A Book from the SkeptVet
Please follow & like us :)
0
Search Results for: mercola
Are Our Dogs Dying Younger Than They Used To?
One of the most popular ways to promote unconventional ideas, including alternative therapies, is through fear. Claiming that health, longevity, and other measures of well-being have declined from some time in the past opens the door to claims that science-based … Continue reading
Posted in General
22 Comments
Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing
Introduction A number of readers have asked me to review a recent book on canine nutrition: Canine Nutrigenomics: The New Science of Feeding Your Dog for Optimum Health The book has two authors. One is Diana Laverdure, a self-described “canine … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews
60 Comments
Everything We Eat Cures Cancer! (or Causes it?)
Central to the nutritional and general healthcare philosophy of most alternative practitioners is that anything we eat is either good or bad. They often quote that cutting edge physician Hippocrates saying “Let food be thy medicine” (though they less commonly … Continue reading
Posted in Nutrition
9 Comments
Dr. Karen Becker Offers Some Classic Veterinary Detox Quackery
Yesterday, I wrote about some environmental chemicals that may play a role in causing disease. While this sort of environmental risk factor is a real and recognized phenomenon supported by good science, it can easily be cited to lend support … Continue reading
Posted in General
10 Comments
Is Cancer Caused by Bad Luck?
Why Ask Why? There are many reasons people are interested in the causes of cancer in pets. On a purely emotional level, it is natural to ask “Why?” when something terrible happens, such as the diagnosis of cancer in a … Continue reading
Posted in General
5 Comments
UT Integrative Veterinary Medicine Fellowship: A Case Study in Alternative Medicine Propaganda
I have previously discussed the problem with so-called “integrative medicine.” It is ultimately a Trojan Horse intended to gain acceptance for alternative therapies without the bother of demonstrating they actually work through rigorous scientific research. Proponents of integrative medicine want … Continue reading
Posted in General
2 Comments
Routine Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats: Trying to Make Evidence-based Decisions
Introduction As part of my effort to practice medicine based solidly in scientific evidence, I regularly review my own practices and recommendations and make adjustments as seems indicated by new evidence. The quantity and quality of scientific research in veterinary … Continue reading
Posted in Vaccines
69 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
There is no “Natural” or “Holistic” Heartworm Prevention or Treatment Proven to be Safe and Effective
Much of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is offered either as an addition to conventional, science-based treatment or in situations in which conventional therapies are unavailable or ineffective. This doesn’t excuse offering treatments that haven’t been properly tested, and it … Continue reading
Posted in Herbs and Supplements
86 Comments
What’s Wrong with Integrative Veterinary Medicine?
The terminology associated with unconventional therapies has shifted a bit over the last 40 or so years. Initially, such therapies were often described as “alternative.” This fit well with the still widespread philosophical position that new or different ways of … Continue reading
Posted in General
32 Comments
