Love Your Liver
Updated: Mar 26, 2021
Can you believe spring is here? Love this time of year. Birds are singing, flower and trees are starting to have blossoms, everything starts to look green, everyone seems more active but something we don’t think of when it comes to spring is supporting the liver.
The liver is an amazing organ that needs to be loved. It is the largest organ and has as many as 500 functions. It is an organ that filters out the bad stuff and keeps our canines and felines from overloading with toxins.
It helps the body detox from environmental toxins, eliminates prescription drugs, chemicals and other harmful elements from our blood. It removes metabolic waste produced from the metabolism of proteins, it regulates and stores glycogen, minerals and vitamins, it makes hormones and proteins. It’s a heavy hitter. If over time, the liver is exposed to too many viruses, bacteria and toxins the cells of the liver can start to get damaged and cause negative symptoms in the body. Nausea, diarrhea, throwing up, lack of appetite, elevated liver enzymes may be a sign that the liver isn’t functioning properly. Toxins can add up, they come from chemicals in foods, prescription drugs, chemicals sprayed on lawns etc.
Liver cells can regenerate, oh yes and this is a good thing. Our part is to help support our canine and feline’s liver so it can do the job it’s meant to do. Supporting it with herbs that are designed in nature to protect and support the liver is one way, feeding dark leafy green veggies is another.
Some of these herbs are Milk Thistle, Dandelions, Burdock and many more. These are just some of the top three commonly used.
Milk Thistle is the most common herb talked about to support the liver. It can regenerate and strengthen liver cells. It has been proven to be a very effective herb for the health of the liver and can reverse damage. Milk thistle can be given with food and can be used over time. It comes in capsules or liquid.
Dandelion is an herb you see commonly combined with Milk thistle to support the liver. It is considered a diuretic aid and a blood cleansing herb that supports the liver in removing toxins.
Burdock is a diuretic and is an effective detoxifying herb. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is often found in combination with other herbs to support the liver.
Feeding dark leafy greens are a way to add food to support a healthy body and support the detoxification process. Don’t want to think about what greens to feed. Green JuJu has a product that would benefit the efforts to support the liver and help detoxify the body. They have two formulas Just Greens and Bailey. Rotate the formulas for max benefit. Most dogs love them this addition to their diet.
Spring and Fall are good times to think about supporting your dog and cat’s liver. Start off slow and gradually bring supplements and or dark leafy greens to a maintenance dose. Do this for up to 2 months in the spring then again next fall before everyone honkers down for the winter. You can actually support the liver at any time, especially if there is an immediate need maybe before and after vaccines, after a surgery, or if they have gotten into something harmful.
I write this basic article as a store owner of The Dog’s Meow. I am not a licensed Veterinarian and give recommendations based on my experience. These suggestions are not a cure for any disease and are to be used as support material.
