Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Silymarin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q24h in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Silymarin is used in dogs for Hepatoprotection, Hepatoprotection, liver disease support. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules 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 | 5–10 mg/kg | q24h | Long-term | Hepatoprotection | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 20–50 mg/kg | q24h (divided q8-12h preferred) | Long-term for chronic liver disease | Hepatoprotection, liver disease support | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1168 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 ranges in dogs, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg q24h; 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; 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: Hepatoprotection, Hepatoprotection, liver disease support.
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.