Milk Thistle Benefits for Dogs – Understand the Dosage and Uses
Being a pet owner comes with the responsibility of finding various supplements or other components that can help your dog lead a healthy life. Lately, many dog parents are keen to know about milk thistle and its benefits since it has been approved for dogs. But before giving your dog the milk thistle dosage, it is vital to understand what these extracts are, their benefits, dosage recommendations, and more. To help you with getting all the needed information, go through the details about milk thistle given below:
Milk Thistle Benefits for Dogs
Milk Thistle for Dogs
Talking about milk thistle, it is a flowering plant that contains flavonoid components in its seeds. These flowering plants were first found in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa, and later were also found in the Middle East. The flavonoid components in the seeds of the flowers have medicinal properties, which is why it has been used over 2000 years as a herb to treat some medical conditions.
Milk thistle has three main components which are Silychristine, Silybin, and Silydianin, which is collectively known as Silybum marianum. Due to these components, milk thistle has anti-inflammatory properties, and it helps treat liver diseases in dogs, cats, ferrets, and even humans. Silymarin is used in place of milk thistle sometimes, as it is the main component that has medicinal properties.
Milk Thistle for Dogs Liver
Silybum is rich in antioxidants that help in protecting the dogs against free radicals. It helps in detoxifying and also stimulates the regeneration of new liver cells. The antioxidants in the silymarin help eliminate the dead or damaged cells in the liver by replacing it with new cells. It has been proven to work well for:
- Several liver conditions
- Chronic Hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetes
- Cushing’s disease
- Gall bladder disorders
The flavonoids – silymarin present in the milk thistle effectively treat liver-related conditions in dogs and help them in reversing the damage.
Milk Thistle Supplement for Dogs
After this medicinal plant was approved for pets, many companies came up with a range of supplements enriched with silymarin. One can get milk thistle in various forms, such as capsules, powder, and liquid. One can easily find capsules in stores or pharmacies. However, many dog parents opt for liquid extracts too but make sure that whatever supplement you choose is safe for animals.
Milk Thistle Dosage for Dogs
As the milk thistle concentration varies from one supplement to another, it is recommended to consult your bet for deciding the dosage for your pet. Generally, the dosage recommended is between 75 to 100 mg for every 10 pounds of body weight. This may differ if your dog has severe liver problems. A vet will help you decide the proper dosage considering all factors such as dog age, size, medical history, and diseases ( if any).
Another common practice for administering such medicinal herbs is dividing the dosage into two to four portions for better absorption. Vets also recommend two-three small dosages instead of one large dosage in a day.
Concluding Remarks
As milk thistle supplement is available without any prescription, it becomes crucial to select the vet-approved pet formulation for milk thistle. Always consult your vet before opting for any supplement to get the best results. Also, avoid an overdose of milk thistle because it can lead to stomach gas, diarrhea, upset stomach, and other side effects. Get the dosage recommendations from your vet for achieving the desired results.
