Search Results for: lymphoma

Can We Make Dogs Live Forever?

No. Well, that could easily be the shortest SkeptVet blog post ever, but I guess I can’t really leave it there. For one thing, the answer should really be, “Almost certainly no,” since my level of confidence is high but … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Science | 4 Comments

Book Review- The Forever Dog: Surprising New Science to Help Your Canine Companion Live Younger, Healthier, and Longer

Regular readers may have noticed I’ve become a bit obsessed with canine aging biology lately.  I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on, from journal articles and textbooks to popular science books. I’ve also been writing about the subject … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Science, Book Reviews | 33 Comments

Science-based Veterinary Nutrition Success Stories

In all the debates here and elsewhere about the relative merits of commercial pet diets and homemade, raw, or other alternatives, advocates of alternative diets often claim that conventional diets are unhealthy. Scientific evidence is not typically provided to support … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 36 Comments

Essiac Tea: More Snake Oil for Pets with Cancer

I recently had a patient I was treating for lymphoma, a white blood cell cancer, whose owner was interested in giving the dog Essiac Tea, a well-known herbal remedy sometimes recommended for cancer patients. In order to advise this client, … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 30 Comments

Evidence Update- Neutering and Cancer Risk in Danish Dogs

One of the “hot topics” in veterinary medicine right now is the balance of risk and benefits to neutering. Even though I completed an extensive review of this subject in 2010, and updated it just last year, the new evidence … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 10 Comments

A Visit to Hogwarts: The BAVH Introductory Course in Homeopathy

One of the things I like best about homeopathy is that when I want to illustrate how fanciful and ridiculous the theories and beliefs of homeopaths are, there is no need to exaggerate or embellish their claims in any way. … Continue reading

Posted in Homeopathy | 8 Comments

Is There a Blood Test for Cancer in Dogs & Cats?

I am often asked by clients if there is a blood test that can tell if their apparently healthy pet has cancer. Obviously, “cancer” is a scary word, and many of the various diseases given that label are difficult to … Continue reading

Posted in General | 26 Comments

Artemisinin-Is It a Useful Drug for Cancer Treatment in Dogs?

A couple of readers have asked about a purported cancer therapy agent called artemisinin. This is a compound derived from a plant and used for a variety of purposes in the system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is sometimes … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 72 Comments

Potential Risks of Neutering and Age at Neutering for Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers

A number of interesting and important research studies have been published in the last 5 years on the subject of the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs, and these have provided important information to help guide veterinarians and owners … Continue reading

Posted in General | 37 Comments

The 2012 AHVMA Annual Conference: An illustration of Conflicts between Science-Based Medicine and Holistic Veterinary Medicine

In response to my criticism of individuals offering or promoting alternative medicine for pets, it has been pointed out that the community of such vets is diverse, and that one cannot fairly assume that all share the beliefs or practices … Continue reading

Posted in General | 20 Comments