Monthly Archives: October 2011

Guidelines for Minimizing Commercial Influence in Veterinary Medicine

Posted on October 30, 2011 by skeptvet

The potential bias introduced into research, medical education, and individual clinician judgment by relationships with commercial entities is a perennial and serious issue in medicine, including the veterinary field. While critics of mainstream veterinary medicine frequently raise this issue when … Continue reading →

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 17 Comments

Dry Pet Food and Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats

Posted on October 17, 2011 by skeptvet

One of the most common diseases in cats and dogs that I see in practice is dental disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, by three years of age 70-80% of dogs and cats will have signs of oral … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition | 20 Comments

Protandim–Snake Oil Marketing at its Best (or Worst)

Posted on October 11, 2011 by skeptvet

There are a seemingly infinite number of herbal remedies and dietary supplements marketed for pets, thanks largely to the inadequate regulation of such products and the inability of the government to enforce what rules there are. This creates an open … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 63 Comments

Less is More–A reminder of why irrational dietary supplement use is a bad idea

Posted on October 10, 2011 by skeptvet

The dietary supplement industry in the United States is enormous, profitable, and growing. There is a widespread belief that nutritional supplements are inherently safe and beneficial and that everyone can benefit from taking them regardless of health status or dietary … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements, Nutrition | 2 Comments

Stem Cell Therapy Miracle–Maybe

Posted on October 5, 2011 by skeptvet

I’ve written numerous times about veterinary stem cell therapies, and I’ve been quite critical about the proliferation of such interventions in veterinary medicine. This is not because I don’t see great hope in stem cell therapies, for I do. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | Leave a comment

Popularity, not Evidence of Efficacy, Drives Growth of Alternative Medicine

Posted on October 5, 2011 by skeptvet

A new survey adds evidence to a contention I’ve made before, that the growth in the popularity of alternative therapies has little to do with a growth in the evidence that they are safe and effective. Demand is driven by … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments