Category Archives: Science-Based Veterinary Medicine

Pet Owners Beware: Why Owners Should ask Veterinarians about the Evidence behind their Treatments

I was recently interviewed for an article on the nature of evidence in veterinary medicine, and why pet owners should be concerned about the evidence their veterinarian uses to support his or her recommendations. If clients demand the therapies given … Continue reading

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Veterinary Clinical Decision-Making and Cognitive Bias

As part of the rationale for the application of EBVM, it seems necessary to illustrate the deficiencies in other approaches to evaluating therapies and making clinical decisions. As infectious disease specialist Mark Crislip puts it. Often getting the right diagnosis … Continue reading

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Encouraging Study of Platelet Therapy for Arthritis in Dogs

Though I write frequently about potential arthritis therapies, particularly emerging treatments and those that are established but seem to have a questionable evidence base, I haven’t yet run across the therapy evaluated in a study recently published in the journal … Continue reading

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What is a Spay: Ovariectomy versus Ovariohysterectomy for Female Dogs

This is a short informational handout that I developed for my clients discussing simply and briefly the two most common approaches to spaying female dogs. For those interested in more detail, the relevant references are provided. What is a Spay? … Continue reading

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Evidence Update-Safety of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Dogs

One of the most common and effective classes of drugs for the treatment of pain are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Like all medicines that have any benefits, they do have potential risks as well. Unfortunately, an unrealistic assessment of … Continue reading

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Resources for Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine

I write extensively about the ways in which alternative therapies are justified, and the problems with much of the evidence used to promote them. I talk less here about the way all veterinary therapies should be evaluated and appraised, through … Continue reading

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2014 Roy Montgomery Research Award

The Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association (EBVMA) announces the availability of an award of $3,000 to a single recipient (a person or group) designed to support research that promotes the understanding, development and application of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in veterinary medical … Continue reading

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FDA Warns Consumers About Unsupported Claims for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

I reviewed the evidence for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) recently after a series of conversations on a popular veterinary discussion forum (Veterinary Information Network: VIN) in which quite strong claims were put forward about the potential value of this therapy … Continue reading

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Evidence Update–Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is a common and significant disease in older dogs which resembles, in many ways, some forms of dementia in humans. I have written about proposed therapies several times (1, 2, 3). Because there is no highly … Continue reading

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Benefits and Risks of Neutering, An Evidence Update: Age at Neutering and Risk of Obesity

This is another in my series of evidence updates on the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs and cats. I will be updating the evidence and conclusions of my original 2010 review as relevant new findings become available. This … Continue reading

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