Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Silymarin is dosed at 20–50 mg/kg PO q24h (divided q8-12h preferred) in dogs, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1168 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.1168' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.1141; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.1141. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAMe)/Silybin monograph, printed p.1141 (corpus PDF p.1168), DOGS/CATS: "To attempt to reduce fibrosis, silybin 20 - 50 mg/kg PO daily has been suggested." [INDICATION NARROWED 2026-08-12, two readers — the printed figure for chronic hepatitis and other acute hepatopathies is 7-15 mg/kg PO daily.]. Silymarin is used in dogs for Hepatic fibrosis (antifibrotic). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Silymarin in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Marin, Milk Thistle, Denamarin, Milk Thistle (Silymarin)
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20–50 mg/kg | q24h (divided q8-12h preferred) | Long-term for chronic liver disease | Hepatic fibrosis (antifibrotic) | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1168 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.1168' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.1141; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.1141. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAMe)/Silybin monograph, printed p.1141 (corpus PDF p.1168), DOGS/CATS: "To attempt to reduce fibrosis, silybin 20 - 50 mg/kg PO daily has been suggested." [INDICATION NARROWED 2026-08-12, two readers — the printed figure for chronic hepatitis and other acute hepatopathies is 7-15 mg/kg PO daily.] |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.756 | • 5-15 mg/kg PO once daily. Some sources recommend a higher dose of a mini- |
| 30 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.756 | mum of 30 mg/kg PO per day. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid from milk thistle. Stabilizes hepatocyte membranes, stimulates protein synthesis, and scavenges free radicals.
Generally safe. Often combined with SAMe (Denamarin). Evidence for hepatoprotection moderate. GI upset at high doses. May interact with P-glycoprotein substrates.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Silymarin dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 20–50 mg/kg q24h (divided q8-12h preferred). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Silymarin in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Silymarin in dogs include: Long-term for chronic liver disease. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Silymarin is indicated in dogs for: Hepatic fibrosis (antifibrotic).
These are general warnings for Silymarin across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Generally safe. Often combined with SAMe (Denamarin). Evidence for hepatoprotection moderate. GI upset at high doses. May interact with P-glycoprotein substrates.
Why a species-specific page? Silymarin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.