Milk Thistle Question

by Rebecca
(Pace, FL USA)

I read in the Dogster newsletter that the author is using milk thistle for her dogs twice a day at feeding in order to prevent cataracts in their eyes as they age. Is this recommended? Your article says that milk thistle should NOT be given to healthy dogs. Any advice?
Thank you.

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Milk Thistle Question

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Jan 13, 2011
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Clarification
by: Anonymous

While the points in the question and answer remain valid- the author of the Dogster Newsletter was giving Milk Thistle to her two 13 year old dogs (whose livers probably are beginning to work harder) to prevent the natural clouding that occurs in some senior dogs' eyes- not cataracts. Cataracts and age-related clouding are different enough that I feel it's worth making this distinction.

Aug 18, 2010
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Milk Thistle to Prevent Dog Cataracts??
by: Hazel, Site Editor

Hi, Rebecca,

Thanks for your question.

I have never heard of using milk thistle to prevent cataracts in dogs.

Milk thistle is a "liver" herb because of its silymarin content. While it is mainly used to treat existing liver problems, in my research I have come across numerous advice that this herb should NOT be used as a daily food supplement.

For example, according to G. Tilford (author of All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets), milk thistle is "best reserved to use when the liver is under abnormal stress." When given to dogs with healthy livers, milk thistle "might cause digestive disorders or might impair other body-cleansing functions of the liver. Many herbalists believe that it can actually slow the metabolic functions of a healthy liver." He also says that "milk thistle is unnecessary unless there is a real and present need, and its use as a dietary supplement constitutes waste."

Dr. Shawn (a holistic vet and author of Natural Bible for Dogs and Cats) has the same opinion.

Milk thistle has antioxidant properties, and antioxidants are helpful for prevention of a lot of health problems, including eye problems such as cataracts. That is perhaps why the person you mentioned gives milk thistle to her dogs for its antioxidant properties.

However, there are so many other effective antioxidants for cataract prevention, such as vitamin A, beta-carotene, bilberry..., so I would never feed milk thistle to my dog on a daily basis to prevent cataracts.

Hope this helps.

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