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One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Adjunctive therapy of chronic liver disease; hepatic recovery/regeneration support; fibrosis; ameliorating anticonvulsant hepatotoxicity
DogCatOn-label (ON_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Adjunctive therapy of chronic liver disease; hepatic recovery/regeneration support; fibrosis; ameliorating anticonvulsant hepatotoxicity — Nutraceutical (not FDA-regulated)
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Adjunctive therapy of chronic liver disease; hepatic recovery/regeneration support; fibrosis; ameliorating anticonvulsant hepatotoxicity — Nutraceutical (not FDA-regulated)
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Indications table · Not applicable · On-label (ON_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens2
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects68
Generally well tolerated — —
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Occasional GI upset (nausea→diarrhea) — Human-reported
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Allergic reactions — Asteraceae/Compositae allergy (ragweed, marigold, daisy)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Anorexia3 reports
- Dehydration3 reports
- Diarrhoea3 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')3 reports
- Vomiting3 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS2 reports
- Death2 reports
- Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP)2 reports
- Inappetence2 reports
- Polyuria2 reports
- Restlessness2 reports
- Urinary tract infection2 reports
Cat
- Anaemia NOS1 reports
- Behavioural disorder NOS1 reports
- Decreased haematocrit1 reports
- Hypokalaemia1 reports
- Hypothermia1 reports
- Leucopenia NOS1 reports
- Neutropenia1 reports
Monitoring1
Clinical efficacy only (no specific labs); liver values followed as part of underlying disease
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Plant-part extracts (not seed extracts) may have estrogen-like activity — avoid where estrogens contraindicated. Do not confuse with Blessed Thistle (different plant)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Mechanism basket: free-radical scavenging, ↑ hepatic glutathione, anti-TNF/anti-apoptotic effects, altered hepatocyte membranes blocking toxin entry, ↓ collagen (anti-fibrotic).
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Silibinin is the most active of the four flavolignans — complexed products (e.g., Marin) beat raw milk thistle powder for absorption.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Evidence is adjunctive-level; pair with definitive therapy (ursodiol, immunosuppression, copper management) rather than as a lone agent.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions2
CYP2C9 substrates (warfarin, amitriptyline, verapamil) — Possible inhibition — caution with narrow-index drugs
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Glucuronidated drugs (acetaminophen, diazepam, morphine) — May ↑ clearance — not in cats (poor glucuronidators); clinical significance undetermined
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Bioavailability — <50% (human); ↑ with phosphatidylcholine complexing
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Peak — 2–4 h; extensive enterohepatic recycling
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Half-life — ~6 h (human)
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
No safety data — weigh benefit vs uncertainty.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 1062–1063 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references18
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Clinicobiochemical and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based serum metabolomics for determining the therapeutic efficacy of silymarin in pneumonic Barki sheep.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Impact of phytochemical constituents of milk thistle extract on body score and hematological and biochemical parameters in dromedary camels ( Camelus dromedarius ).
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Silymarin-loaded phytosomal nanoparticles mitigate dyslipidemia, oxidative damage, and hepatic injury in high-fat diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in rats.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Subchronic Cadmium-Induced Xenobiotic Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats: Antioxidant and Reproductive Protection by Standardized Silymarin with Molecular Docking Insights.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Dietary co-supplementation of silymarin and stevioside enhances growth, immunity, and disease resistance in Nile tilapia.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.