Milk Thistle for Pets

• Poisonous Mushroom Treatment
• Liver Protection
• Adjuvant Giardia Infection Treatment
• Safety

In the Balkans, milk thistle was traditionally used as a nutritional addition to animal feed. Milk thistle's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protecting benefits are good for pets as well. In fact, milk thistle extracts may even help treat parasite infections.^{(210-212, 235)}

Poisonous Mushroom Treatment

Silymarin compounds in milk thistle can help treat the toxic effects of mushroom poisoning in small animals. For example, a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight offers complete protection from death cap poisoning in dogs, mice, rabbits, and rats. However, it must be given within 10-30 minutes of ingesting the poisonous mushrooms. After 30 minutes silymarin has very little benefit.⁽¹⁴⁾

Protects the Liver

Milk thistle is helpful in reducing the risks from chemotherapy and other drugs. In a research study, 50 dogs with various types of cancers were randomly assigned to take a supplement containing milk thistle extract and SAMe.⁽²¹³⁾

The combination milk thistle and SAMe supplement significantly protected against signs of liver damage from chemotherapy. This protection would also allow dogs to continue and complete cancer treatment.⁽²¹³⁾

Results of another study involving cats showed that silymarin from milk thistle protects against liver damage caused by mebendazole. Azole-type drugs are used to treat worm infections.⁽²¹⁴⁾

In cats, milk thistle can also protect the liver against severe overdose of tetracycline, especially if given within the first 4 hours. Oral doses of silymarin (30 mg per kg of body weight) counteracted toxic poisoning by acetaminophen.^(215-216)

Helps Treat Giardia Infections

Canine giardiasis is a parasitic infection. It's typically treated with antiprotozoal drugs, such as fenbendazole and metronidazole. Unfortunately, treatment drugs can come with adverse side effects, such as:⁽²¹¹⁾

• Loss of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Weight loss.

Silymarin from milk thistle significantly boosts the effectiveness of metronidazole. The milk thistle extract also appears to reduce drug side effects.⁽²¹¹⁾

Safety

Milk thistle is considered safe for pets. Dogs and rabbits can tolerate up to 140-300 mg/kg silymarin injections.⁽⁹⁴⁾