How Milk Thistle Can Benefit Your Dog

Did you know that 4% of all natural products are derived from milk thistle?¹ Read on for the many potential benefits of this ancient plant.

Key Takeaways

Milk thistle has been used by healers for thousands of years, and has long been thought to have a wide range of potential health benefits.
In recent decades, research has confirmed that milk thistle contains a group of powerful antioxidants, collectively called silymarin.
These antioxidants help protect the body from damage caused by oxidative stress.
Studies suggest that silymarin can help support liver, kidney, heart, and brain function, among other potential benefits.
Interestingly, silymarin can also help promote the natural production of glutathione, another powerful antioxidant.
We combine milk thistle, glutathione, and L-Lysine in a first-of-its-kind Liver Detox System.

See Related: How Long Do Dogs Really Live?

What is Milk Thistle?

The milk thistle plant, sometimes called the holy thistle, is a flowering herb that is a member of the daisy or aster family. It's been used by humans for thousands of years to treat a range of issues.²

In fact, one of the earliest recorded descriptions of milk thistle having medicinal value comes from a Greek physician, who noted the plant's healing properties in the first century AD.³

Today, milk thistle is a popular supplement. In fact, few herbs are as commonly used as the milk thistle. It comes in capsule form or various powder forms.

But what, exactly, is the source of this ancient plant's potential healing powers?

Silymarin

The secret lies in the seeds. It's thought that the active ingredient of milk thistle, or the compound actually responsible for the plant's potential health benefits, is silymarin.⁴

Interestingly, silymarin isn't a single compound. Instead, it's the name for a collection of similar plant compounds, all of which are found in high concentrations in the seeds of milk thistle.⁵

Silymarin has been the focus of many scientific studies, investigating its potential use in treating a wide range of conditions — from those affecting the liver to the brain, bones to blood sugar, and beyond.⁶

Milk Thistle For Dogs

Some of these potential uses, like for acne, aren't necessarily that relevant for our furry friends.⁷

However, many of silymarin's other potential benefits certainly apply to dogs.

Antioxidant

As we mentioned, silymarin is a collection of compounds. Many of these compounds are potent antioxidants. Silybin is one particularly potent example.⁸

Antioxidants are extremely important molecules. They help protect the body from free radicals, which can damage various bodily structures, including DNA.⁹

Free radicals are a natural byproduct of vital bodily processes. They're unavoidable, and in small quantities aren't necessarily harmful.

Increase free radical concentration too much, and you run into trouble. The damage these free radicals may cause is called oxidative stress. Antioxidants, in turn, help prevent oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals.

Silymarin is known to be a potent antioxidant in itself. Additionally, it increases levels of glutathione, which is also a powerful antioxidant.¹⁰ That's one of the reasons we combine both milk thistle and glutathione, plus other functional ingredients, in our first-of-its-kind Liver Detox System supplement (more on that later).

We use other antioxidants and natural ingredients in other supplements, from our ever-popular CBD oil for dogs to our gut health support with colostrum.

Liver Health

Because the liver is so central to the body's detoxification processes, it's vulnerable to damage. In turn, research suggests that silymarin could help maintain healthy liver function.

For example, a 2020 review noted that silymarin has well-documented hepatoprotective, or liver-protecting, properties.¹¹ In 2022, a panel of experts from around the world stressed the importance of silymarin's antioxidant properties in regard to supporting liver health.¹²

And a separate paper that year acknowledged that silybin, one of the main antioxidants in silymarin, has been used specifically to support liver health since at least the 16th century!¹³

Interestingly, one study from 2024 found that silymarin's potential to support liver health might be more pronounced when the supplement is taken long-term.¹⁴

Most of this research into silymarin's liver-supporting properties involves human livers. The basic principles apply to dogs, but what about dog-specific studies?

Well, multiple studies have found that silymarin supplementation can help support liver health in dogs.¹⁵

Kidney Support

There's also evidence that milk thistle might be helpful in maintaining normal kidney function, as well as normal liver function. That makes sense, as the liver is far from the only part of the body that is vulnerable to the damaging effects of oxidative stress.

