Westie
Milk thistle is also referred to by the scientific name silymarin. It is part of the asteraceae family, which also includes aster, sunflowers and daisies. This plant is commonly used to treat liver damage and disease in humans and animals. It has been used medicinally for over 2000 years.
Canine Liver Disease
A dog's liver is used to filter toxins from their blood. It is required to filter substances from many sources and therefore is susceptible to damage. Liver damage can be a result of a viral or bacterial infection. It can also be due to poisoning or heart disease. Certain breeds, such as Doberman pinschers or West Highland White terriers, are more susceptible to liver damage due to a genetic difficulty excreting copper called abnormal copper metabolism.
Signs of liver damage, or disease, include a loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice, dark urine, pale gums or a sudden unexplained weight loss. Your veterinarian should be consulted for appropriate diagnosis and to discuss treatment.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is considered useful for protecting the liver from potential damage and for repairing the liver after damage has occurred. It is often used to offset potential liver damage caused by a phenobarbital prescription or heart-worm medication.
Most studies regarding the effectiveness, and safety, of milk thistle have been completed on rats. Rat livers are similar in function to dog livers. There have been no toxic effects reported. However, until more research is done on pregnant dogs, milk thistle is not recommended for pregnant or lactating animals.
Dosage
You can find milk thistle in health food stores and online. It is also becoming more commonly available in drugstores and grocery stores. The strength of the milk thistle may vary greatly from brand to brand. It can be found in capsule, tablet and tincture forms. Read labels carefully and discuss dosages and possible interactions to other medications with your veterinarian.
The usual recommended extract of milk thistle contains 70 to 80 percent silymarin. Each extract should be labeled with the silymarin percent. Recommended dosage for dogs with liver damage is approximately 20 to 50 mg per day per each kg of body weight. A kg is equal to 2.20462262 pounds. The daily dosage should be taken in two equally divided doses. For example: 200 to 500mg daily for a dog weighing 10 kg or 22 pounds; 452 to 1130mg daily for a dog weighing 22.6 kg or 50 pounds.
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