Veterinary evidence handbook · Hemangiosarcoma & dosing
Yunnan Baiyao Capsules for Dogs with Hemangiosarcoma
Many families arrive here after a veterinarian mentions Yunnan Baiyao (Jiaonang) for a dog with hemangiosarcoma or another serious bleeding risk. This handbook compares what published veterinary studies actually measured, then shows how owners usually give the 0.25 g capsule. It is not a store prescription and not a claim that capsules cure cancer.
Handbook desk: Priya Nair · Handbook & Evidence Editor
Key takeaways
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Vet-directed only This handbook is educational. Dose and whether to use Jiaonang stay with the attending veterinarian.
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Open the capsule for small dogs Most small dogs take the 0.25 g powder mixed into wet food — not the whole shell.
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Not a published cancer cure Hemangiosarcoma papers do not show Jiaonang reverses tumours. Clinic first for collapse or pale gums.
- Hemangiosarcoma searchers: published papers do not show Jiaonang as a cure or a proven survival extender — see the evidence tables below.
- Confirm the green Jiaonang carton with your veterinarian before you open a box.
- Small dogs: open the capsule and mix the powder into a little wet food. Larger dogs can take the intact capsule in a treat.
- Leave the red insurance pill in the foil unless the veterinarian asks for it in an acute bleed.
- Pale gums, collapse, or a swollen belly → clinic first. Capsules do not replace emergency care.
Hemangiosarcoma: what veterinary studies compared
Owner forums often treat Yunnan Baiyao as “the HSA herb.” Clinicians are more precise. The tables below summarise peer-reviewed and clinical work most often cited for canine hemangiosarcoma biology, heart-base bleeding, and clotting — so you can discuss expectations with the attending veterinarian instead of relying on anecdote alone.
- Common hope “Capsules will cure hemangiosarcoma or stop every bleed.”
- What papers measured Survival discussions, surgery blood loss, clotting labs — mixed or limited.
- Honest takeaway Supportive / extra-label talk only — not a substitute for oncology or emergency care.
- Owner action Follow the veterinarian’s plan. Pale gums, collapse, swollen belly → clinic now.
Evidence matrix · peer-reviewed & clinical
| Study | Design | Subjects | Primary endpoint | Finding | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wirth et al., 2016 [1] | In vitro | Canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines | Apoptosis / cell viability | Yunnan Baiyao pushed HSA cells toward apoptosis in culture. | Biology signal only |
| Murphy et al., 2017 [2] | Retrospective clinical | Dogs with right atrial masses + pericardial effusion | Survival vs pericardiocentesis alone | YB + ε-aminocaproic acid: no significant survival benefit; relatively safe in that cohort. | No survival gain shown |
| Tansey et al., 2018 [3] | Prospective | Apparently healthy dogs | Thromboelastography (TEG) | 1 capsule twice daily × 7 days: stronger clot measures on TEG; one mild diarrhea. | Coagulation signal |
| Lee et al., 2017 [4] | Controlled | Beagle dogs | TEG + buccal mucosal bleeding time | No significant coagulation effect versus placebo at the dose studied. | Null at studied dose |
| Beagle TEG study, 2017–18 [5] | Controlled | Healthy beagles | Kaolin-activated TEG parameters | No significant improvement in hemostatic parameters at the dose studied. | Null at studied dose |
| Egger et al., 2016 [6] | Crossover | Healthy dogs | Platelets, PT/aPTT, BMBT, TEG | Non-significant coag changes; no hypercoagulability at 100 mg/kg. | No hypercoagulability shown |
Owner expectation vs published evidence
| What families often hope | What published evidence currently supports |
|---|---|
| Cures hemangiosarcoma or shrinks the tumour | No published clinical trial shows tumour regression or cure in pet dogs. Laboratory work on HSA cell lines is not the same as treating a living dog. |
| Stops internal bleeding so the dog never needs emergency care | Capsules are discussed as a possible adjunct hemostatic support. Collapse, pale gums, or a swollen belly still need a clinic first — not a wait-and-see capsule trial at home. |
| Extends survival after a heart-base bleed / pericardial effusion | Murphy et al. (2017): Yunnan Baiyao plus aminocaproic acid did not significantly extend survival versus pericardiocentesis alone in dogs with right atrial masses. |
| Always strengthens clotting, so more is safer | Healthy-dog coagulation studies disagree by dose and method (some TEG signals; other beagle work found no significant change). Follow the prescribing veterinarian’s count. |
| Safe because it is “natural / herbal” | Extra-label in dogs; not an FDA-approved canine oncology drug. Possible GI upset; VIN notes caution when liver enzymes are a concern. |
Summary for clinicians and owners: Yunnan Baiyao is extra-label in dogs. Cell-line and clotting data do not equal oncology efficacy. Use only under veterinary direction alongside staging, surgery, chemo, or emergency care when indicated.
