Drugs and chemicals can be hard on the liver. This includes NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs), heartworm prevention medications, vaccines and topical flea treatments. Some drugs are so hard on the liver that your veterinarian will recommend blood work every three months to verify the liver values are within normal limits.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) helps protect the liver. Milk thistle is a plant in the Aster family that has spiny leaves with reddish-purple, thistle shaped flowers. Native to Europe, different parts of the plant have been used for food and medicine. In 1986, Germany approved the use of extract from milk thistle seeds(silymarin) as a treatment for liver disease. Since then, enhanced formulations have hit the market that claim to have more bioavailability.
Milk thistle has been discovered to boost glutathione, an antioxidant that is considered highly important for the body because it is actually found inside the cell. Glutathione helps the liver remove chemicals, drugs and pollutants that are foreign to the body.
Side effects of milk thistle are rare, however, as with many supplements, some pets may experience loose stool.
Dosage is important and should be discussed with a holistic veterinarian because some studies suggest that long term use at higher doses can actually begin to suppress liver function.
The standard dosage of milk thistle extract is based on a silymarin content of around 80 percent. Small dogs may get 25% of a normal human dose per day, and huge dogs 100%, but not more. Milk thistle is most effective when administered in a partial dose 2 to 3 times daily. Consider buying a milk thistle derivative rather than a silymarin-only extract, since there may be other beneficial compounds found in the whole herb that science has not caught up with.