an easy-to-open, 3.4 oz jar. The supplement is a powder which is added to your dog’s food daily. While the supplement smells somewhat herbal, it isn’t an unpleasant odor by any means. The powder is very fine and soft to the touch.
Dosing is based on your dog’s weight, and the supplement should be given during or after mealtime. The following is the dosing chart that was on the jar I received:
| Weight of Dog (lbs.) | Teaspoon per Day |
| 5 – 15 | ½ |
| 16 – 30 | 1 |
| 31 – 70 | 2 |
| 70+ | 3 |
Anna’s weight lingers around a healthy 42 lbs., so I added 2 teaspoons of the powder to her prescription high-fiber food in the morning. I added a little water so that it was more like a gravy topping.
She was immediately excited to receive her food with the product and wolfed it down. On the days I’ve given it to her, she’s done a happy tippy-tap dance when I bring her food over. In the evenings, she seems disappointed that dinner doesn’t come with the tasty topper.
I’ve only given it to her for about a week, but she’s remained happy to receive the product during that time. She’s already an active dog for her age, so I can’t say for sure that her energy level has improved, but she certainly hasn’t experienced any negative effects. She’s maintained a healthy appetite and hasn’t had any vomiting or diarrhea. I’m excited to see if I notice any changes with continued administration of the product.
Breaking Down the Ingredients in HEH PAWS
Before we get into what the ingredients in HEH PAWS do, let’s talk about CordyBoost™. This proprietary blend includes four ingredients, listed below along with their alleged benefits:
- Cordyceps silensis Mycelium Extract: Enhance energy, stamina, heart health, and immune health
- L-Arginine: Supports improved circulation and blood flow
- Beta Glucan: May help support the immune system and gut health and may offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that support the cardiovascular system
- Black Ginger Root Extract: May enhance energy and circulation
CordyBoost™ isn’t the only potentially beneficial ingredient included in HEH PAWS. Here we’ll show what HEH PAWS aims to do and which ingredients support each goal:
| What HEH PAWS Supports | Relevant Ingredients |
| Heart Health, Circulation, & Blood Flow | CordyBoost™, Taurine, Co-enzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, DHA |
| Joint Mobility | Collagen Type II (Chicken), Glucosamine HCl, MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid |
| Immune Defense | CordyBoost™, Zinc, Vitamin C |
| Inflammation & Recovery | CordyBoost™, Co-enzyme Q10, MSM |
| Skin & Coat Health | Chicken Bone Broth Powder, Egg Yolk Powder, Collagen Type II (Chicken), Zinc |
| Brain & Eye Health | DHA, Taurine, Egg Yolk Powder |
| Gut Health & Digestion | Chicken Bone Broth Powder, Pumpkin Powder, Bacillus coagulans, Enterococcus faecium, Yeast Extract, Goat’s Milk Powder |
| Liver & Detox Support | Taurine, Chicken Liver Powder, Yeast Extract, Beef Liver Powder, Chicken Powder |
| Antioxidant Protection | Vitamin C, Co-enzyme Q10, Blueberry Extract, Rosemary Extract |
Pros and Cons of This Daily Dog Supplement
The potential pros certainly outweigh the cons for this product, but let’s get into them.
Pros:
- Includes ingredients aimed to support the health of your dog’s heart, joints, digestion, skin & coat, and overall vitality
- Easy-to-dose powder safe for daily use
- Ingredients selected based on veterinary research
- Suitable for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes (with veterinary approval)
- No artificial flavors or fillers
- Made in the USA
- Made in an FDA-registered and GMP-certified facility
- Container is recyclable
Cons:
- Premium cost for the quality offered
- While a jar can last 1–2 months for dogs 30 lbs. and under, dogs who are larger than this will need a new jar every 10–15 days
- While designed to be palatable, it’s possible a dog may not like the taste
- Should be used under vet guidance
- Could trigger food allergies in some dogs (contains chicken and beef ingredients)
How Safe (and Proven) Are These Ingredients?
HEH PAWS claims to use science-backed ingredients and the help of veterinarians and nutritionists in formulating their product.
Most of these ingredients do have safety studies that show they are unlikely to cause negative effects. In HEH PAWS’s long-term study looking at their Cordyceps extract, no negative effects on the kidneys or liver were noted. The company does note that gastrointestinal upset can occur if the product is not given with or after a meal.
Some of these ingredients, such as taurine or glucosamine, are more well-researched in dogs than others. There is modest clinical evidence that CoQ10 may be beneficial for heart health. While Cordyceps and the other ingredients in CordyBoost™ are commonly included in integrative or holistic products based on unpublished animal studies and published human studies, more veterinary clinical trials are needed.
Even though these ingredients are safe for most healthy dogs, pet parents should still consult with their veterinarian before adding any new supplement to their dog’s wellness routine.
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Price, Ordering, and Where to Get It
HEH PAWS is only available from the HEH PAWS website. Currently, a one-time purchase of a single jar is $49.00, though you can save 20% by subscribing. With a subscription, you can select a delivery interval. After your fourth subscription order, you’ll get an extra 5% loyalty discount. You can pause, skip, or cancel your subscription at any time through your online account.
If we break $49 into a cost for a daily dose, you’ll notice the product is more expensive the larger your dog is. This is common for supplements that are dosed based on a dog’s weight.
| Weight of Dog (lbs.) | Teaspoon per Day | Approximate Daily Cost |
| 5 – 15 | ½ | $0.82 |
| 16 – 30 | 1 | $1.63 |
| 31 – 70 | 2 | $3.27 |
| 70+ | 3 | $4.90 |
Similar products to HEH PAWS are limited. While there are other supplements that include Cordyceps and may cost less, most of these do not have the range of ingredients and potential effects listed by HEH PAWS.
My Honest Verdict on HEH PAWS
HEH Paws is compelling as a potential heart health supplement for dogs. My dog certainly enjoyed the taste and didn’t experience any negative side effects. For people who are looking for a product that might help support their dog’s heart health, in addition to many other body systems, and is unlikely to cause harm, I’d recommend HEH PAWS. However, I would definitely like to see more published studies on the effects of Cordyceps in dogs.
I would recommend that pet parents always speak with their veterinarian before starting a new supplement. If your dog has specific heart health needs, make sure to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations.
FAQs
According to HEH Paws, Cordyceps supports vitality, circulation, and immune health. While there are published studies supporting the use of this mushroom extract in people, more published studies in dogs are needed.
HEH PAWS is safe for most senior dogs, but you should always check with your veterinarian before starting your pup on new supplements.
Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is thought to help support heart health and cardiovascular function. There are several published studies which support this.
Some pets will show improvement in their energy and digestion within 2–3 weeks. It may take 6–8 weeks of use to notice some changes, like a shinier coat.
References
- Bidirectional regulatory effects of Cordyceps on arrhythmia
- Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects
- Effects and safety of Ophiocordyceps sinensis preparation in the adjuvant treatment for dialysis patients
Dr. Rhiannon Koehler is a freelance medical writer and veterinarian whose primary focus is pet parent education. Aside from writing, she practices medicine in animal shelters and wellness clinics. Dr. Koehler’s writing helps pet parents stay well-informed, which prepares them to make better health decisions for their pets.
