Mad Barn’s Milk Thistle is a dried, powdered form of the seed of the Silybum marianum plant. This herb can be added to equine diets to support healthy liver function and provide antioxidants.
Milk Thistle, also known as St. Mary’s Thistle, is a Mediterranean plant that contains various active compounds collectively called silymarin which include silybin. The main site of action of milk thistle is the liver and it has been well-researched for its effects on liver disease in humans. [1]
Silymarin is an effective antioxidant that is thought to support the liver in times of injury related to toxins, fat accumulation, and iron overload.
Milk thistle helps protect the liver from toxins in the environment, like those found in poisonous mushrooms, ragwort or red maple trees. If these are prevalent in your area, consider adding milk thistle to your horse’s diet.
Horses and ponies with hyperlipemia may have excess fat in the liver. Milk thistle supplementation may help to support their liver and its normal function. In humans, silymarin has been shown to protect against the negative effects of fat accumulation in the liver. [2]
Milk thistle could provide nutritional support for horses with laminitis. In one study, tissue extracted from horse hooves was challenged with toxins and treated with milk thistle or silymarin. The protocol was able to neutralize the toxin and improve the structural integrity of the tissue. [3] Further research is needed to verify these effects in horses consuming oral milk thistle supplements.
Silymarin also acts as an iron chelator, meaning it binds iron molecules and may help reduce serum ferritin levels and iron stores in tissues. [4] In humans that are genetically prone to iron overload, this herb has been shown to decrease iron absorption.
To include Mad Barn’s milk thistle in your horse’s diet, we suggest a dosage of 4 grams per 500 kg (1100 lb) of bodyweight per day. You may want to start feeding a smaller amount and increase gradually over several weeks to minimize avoidance. It can be provided as dried powder added directly to the feed or brewed into a tea that is poured over the feed.
Milk Thistle is generally well tolerated in horses. It has not been studied in breeding or pregnant horses so its safety in these animals can not be assured.
In humans it has been shown to cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upsets in a minority of people. In healthy horses, concentrated milk thistle extract in the form of silibinin phospholipid did not cause adverse effects when given at a dose of up to 52 mg per kg of bodyweight (26 grams for a 500 kg horse) for one week on four separate occasions. [5]
You should always consult a qualified nutritionist before altering your feed program. Submit your horse’s diet for analysis online and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to provide a complementary review.
Consult with a nutritionist or veterinarian prior to use.
Top dress once daily on feed or ration.
Body Weight
Scoops
Dose
< 200 kg
½ scoop
2 g
200 – 500 kg
1 scoop
4 g
> 500 kg
1 ½ scoops
6 g
1 scoop = 9 cc = 4 grams
Body Weight
Scoops
Dose
< 440 lb
½ scoop
2 g
440 – 1100 lb
1 scoop
4 g
> 1100 lb
1 ½ scoops
6 g
1 scoop = 9 cc = 4 grams
Warning / Caution:
A scale should be used with all individual ingredients to ensure accurate dosing.
For equine use only. Not for use in horses intended for food.
Keep out of reach of children.
FEEDING DIRECTIONS:
Ingredient
Serving Size
Milk Thistle
4.5 g / day per 500 kg (1100 lb) body weight
Ingredients: Milk Thistle Seed Ground.
Recommended Use: Supports liver function.
Packaged by: Mad Barn Inc., Petersburg, ON, N0B 2H0, Canada.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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* Recommended serving size of 0.8 grams per 100 kg (220 lb) of body weight
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Disclaimer: Recommended feeding rate varies depending on your horse's condition and current diet. Consult with a nutritionist to determine the appropriate inclusion rate for your horse.
Customer Questions About This Product
What is an appropriate duration for Milk Thistle? Have seen a variety of timelines on-line, often 30-45days or longer, but few with objective evidence (For example, a teenaged horse who was medicated(per veterinarians' orders) for a couple of conditions in the past year o so and is now off-medication and doing well but it was quite a medication year. and yes, at least a couple of the medications are metabolized by the liver.)
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QWhat is an appropriate duration for Milk Thistle? Have seen a variety of timelines on-line, often......
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AHi Susan. This is an excellent question. Aside from knowing that silymarin (the active compound in milk thistle) has antioxidant properties that benefit the liver, we have limited case studies or scientific evidence to guide recommendations on how long the product should be fed for certain conditions. The product is safe to be fed indefinitely, but we recommend consulting with your vet to determine an appropriate duration for your horse.
My equine vet has put my mare on whole milk thistle seeds to help detox her liver. Is there a benefit to using the powder vs the whole seed?
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QMy equine vet has put my mare on whole milk thistle seeds to help detox her liver. Is there a ben......
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AOur milk thistle powder is simply ground up whole seeds! In general, grinding up seeds makes nutrients more available for digestion.
Could I give my dog this?
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QCould I give my dog this?
AHi Laura! We would recommend asking your vet what herbal supplements are suitable for dog.
I was feeding this in the fall because of the abundance of oak leaves and acorns that my donkeys found delicious! Now that we have passed the season where both leaves and acorns are no longer a problem, should I stop the milk thistle and then resume again in the fall.
1 vote
QI was feeding this in the fall because of the abundance of oak leaves and acorns that my donkeys ......
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AThanks for reaching out! More often oak and acorn ingestion damages the kidneys and causes colic, but toxic metabolites can also negatively impact the liver. You're certainly welcome to use the milk thistle during targeted times of the year when their exposure is highest. But you likely don't need to feed it year-round. If at all possible, it would be best to remove access to the oak trees during the Fall when they're dropping leaves and acorns. I hope that this helps!
Can Milk Thistle be given with MSM for help a geriatric horse with arthritis?
1 vote
QCan Milk Thistle be given with MSM for help a geriatric horse with arthritis?
AAbsolutely, combining Milk Thistle and MSM can be beneficial for a geriatric horse dealing with arthritis. Milk Thistle is known for its liver-supportive properties, which can be particularly helpful for older horses on long-term medications or supplements. Additionally, there is emerging evidence suggesting that Milk Thistle can reduce inflammation and protect cartilage in osteoarthritic cells, making it even more valuable in managing arthritis. On the other hand, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is widely used to support joint health. It acts as a sulfur donor, aiding in the maintenance of joint tissues, and it also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which can help alleviate discomfort associated with arthritis. By combining Milk Thistle and MSM, you'd be providing comprehensive support for your horse's joints.
Should this be given year round?
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QShould this be given year round?
AMilk Thistle can be fed year-round.
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Mad Barn’s Milk Thistle is a dried, powdered form of the seed of the Silybum marianum plant. This herb can be added to equine diets to support healthy liver function and provide antioxidants.
