Category Archives: Science-Based Veterinary Medicine

OncoK9 Liquid Biopsy: Should Your Dog have this Test?

It is really never a good sign when a miraculous new breakthrough in veterinary medicine is announced on the internet. That isn’t where true scientific breakthroughs show up. Legitimate science is a slow, detailed process where even brilliant, revolutionary ideas have … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 21 Comments

Gabapentin: Is it useful for pain control in dogs and cats?

Veterinary medicine suffers from a chronic lack of scientific evidence to identify safe and effective treatments. We are authorized to used medicines approved for human or animal use on an off-label basis in other species or conditions because the Food … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 20 Comments

Stem Cell Therapies in Veterinary Medicine: Where are We Now?

I’ve written about stem cell therapies numerous times over the years, though not for quite a while. My conclusions were always along the lines of “promising but unproven.” This is one of those perfectly plausible therapies that I expect will … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 5 Comments

Fecal Microbiome Testing- Anything to It?

New Ideas in ScienceOne of the most exciting aspects of science is the discovery and development of new ideas and insights that lead to new ways of understanding and manipulating the natural world. Theories that seem preposterous at first can … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 8 Comments

More Good News on CBD and Canine Arthritis

I have been trying to keep up with the clinical trial literature evaluating cannabis (primarily CBD) in veterinary patients. There is a lot of research happening right now, so it is challenging to keep current even on this limited subset … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 8 Comments

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for Pets- Does It Work?

A reader recently asked me to take another look at a product for producing and administering platelet rich plasma (PRP). This is a subject I haven’t covered since 2013, when I wrote about a small study looking at the use of PRP for arthritis … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 2 Comments

New Evidence about When to Neuter Your Dog

I have followed the literature on the risks and benefits of neutering for many years, from writing my own literature review in 2010 to critically analyzing individual research studies on the subject here. The evidence is always growing and changing, and the attitudes of … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 38 Comments

Evidence Update- Do PEMF Devices like the Assisi Loop Work?

IntroductionSince the discovery of electricity and magnetism, these mysterious forces have been thought to have healing powers. Many fanciful electrical devices were promoted in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as cures for diverse ailments or general health tonics.1 More serious … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 9 Comments

Neutered Dogs Live Longer than Intact Dogs

I’ve written extensively over the years about the risks and benefits of neutering. It’s a complicated subject that tends to draw a lot of passion even in the absence of robust scientific evidence. Variable such as sex, breed, age at neutering, … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 21 Comments

Should I Worry About Bacteria in My Pet’s Urine? Well, It Depends….

Veterinarians and pet owners are highly motivated to find discrete, fixable problems when pets are unwell. Owners want the reassurance and sense of control that comes with knowing what the problem is and taking action. Vets want to help our … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 3 Comments