A veterinarian may still ask you to keep authentic Jiaonang on hand as part of a wider plan (surgery, chemotherapy, monitoring, or hospice support). That clinical judgment is not the same as a guaranteed oncology result from a retail page.
Hemostasis and surgery: can capsules reduce bleeding?
Families often ask whether Yunnan Baiyao Capsules “stop bleeding” and whether giving them before or after an operation cuts blood loss. The honest answer is: some small veterinary studies report less measured bleeding when capsules are given before specific procedures; clotting lab tests in healthy dogs are mixed; and nothing replaces surgical technique or emergency care. The tables below compare those endpoints side by side.
Hemostasis labs · healthy animals
| Study | Main tests | Regimen studied | Finding | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tansey et al., 2018 [3] | Thromboelastography (TEG) | 1 capsule BID × 7 days | Stronger clot measures on TEG in apparently healthy dogs; one mild diarrhea. | Lab clotting signal |
| Lee et al., 2017 [4] | TEG + buccal mucosal bleeding time | 1,000 mg q12h × 5 doses (beagles) | No significant difference versus placebo on TEG or BMBT at that regimen. | Null on those tests |
| Beagle TEG study [5] | Kaolin-activated TEG | Studied oral regimen in healthy beagles | No significant improvement in hemostatic parameters versus control. | Null on those tests |
| Egger et al., 2016 [6] | Platelets, PT/aPTT, BMBT, TEG | 100 mg/kg (crossover) | No statistically significant coag change; no hypercoagulability shown. | No hypercoagulability |
| Ness et al., 2017 (horses) [16] | Platelet, coag, fibrinolysis, clot strength | 15 mg/kg paste × 3 days | No significant laboratory hemostasis effect in healthy horses. | Null in that species/dose |
Surgery & procedures · measured blood loss
| Study | Setting | Timing | Endpoint | Finding | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liu & Ma, 2020 [13] | Dogs · elective spay/neuter (n≈42) | Single oral dose 100 mg/kg, 2–4 h before surgery | Weight-normalized intraoperative blood loss (gauze) | Overall WNBL median ~33% lower with YB; spay subgroup ~4× lower after outlier removal (p=0.026). No adverse effects reported in that cohort. | Supports less surgical blood loss* |
| Nasal biopsy RCT (AJTCVM) [14] | Dogs · nasal biopsy (n=19) | Oral Yunnan Baiyao vs lactose before the procedure | Time to stop bleeding; blood loss % body weight; coag panel / TEG | Bleeding stopped sooner with YB (≈300 vs 367 sec). Blood-loss %BW trend lower but not statistically significant. Routine coag/TEG unchanged. | Shorter bleeding time |
| Tang et al., 2009 [15] | People · bimaxillary orthognathic surgery | Preoperative oral Yunnan Baiyao capsules vs placebo | Intraoperative blood loss | Double-blind RCT: less intraoperative blood loss with preoperative capsules under hospital anesthesia care. | Human surgical signal |
| Murphy et al., 2017 [2] | Dogs · right atrial mass + pericardial effusion | YB + ε-aminocaproic acid with standard care | Survival vs pericardiocentesis alone | No significant survival benefit. Relatively safe in that retrospective cohort — not an elective-surgery blood-loss trial. | Not a surgery-loss study |
*Liu & Ma used a high single preoperative dose (100 mg/kg) under blinded surgical conditions. Do not copy that milligram figure from a retail page — the attending veterinarian sets the product, dose, and timing.
