Monthly Archives: January 2017

Evidence Update: Finally a Clinical Trial of Cranberry Supplements for Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

Posted on January 31, 2017 by skeptvet

One of the recurring subjects I have covered on this blog is the contention that cranberry supplements can help prevent or treat urinary tract infections. Each time I address the subject, the evidence points to pretty much the same general … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 6 Comments

Music Therapy for Dogs: Does Your Dog Really Prefer Reggae to Pop?

Posted on January 29, 2017 by skeptvet

Playing music has become a popular method for reducing stress in animals who are hospitalized or kenneled. A couple of years ago, I reported on a review of the literature investigating this practice. The conclusion of that review was this: … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 5 Comments

Evidence Update- New Review of Medical Marijuana Research

Posted on January 23, 2017 by skeptvet

I have addressed the question of medical marijuana and the use of other cannabis-derived medicinal products twice before. My conclusion in 2013 was this: The current research evidence supports a couple of uses in humans, including treatment of nausea and … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 17 Comments

Evidence Update: Does Dry Food Increase the Risk of Diabetes in Cats?

Posted on January 22, 2017 by skeptvet

A perennial question in veterinary nutrition is the relative pros and cons of dry commercial diets. In particular, pet owners and vets alike have a lot of questions about the nutritional value and potential risks of dry food for cats. … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 6 Comments

New Review Reminds us Doctors are Lousy at Predicting Benefits and Harms of their Tests and Treatments

Posted on January 18, 2017 by skeptvet

One of the major focuses of my criticism of both science-based and alternative medicine is the failure of doctors to recognize their own limitations. There are innumerable cognitive biases and other sources of error that interfere with accurate and effective … Continue reading →

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New York and FTC Tired of Prevagen False Claims (which are the same as for the veterinary version, Neutricks)

Posted on January 10, 2017 by skeptvet

I have written several times about Neutricks, a supplements marketed for cognitive dysfunction in dogs: Neutricks: Another Nutraceutical for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Evidence Update:  Old Tricks Used to Massage Neutricks Study Data Evidence Update: Neutricks Still up to Same Old … Continue reading →

Posted in Law, Regulation, and Politics | 1 Comment

Pet Remedy- A “Natural” Herbal Product to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Posted on January 10, 2017 by skeptvet

There are an enormous number of unregulated over-the-counter remedies marketed to pet owners, often for serious health problems, and most of them have never been scientifically tested to see if they are safe or effective. It is difficult to evaluate … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 9 Comments