Milk thistle, also known as Silybum marianum or Silymarin, is an herb used predominantly for natural liver treatment. The liver's function is to break down and eliminate toxins from the body. Milk thistle protects the liver from any damage caused by exposure to these toxins. Milk thistle is appropriate for treating liver issues in dogs, but care must be taken to provide the correct dosage.
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Background
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Milk thistle is a bioflavonoid and a flowering member of the aster family. The seeds and roots of this herb have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient Roman times. It is native to Europe and parts of the United States.
Benefits
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Milk thistle protects the liver against drugs and heavy metals. It also activates protein synthesis. If liver cells are dead or damaged due to illness or toxic exposure, milk thistle will activate the growth of new cells. Liver issues that can be treated with milk thistle include hepatitis, cholangitis, pericholangitis and hepatic lipidosis.
Other uses for milk thistle are as an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory supplement. It can also be used to treat gallstones and inflammatory bowel disease.
Milk thistle taken after a drug regime may protect your dog's liver against damage from chemicals. This can include chemicals taken for treatment of illness or even vaccinations or heartworm, tick and flea preventative applications.
Ingredients
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The active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin. It is considered a safe and effective ingredient for treating liver disease. It is also known to protect against tumor growth.
Milk thistle is widely available as an extract containing approximately 70 to 80 percent silymarin. It is available as a powder, capsule or liquid form. Milk thistle packaged for humans is appropriate for dogs with the exception of liquid form. The liquid form may contain alcohol. Read ingredients carefully. If you will be using the liquid form, purchase a brand designed for animal consumption.
Dosage
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Most packaged milk thistle supplements list the appropriate human dose on the label. An easy way to convert the dosage for your dog is to take your dog's weight, consider it a percent, and multiply the recommended dosage by that percent. For example, if your dog weighs 20 pounds then you would give your dog 20 percent of the recommended human dosage. If your dog weighs 75 pounds they would receive 75 percent of the dosage.
Dogs that are very ill with liver disease may take a higher dosage. Please consult your veterinarian.
If you dog develops diarrhea, gas or stomach upset after ingesting milk thistle, reduce their dosage.
Provide the daily dosage of milk thistle in several portions throughout the day. Do not administer the entire dose at one time.
Administration
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The easiest way to administer milk thistle is to mix it in with your dog's food. Dogs with liver disease often lose their appetite. If you are having trouble getting your dog to eat; mix powdered milk thistle in with a helping of baby food, a very wet canned dog food or food you have run through the blender. This mixture can be placed in a syringe and squirted into the dog's mouth.
Warning
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Consult your veterinarian prior to providing your dog a milk thistle supplement. Long-term use of milk thistle has been shown to potentially suppress liver function. It is not currently recommended for pregnant or nursing dogs.
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