Before / after surgery — plain answers
| Question | Evidence-based answer |
|---|---|
| Can capsules before surgery reduce bleeding? | Some small canine RCTs report less measured blood loss (spay) or a shorter bleed time (nasal biopsy) after preoperative oral Yunnan Baiyao. That is adjunct evidence for specific procedures — not a guarantee for every surgery. |
| Should I give capsules after surgery on my own? | Published dog trials emphasise preoperative timing more than a home “aftercare” schedule. Postoperative dosing belongs to the surgeon’s written plan, including when to restart other medicines. |
| If lab clotting tests look normal, does that mean it will not help in surgery? | Several healthy-dog studies found little change on PT/aPTT/TEG, while procedure studies still reported less blood loss or shorter bleeding. Lab tests and surgical sponge weights are different endpoints. |
| Can I skip transfusion or careful surgical technique? | No. Yunnan Baiyao is not a substitute for ligation, packing, pressure, fluids, or transfusion when the clinic decides those are needed. |
| Is human surgical data the same as dog surgery? | Human RCTs (for example orthognathic surgery) support less intraoperative blood loss under hospital protocols. Dogs are extra-label; copy a human schedule only if your veterinarian writes that plan. |
Bottom line: Yunnan Baiyao may reduce measured bleeding in some studied procedures when given before the event under veterinary control. It does not replace surgical hemostasis, and post-op use must follow the clinic’s written instructions.
If your clinic wants Jiaonang around a procedure, ask them to write the product (green-box Jiaonang), the capsule count, and the exact pre-op / post-op timing. Do not invent a milligram-per-kilogram schedule from a web table.
How to give Yunnan Baiyao Capsules to a dog
Each capsule holds 0.25 g of the classic powder. Keep the carton sealed until the veterinarian has confirmed this is the Jiaonang they meant. Give at the interval they set. Do not double a missed dose unless they say to.
Larger dogs that take pills may swallow the intact capsule in a treat — still only as the vet directed.
- Prepare a tiny amount of food. A teaspoon of wet food, a pill pocket, or a soft treat is enough. Using a whole meal makes it hard to see whether the powder was eaten.
- Open the capsule for small dogs. Twist the shell and tap the yellow-brown powder onto the food. Stir so it does not sit as a bitter clump on top.
- Offer the intact capsule to dogs that take pills. Hide it in a treat, then follow with a little water or a second treat. Ask the clinic to demonstrate if you have never pilled a dog.[11][12]
- Watch the bowl. If powder is left behind, the dog did not get the amount you intended. Do not chase it with a second full capsule unless the veterinarian has told you how to handle a spit-out dose.
Do not mix Jiaonang with wine, spirits, or any alcohol. Traditional “taken with wine” language on the human insert does not apply to dogs. If the dog is on other medicines — especially drugs that affect clotting or the liver — the veterinarian needs that list before the first capsule.[8]
Video: general technique for giving a dog a pill
There is no official Yunnan Baiyao “how to dose a dog” film from the manufacturer. The clip below is from PDSA, a UK veterinary charity, and shows a calm way to pill a dog when the tablet cannot go in food. For Jiaonang, most small dogs do better with the powder-in-food method above. Use the video only if your veterinarian wants the capsule swallowed whole.[11]
If the player does not load, watch on YouTube.
The American Kennel Club also publishes written tips (pill pockets, a second person, asking the vet tech to show you once).[12] If the dog panics, stop and call the clinic rather than forcing the mouth open.