In one study, silymarin helped manage oxidative stress.¹⁶ Other studies have similarly concluded that silymarin can help maintain normal kidney function.¹⁷

Bonus: Detoxifying Your Pet – Why and When it's Important

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Blood Sugar

Recently, scientists have been exploring silymarin's potential in relation to blood sugar levels. In one study, for example, animals were given silymarin for 28 days, after which their blood sugar levels returned to "near-normal values."

That result, plus other studies, suggests that silymarin may help maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range.¹⁸

Heart Health

Research suggests that silymarin may have cardioprotective properties and could help support cardiovascular health.¹⁹

Cognitive Function

The brain is not immune to oxidative stress. As dogs age, free radicals can progressively damage the brain. In turn, antioxidants like milk thistle may help support cognitive function.

For example, one study of aging beagles concluded that an antioxidant-rich diet managed oxidative damage and supported cognitive function.²⁰

Milk Thistle Liver Support Complex

In August 2025, we unveiled a brand new liver detox supplement: Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs - Liver Detox System.

This is the first-ever liposomal glutathione supplement for dogs. You read that right!

But what exactly does that mean? Well, it means the glutathione — which, remember, is a powerful antioxidant — is delivered in a liposomal format. The glutathione is encased in a tiny bubble called a liposome.

The liposome bubble, or vesicle, is made up of phospholipids. That's similar to the stuff that helps cells maintain their structure. Doing this helps the body absorb the glutathione.

Better bioavailability is far from the only benefit of this groundbreaking new supplement, however. Remember, research suggests that milk thistle can help increase levels of glutathione in the body.

Our Liver Detox System combines a Glutathione Support Complex with milk thistle extract. And that's still not all.

Other Beneficial Ingredients

Each capsule also contains 72mg of L-Lysine. This is an amino acid, one of the essential building blocks needed to create proteins. Dogs (and humans!) need L-Lysine in order to grow, build muscle, transport fats across cells, and much more.²¹

L-Lysine is thought to have other potential benefits beyond being an essential nutrient. Multiple studies suggest it can promote relaxation, for example.²²

Potential Benefits

With three potent ingredients, our Liver Detox System has many potential benefits. It may help support (and even enhance) kidney and liver function; support skin health and soothe skin-related issues associated with seasonal allergies; support cognitive function, including in aging dogs; and more.

Not bad!

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Why Your Dog's Liver Might Need Support: Common Factors

Among the many benefits milk thistle may provide, supporting liver health is the most widely studied and known. But how do you know if your dog's liver is in need of support?

Unfortunately, all kinds of things can cause liver damage. Younger dogs are particularly vulnerable because their livers are less well developed.²³

Household Cleaners

While many household cleaners are generally safe, as long as they are carefully used per the stated directions, some are toxic for dogs.²⁴

Some chemicals to be wary of include the following:

Laundry detergents
Toilet bowl cleaners
Bleach
Ammonia
Insecticides (including products designed for animals other than dogs)
Pesticides (including mouse or rat bait)
Fabric softeners (including the sheets)
Paints
Solvents
Products to melt ice, including antifreeze
Mothballs
Lawn fertilizers
Weed killers
Chemicals for swimming pools

Medications

Pharmaceutical medications can also be dangerous for dogs.²⁵ Make sure to keep any medications safely stored in a place where your dog won't be able to eat them by accident.

Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metals are a common cause of toxicity in companion animals, including dogs.²⁶

Dogs may be exposed to heavy metals in the same way we humans are. For example, household chemicals may contain heavy metals.²⁷ Environmental pollution may also be a source of heavy metals in both dogs and humans.²⁸

However, dogs can also be exposed in unique ways. According to one study from 2021, many commercial dog foods contain dangerously high levels of various heavy metals, including aluminum, lead, mercury, and others.²⁹

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Conclusion

Milk thistle, or milk thistle extract to be precise, is a potent supplement with powerful antioxidant properties. Research suggests it can have many potential health benefits; it may support the normal health and function of the liver, heart, kidneys, skin, brain, and more.

Keep Reading: How Many Times a Day Can I Give My Dog Hemp Oil?

Sources

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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our natural pet calming chews to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.

How Milk Thistle Can Benefit Your Dog

Key Takeaways