Not only does the liver produce bile, cholesterol and certain proteins like albumin, clotting factors, immune factors and special proteins (lipoproteins) that carry fats throughout the body but it also stores iron, blood and glucose in the form of glycogen. Also, the liver regulates the byproduct of protein breakdown (ammonia) by converting it into a safer product (urea) that can easily be passed in the urine.
Last but not least, the liver is a sophisticated filter for microorganisms, pet medications and toxins. All foreign substances have to go through the hepatocytes first. Bearing all of this in mind, it’s no wonder the liver is considered to be the biochemical lab of humans, dogs and every other vertebrate on the planet.
Staying on Top of Liver Health with Denamarin Tablets for Dogs
Why is liver support important for a dog’s health? Unfortunately, there are some things that an enclosed dog run or your undivided attention can’t protect them from. As the chief lab of a mammal’s body, the liver is often under attack and you’ll need to have its back with liver supplements like Denamarin tablets for dogs and a special diet.
For example, inflammation of the liver tissue i.e. hepatitis is always followed or preceded by damage of the liver’s cells. Thus, they would not be able to perform their primary detoxifying role. There’s infectious canine hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Acute hepatitis is usually caused by intoxications while chronic hepatitis is mostly classified as idiopathic. All of these conditions would benefit from Denamarin liver support.
Cholangiohepatitis is an extension of that inflammation to include the intrahepatic bile ducts or it’s caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Liver supplements are often used adjunctively to standard therapy for patients with cholangiohepatitis.
Another situation where liver support is crucial is paracetamol poisoning. In fact, one of the paracetamol’s metabolites not only diminishes levels of glutathione (an antioxidant molecule) but also damages liver cells directly. Furthermore, hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver disease happens due to triglyceride accumulation in the liver. This, in turn, causes dysfunction of the liver cells.
You also might want to include Denamarin in your dog’s diet if it has a corticosteroid therapy prescribed. Corticosteroids have a major impact on the liver, particularly when given for a long time and in high doses.
Other acute or chronic liver conditions that require liver support are hepatotoxins and neoplasia. Metastatic cancer is more common than primary tumours i.e. those that originate in the liver and they include lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer etc. Besides the most common signs like a decreased appetite, lethargy, fever, excessive urination and thirst, vomiting, weight loss, jaundice, a common concern is hepatic encephalopathy and that’s where liver support comes in.
What Does Denamarin Do for My Dog?
Just as protein powders stock you up with building blocks for your muscles, Denamarin supplements the liver’s antioxidant compounds. In fact, the Denamarin tablets for dogs will get you 2 natural liver protectors, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Silybin.
The detoxifying processes in your dog’s liver are not possible without a group of chemical compounds that are usually donors of chemical groups to other compounds and thus activate enzymes. Sometimes, the stores of these compounds can be depleted. They’re most certainly under attack when any of the abovementioned liver conditions develop in your dog.
For example, the active ingredient in Denamarin tablets for dogs, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is one of those group donors. It acts through supplying glutathione with sulphate groups, a crucial detoxifier and antioxidant that scavenges free radicals. The liver synthesizes the majority of SAMe in the body, hence, when it’s under attack, your dog’s main protector from oxidative stress will be relinquished.
In addition to SAMe, Denamarin tablets for dogs also contain Silybin. This natural compound comes from the extracts of milk thistle and has been used by humans for centuries due to its antioxidant and anticancer effects. Silybin has been found to relieve chemotherapy symptoms and act as a liver protectant. Furthermore, the antifibrotic, antioxidant and metabolic effects of silybin have been proven by experimental studies.
In fact, one study evaluated canine liver cells (hepatocytes) pre-treated with the combination of S-adenosylmethionine and silybin, like the one found in Denamarin tablets for dogs. The study resulted in finding 2 separate pathways through which these compounds act, blindsiding liver damage from both angles.
It must be why the SAMe and Silybin combination is so effective as it reduced inflammation and oxidative stress significantly. Primarily, it was the production of inflammatory factors like cytokines, interleukins and prostaglandins that was toned down. Next, the concentrations of the antioxidant MVP glutathione were increased.
Does Denamarin Have Side Effects?
Mild side effects like gastrointestinal upset, itching and headache have been reported in primates on rare occasions, no side effects have ever been noted in dogs or cats so far. Moreover, there are no known or contraindications or unwanted drug interactions to the use of silybin/silymarin in animals.
In fact, silybin in doses < 10 g/d hasn’t caused notable interactions with other drugs or significant side effects. It should be noted that the specific silybin that’s used in Denamarin chewable tablets has higher bioavailability in dogs and cats compared to the standardised over-the-counter milk thistle, meaning that it reaches higher concentrations in their bloodstream and consequently, bigger effects.
You should always buy Denamarin from a tustworthy supplier. All prescription pet medication should be registered with the Australian Government and sourced from Australian veterinary wholesalers and Australian registered pharmacists.