Can I detox my dog? Is milk thistle safe and what's the right dose?

Dogs are typically given milk thistle in combination with Vitamin E, Zinc and s-adenosyl methionine for liver disease. The dose is usually lower when used with these other supplements. Doses ranging from 5 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg per day have been reported to likely be safe, so 400 mg twice daily would be within this dose range. I do not typically recommend giving this supplement unless there is evidence of underlying liver disease because it is not likely to be helpful. There does not seem to be evidence of kidney disease or other problems when milk thistle supplements are used long term in dogs, but there are no studies in dogs without liver disease. I would recommend checking with your veterinarian before starting this supplement since it can potentially cause problems when given in conjunction with some other medications.

You don't need to give Danny any supplements to detox his body. He has organs already to do that, like the liver. The job of the liver is to remove toxins. Kidneys help filter things out as well, including certain drugs that are eliminated via the kidneys. His body will do what needs to be done without any outside help.

( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/milk-thistle-or-silymarin ) It is very safe to use and has a wide dosing range. I suggest for most uses, using use up to 100 mg per 10 pounds of body weight of milk thistle extract daily. Split the daily amount into 2 or 3 doses over the course of the day. Example: 13kg = 28.6 pounds. I would round up to 30#. 30 pounds x 100 mg/10# = 300mg per day. I would give 100mg three times per day or somewhere close to that dosing regimen. Too high a dose can cause an upset stomach, gas, or mild diarrhea; these are easily resolved by giving less. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

slightly elevated ALT does not require immediate treatment, it could be an accidental finding especially if it is not significantly high. 1 pill once a day is enough and it cannot harm him in any way.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, that product should be pretty safe. However, I don't recommend giving supplements such as this without being directed by a vet. The most important way to support Bruno's organ function is with a good high quality food, and good preventative care (disease prevention through vaccination, parasite control, etc). Milk thistle is a great liver support, but the other ingredients have limited data in dogs and, while probably safe, I would not recommend them.

Hello, and thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The dose of terbinafine your vet prescribed is appropriate for Danny's size. This medication has a wide range of use in the literature, and vets will choose the appropriate dose for the patient and the infection they are treating. Dogs do not necessarily metabolize medications the same way people do - so often require different strength or frequency in their dosing compared to the human dose. Terbinafine is generally well tolerated by dogs, so I would not recommend adding any additional tonics or medications unless your vet guides you on this. The best way you can help support Danny's kidneys is to simply provide clean safe drinking water available at all times. If you are concerned, you might ask your vet to run some baseline bloodwork on Danny to ensure his organs are functioning properly, and you could repeat this bloodwork after his course of medication. This should provide peace of mind to make sure Danny is tolerating his medication! Hope this helps!

A large breed dog is considered a senior around 7 years of age. Milk thistle is used in some dogs mainly as liver support. The most common side effect is diarrhea. Because it is a supplement and not a medication there haven't been many studies done but anecdotally it carries few risks. You can read more at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1779