Weight-band reference veterinarians often discuss
Clinics commonly talk in capsule counts by body weight. The table is a conversation starter for authentic 0.25 g Jiaonang. If your veterinarian gave a different number, use theirs — weight, other medicines, and the reason for use all change the picture.
| Dog weight | Capsules often discussed | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 1 capsule | Twice daily |
| 10–30 lb (4.5–13.6 kg) | 1 capsule | Three times daily |
| 30–60 lb (13.6–27 kg) | 2 capsules | Twice daily |
| Over 60 lb (27 kg) | 2 capsules | Three times daily |
These bands are not a prescription from Yunnan Baiyao Store. Extra-label canine use is directed by the attending veterinarian.[7][9]
The red insurance pill
Every genuine box includes one small red pill in the centre of the foil, separate from the yellow-brown capsules. The human insert reserves it for severe traumatic injury. Routine capsule schedules for dogs do not use it.
Give the insurance pill only if that veterinarian has told you to during an acute, severe bleed. Do not crush it into food as a substitute for ordinary capsules. A longer explanation is in the insurance pill article.
When to go to a clinic first
Capsules do not replace oxygen, fluids, pericardiocentesis, surgery, or a transfusion. Seek emergency care immediately if you see:
- Pale or white gums, sudden weakness, or collapse
- A rapidly swollen belly, laboured breathing, or unproductive retching
- Active bleeding that does not slow, including nosebleeds that soak towels
- Black stools, vomiting blood, or a known bleeding tumour with a sudden change
Keep the remaining sealed boxes for the veterinarian to inspect. Bring the carton so they can confirm it is Jiaonang.
Study notes in plain language
The evidence tables above are the short clinical view. The bullets below restate the same papers in owner language. Read both with your veterinarian; this is not a journal club substitute.
- Cell lines, not pets. Wirth and colleagues found that Yunnan Baiyao could push canine hemangiosarcoma cells toward apoptosis in a laboratory dish. That is useful biology. It is not evidence that capsules shrink tumours in a living dog.[1]
- Heart-base masses. Murphy and colleagues looked at dogs with right atrial masses and pericardial effusion. Adding Yunnan Baiyao and aminocaproic acid did not significantly extend survival versus pericardiocentesis alone. The combination appeared relatively safe in that retrospective group.[2]
- Healthy dogs, mixed clotting data. Tansey’s prospective work reported stronger clot measurements on thromboelastography after 1 capsule twice daily for a week, with one case of mild diarrhea.[3] Separate beagle studies at other doses found no significant coagulation benefit versus placebo.[4][5] Egger’s crossover study in healthy dogs also did not show hypercoagulability.[6]
- Clinician reviews. MSPCA-Angell critical-care notes and VIN’s owner monograph describe extra-label adjunct use, possible digestive upset, and caution when liver enzymes are a concern. They do not present Jiaonang as a stand-alone treatment.[7][8]
Bottom line for families: a veterinarian may still ask you to keep authentic capsules on hand as part of a wider plan. That is not the same as a proven cure, and it is not a reason to delay a clinic visit.
Clinics, papers, and owner forums
Use clinic and journal links for decisions. Use forums only as anecdotal context. A stranger on the internet cannot see your dog’s gums, ultrasound, or drug list.
Clinic education
VCA Know Your Pet
Plain-language Yunnan Baiyao page written for owners. Use it to prepare questions for your own veterinarian.
VIN for owners
Veterinary Partner
Owner monograph covering extra-label use, possible stomach upset, and liver-enzyme caution.
Specialist hospital
MSPCA-Angell clinician review
Megan Whelan, DVM, DACVECC, reviews what the published dog studies do and do not show.
Research index
PubMed search: Yunnan Baiyao dogs
Start here if you want the primary papers, not blog summaries. Read abstracts with your veterinarian.
