Silymarin

What is silymarin?

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a plant species from the Asteraceae family, which is mainly native to the Mediterranean region, the Near East, America and Eastern Europe. It has a number of common names, such as Christ's crown, thunder thistle or lady's thistle.

The fruits of milk thistle contain a complex of three flavonoids (secondary plant substances) known as silymarin. The three flavonoids are silybin, silidianin and silicristin, with silybin being the most pharmacologically active substance.

Silymarin is used in the manufacture of medicinal preparations that are offered as feed supplements to support liver function in dogs and cats. One example of this is Legaphyton®, which is available in the form of tablets with different dosages.

How does silymarin work?

Silymarin has a liver-protective effect that can be attributed to various properties:

• It acts as an antioxidant and captures free radicals that are released in many liver diseases and damage the cell building blocks.
• It has an anti-inflammatory effect and protects the liver from scarring.
• It stabilizes the membrane of the liver cells and prevents liver cell toxins from penetrating into the cell interior.
• It stimulates the growth of new liver cells and supports the organ's natural regeneration processes.

When is silymarin used?

Silymarin is used to support the liver function of dogs. The liver is an important metabolic organ and plays a central role in detoxifying the body. It filters toxins out of the blood and returns them to the intestine via bile, where they are excreted in the feces. Bile is also essential for the digestion of fats. The liver also serves as a storage organ for the energy supplier glucose and thus regulates the blood sugar level.

There are a number of factors that put a strain on the liver. These include viral infections (viral hepatitis), high-fat food, poisoning or tumors. In a blood test, this manifests itself in poor liver values. Typical symptoms of liver disease are

• Loss of appetite
• weight loss
• lethargy
• Increased thirst
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• Fever
• Yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes
• Increased tendency to bleed
• Water retention in the abdominal cavity

If you observe symptoms in your dog that indicate damage to the liver, you should consult a vet. Silymarin can be used as an adjunctive therapy to protect and regenerate the liver. However, it cannot replace causal treatment.

How should Silymarin be administered?

The manufacturer of Legaphyton® recommends administering two tablets of Legaphyton® 50 per five kilograms of body weight or one tablet of Legaphyton® 200 per ten kilograms of body weight twice a day. After ten days, the dose can be halved, i.e. you can feed Legaphyton® only once a day.

There are also other preparations containing silymarin, which may differ in composition and dosage. You should therefore always follow the manufacturer's instructions and discuss the administration with your vet.

What side effects does silymarin have?

Silymarin is well tolerated and has very few side effects. Possible side effects include diarrhea, constipation and flatulence. In the case of a long-term overdose, the liver-protective effect can turn into a liver-damaging effect.

If you observe undesirable effects in your dog, you should discontinue the product and consult your vet.