The research article is a review into the use of milk thistle in farm and companion animals, specifically its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties that bring about various health benefits including improved liver function, oxidative stability, gut-health, and reduction of intestinal pathogens.

Introduction to Milk Thistle

• Milk thistle is a medicinal plant known for its bioactive compounds. These compounds have robust antioxidant and hepatoprotective qualities – both championed for their positive effects on liver health.
• While its use in treating human liver diseases is well-established, the article highlights that its use extends to animals as well.
• Typically, milk thistle is administered to animals either as silymarin extract, which is a feed additive, or as a feed ingredient in the form of seed or expeller/cake with the active components still present.

Milk Thistle in Farm Animals

• In farm animals, milk thistle is observed to improve animal performance and product quality, contributing towards better oxidative stability.
• It supports liver function throughout these animals’ productive life-cycle, bolsters gut health and morphology, and is known to diminish intestinal pathogens.

Milk Thistle in Pets

• Such benefits also translate to pets like cats and dogs. For these companion animals, milk thistle is mainly used to treat acute and chronic liver diseases.
• Additionally, it aids in detoxification processes and lends support to drug treatments, including chemotherapy.

Milk Thistle in Equine and Aquatic Animals

• The study further reports that milk thistle displays positive effects on equine athletes, facilitating a quicker return of cortisol to resting values post-exercise.
• In the realm of aquaculture, milk thistle proves useful in supporting animal health and performance.

Caveats

• Despite the overwhelmingly positive effects of milk thistle, the review points out areas of uncertainty in some studies. Specifically, it is unclear what form of milk thistle (silymarin extract, seed, expeller, etc.) was administered in some cases. The composition and dosage amounts are not always distinctly reported either.
• There were a few studies which noted no observable effects of milk thistle, but no problems or negative side effects were reported in connection with its administration.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, the overall evidence points to an improved or restored health parameter or superior animal performance as a result of using milk thistle.