Forum · anecdote
Reddit r/AskVet
Licensed veterinarians sometimes answer general questions. It is not your dog’s medical record. Do not crowdsource a dose.
Owner community
Golden Retriever hemangiosarcoma threads
Breed forums discuss HSA a lot. Treat posts as experience reports, not oncology advice.
Breed health
Doberman Pinscher Club of America
Dobermans are over-represented in heart-base masses. Use club health pages to find specialists, not a capsule schedule.
Oncology education
Dog Cancer (veterinary oncology)
Independent education on canine cancers, including hemangiosarcoma. Capsules are not presented here as a cure.
FAQ: Yunnan Baiyao Capsules for dogs
What are Yunnan Baiyao Capsules (Jiaonang)?
Jiaonang is the capsule form of the traditional Yunnan Baiyao formula in the green carton from Yunnan Baiyao Group. Each box holds 16 capsules of 0.25 g plus one red insurance pill in the foil. When veterinarians talk about “Yunnan Baiyao” for dogs, they almost always mean this sealed green-box presentation.
Can I give Yunnan Baiyao Capsules to my dog without a veterinarian?
No. Jiaonang is extra-label in dogs and is not FDA-approved as a canine drug. Ask the attending veterinarian before the first capsule, and use their count if it differs from any table on this page.
How do I give Yunnan Baiyao Capsules to a small dog?
Small dogs rarely swallow the whole 0.25 g shell. Twist the capsule open and stir the yellow-brown powder into a teaspoon of wet food or a pill pocket. Watch that the dog finishes the food so the dose is not left in the bowl. Do not mix with wine or alcohol.
What pack sizes should dog owners order?
This shop sells Jiaonang in 3-box, 5-box and 10-box packs (48, 80 or 160 capsules, plus one insurance pill per box). Pick the size your veterinarian asked you to keep on hand. Powder, spray and plaster are separate presentations — not substitutes for capsules.
How do I choose a warehouse when my dog needs capsules quickly?
Match the depot to the delivery address: USA, UK, Australia, France/EU, or China for everywhere else. Open the capsule shop, choose capsules, then the warehouse. If a depot is out of stock for your pack size, pick another with stock. The shipping page explains carriers and typical transit windows.
Should I give my dog the red insurance pill?
Leave the red pill in the centre of the foil unless the veterinarian specifically asks for it during an acute, severe bleed. It is not part of the everyday capsule schedule. Longer detail: insurance pill article.
Does Yunnan Baiyao cure hemangiosarcoma in dogs?
No. Laboratory work has shown effects on canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines in a dish, but that is not the same as treating cancer in a living dog. Published clinical studies of bleeding heart-base masses did not show a survival benefit versus standard care alone. Capsules are not a substitute for oncology, surgery, or emergency care. See the evidence tables above.
Can Yunnan Baiyao reduce bleeding if given before surgery?
Some small canine studies report less measured intraoperative blood loss (elective spay) or a shorter time to stop bleeding (nasal biopsy) after preoperative oral Yunnan Baiyao. That is adjunct evidence for those settings — not a guarantee for every procedure, and not a reason to skip surgical technique or transfusion when the clinic needs them.
Should I give capsules after surgery to stop bleeding?
Do not invent a post-op schedule from a website. Published dog trials emphasise preoperative timing more than home aftercare. Follow the surgeon’s written plan for product, capsule count, and timing.
What if my dog’s gums turn pale?
Pale gums, collapse, weakness, a swollen belly, or active bleeding are emergency signs. Go to a veterinary clinic first. Do not wait at home to see whether a capsule will settle the problem.
Can my dog’s clinic order Jiaonang at volume pricing?
Yes. Practices can request a written volume quote with a work email on the veterinary partners page, or tick the clinic box at checkout. Extra-label animal use still stays with the attending veterinarian. Listed shop prices are retail until a quote is agreed.
Where can I buy authentic Jiaonang quickly?
