Milk Thistle is Excellent for Liver

Q: My boxer is almost 10 years old and has been in excellent health until significant cardiac abnormalities and arthritis developed in the last year. He is taking Rimadyl for his arthritis. Would milk thistle be safe for him to take to help his liver?

A: Milk thistle is an excellent herb to help promote normal liver health. It is one of my favorite herbs, which I use as part of the therapy for almost any disease.

As I discuss in “The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats” (Three Rivers Press, $24.95), other supplements that can aid the liver include choline, liver glandular extracts, dandelion, boswellia and burdock. Homeopathic liver supplements are also useful. There are no conventional medications that can support the liver as do these supplements.

I also believe liver support is important when pets must be on long-term medication, including Rimadyl (which has liver toxicity.) Buy why must your pet take Rimadyl? There are many supplements (hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, MSM, Zeel, etc.) that are much safer and better to help control arthritis without any side effects. I would also recommend supplements for cardiac support, including Hawthorn, Coenzyme Q-10, omega-3 fatty acids, and homeopathics such as Cralonin. Using these suggestions would probably allow you to stop administering medications yet also improve his health.

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Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet(AT)juno.com. Visit him at www.petcarenaturally.com and listen to his show, The Natural Vet, on Martha Stewart Radio, Sirius channel 112, Tuesday evenings.

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