Search Results for: fish oil

Please Support S. 1425: The Dietary Supplement Labeling Act of 2013.

I have written previously about the woefully inadequate regulation of dietary supplements in the U.S. under the Dietary Supplement Health an Education Act (DSHEA). Much has previously been written at the Science-Based Medicine Blog on the subject of the Dietary … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements, Law, Regulation, and Politics | 5 Comments

Brain Protection Blend: Can Nutritional Supplements Preserve or Improve Cognitive Function in Cats?

Age-associated Cognitive Dysfunction As our pets age, behavioral changes associated with aging of the brain often become evident. Cats and dogs may exhibit changes in sleep patterns, in interactions with other animals or with humans, problems with housetraining, and other … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | Leave a comment

Canine Health from LifeVantage–Protandim by Any Other Name & Still No Real Evidence

I was recently asked to comment on yet another “kitchen sink” mélange of herbs and supplements promoted w/ claims of broad benefits for dogs: Canine Health from LifeVantage. This proved easier than I had expected since the product is identical … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 70 Comments

New Review of Complemetary and Alternative Therapies for Arthritis

I’ve written extensively about alternative arthritis therapies, largely because that is one of the most common conditions for which complementary and alternative treatments are used. While a few are promising (such as fish oils), there is little good evidence to … Continue reading

Posted in General | 37 Comments

HopeScience Vet’s EFAC for Periodontal Disease and Arthritis

My attention was recently drawn to another dietary supplement product with pretty dramatic claims, this time for treating both oral disease (gingivitis and periodontal disease) and joint disease (osteoarthritis). As usual, the company web site and promotional materials are unequivocal … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 24 Comments

Herbs and Supplements for Pets: What Is a Vet to do?

I’ve written extensively about herbal remedies and dietary supplements both because these seem among the most likely to be useful of CAM therapies and also because they are widely used despite the lack of good evidence that they are safe … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 4 Comments

New Review Finds Little Evidence that Nutraceuticals Help Animals with Arthritis

I have written extensively about various supplements and herbal treatments for arthritis. For the most part the evidence seems weak for all of these products, though there are a couple of suggestive studies that might lead to demonstrably effective treatments … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 6 Comments

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

I hear a lot of claims from clients about the cause and treatment of their pets’ allergies that sound like myths or misunderstandings to me, and I expect that. Obviously, a huge part of my job is educating my clients. … Continue reading

Posted in Miscellaneous CAVM | 16 Comments

Vitamin K3 (menadione) in Pet Food: Is It Safe?

One of the most popular fallacies that arises in discussions of pet health is the appeal to nature or naturalistic fallacy. Simply put, this is the notion that what is labeled “natural” is inherently safe, beneficial, or otherwise good, and … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 55 Comments

UK National Health Service Report on Dietary Supplements

I just wanted to draw a little attention to an excellent report just published by the UK National Health Service on dietary supplements for humans. Supplements: Who Needs Them This is an excellent, readable summary of the evidence concerning the … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 2 Comments