This store ships sealed green Yunnan Baiyao Capsules boxes from USA, UK, Australia, France, and China warehouses. Choose the depot closest to the delivery address so tracking stays on a familiar postal network — start at the capsule shop.
References
- Wirth KA, Kow K, Salute ME, Bacon NJ, Milner RJ. In vitro effects of Yunnan Baiyao on canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines. Vet Comp Oncol. 2016;14(3):281–294. Cell-culture study. Not a clinical trial in pet dogs.
- Murphy LA, Panek CM, Bianco D, Nakamura RK. Use of Yunnan Baiyao and epsilon aminocaproic acid in dogs with right atrial masses and pericardial effusion. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2017;27(2):215–220. Retrospective clinical study. No significant survival benefit versus pericardiocentesis alone; appeared relatively safe in that cohort.
- Tansey C, et al. A prospective evaluation of oral Yunnan Baiyao therapy on thromboelastographic parameters in apparently healthy dogs. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2018. Healthy dogs, 1 capsule twice daily for 7 days: increased clot strength on TEG; one dog had mild diarrhea.
- Lee A, Boysen SR, et al. Effects of oral Yunnan Baiyao on coagulation in beagle dogs (TEG and buccal mucosal bleeding time). Can J Vet Res. 2017. PMC5220596. No significant coagulation effect at the studied dose versus placebo.
- Effects of Yunnan Baiyao on blood coagulation parameters in beagles measured using kaolin-activated thromboelastography. PMC6137688. Healthy beagles: no significant improvement in hemostatic parameters at the dose studied.
- Egger CM, et al. The effect of Yunnan Baiyao on platelet activation, BMBT, PT, aPTT, and TEG in healthy dogs. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med. 2016. Healthy dogs; non-significant coagulation changes and no hypercoagulability at 100 mg/kg.
- Whelan M. Yunnan Baiyao, to use or not to use? MSPCA-Angell clinical article. Board-certified emergency/critical-care veterinarian summarizing the mixed evidence for clinicians.
- Veterinary Partner (VIN). Yunnan Baiyao — owner-facing monograph. Notes extra-label status, possible GI effects, and caution in dogs with liver disease.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Yunnan Baiyao. Clinic education page. Follow the prescribing veterinarian, not a store table.
- PetMD. Yunnan Baiyao for dogs. Veterinary editorial overview for pet owners.
- PDSA. How to give your dog a pill. General pilling technique from a UK veterinary charity. Not Yunnan Baiyao-specific.
- American Kennel Club. How to give a dog a pill: 6 tips. Owner technique: pill pockets, treats, and asking the clinic for a demonstration.
- Liu J, Ma A. A randomized, blinded, controlled study on preoperative oral Yunnan Baiyao and blood loss in dogs undergoing elective spay/neuter. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med. 2020;15(2):7–16. Single high dose (100 mg/kg) 2–4 hours before surgery. Weight-normalized blood loss fell; spay subgroup significant after outlier removal. Not a universal surgery protocol.
- Oral Yunnan Baiyao and periprocedural hemorrhage in dogs undergoing nasal biopsy: randomized, controlled, blinded study. Am J Trad Chin Vet Med. Time to stop bleeding shorter with Yunnan Baiyao; blood-loss percentage trend did not reach significance; routine coag tests unchanged.
- Tang ZL, et al. Effects of preoperative Yunnan Baiyao capsules on intraoperative blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2009. Human RCT: less intraoperative blood loss versus placebo under hospital protocol. Not a veterinary or home-surgery license.
- Ness SL, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled study of Yunnan Baiyao on hemostasis in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2017;78(8):969–976. Healthy horses, paste at 15 mg/kg for three days: no significant laboratory hemostasis effect. Species and presentation differ from Jiaonang capsules.
Shop authentic Yunnan Baiyao Capsules
Same green Jiaonang boxes from five warehouses. Pick the depot closest to the dog’s home so the pack arrives on a local carrier.