Search Results for: Allergies

Evidence Update- Evidence-based Canine Allergy Treatment

In 2010, I reported on the evidence-based guidelines for treatment of allergies in dogs put out by the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis. This extremely useful document reviewed the evidence concerning many different treatments for allergies in dogs, … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 6 Comments

No Vet for My Pet? Veterinary Nurses Can Sell Woo Too!

Despite the real harm unproven or bogus alternative therapies can cause, I get a lot of flak here for being critical of alternative practitioners. Some of that stems from the natural resentment of having one’s beliefs questioned. Alternative medicine is … Continue reading

Posted in General | 15 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

Why We’re Often Wrong: Can We Trust Clinical Experience?

This is an article I originally posted on a preliminary SkeptVet website which I no longer update since it has been replaced by this blog. I have copied it here since the links to the prior site no longer function. … Continue reading

Posted in General | 4 Comments

Evidence Update: Cold Laser Therapy for Dogs & Cats

I first summarized the scant evidence concerning low-level or “cold” laser therapy in companion animals in 2010, and I reviewed a couple of small studies in 2011. A recent checked showed only a couple of studies looking at cold laser … Continue reading

Posted in General, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 33 Comments

Coconut Oil for Pets?

Healthcare and nutrition fads are an unfortunate fact of life. People are always looking for miracle cures and for clear, defined villains they can blame for illness and try to avoid. The media contributes to the process of fads coming … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 27 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

Holistic Veterinary Medicine: A Variety of Faith Healing

Early on in my effort to understand and evaluate alternative veterinary therapies, I had the naïve notion that learning about their mechanisms of action and the research evidence behind them would enable me to tell which were safe and effective … Continue reading

Posted in General | 14 Comments

Another Reminder of the Real Dangers of Veterinary Homeopathy

The biggest danger of homeopathy is not, of course, the remedies themselves, which are nothing more than placebos in most cases. The real danger is that many homeopaths have the delusion that their therapies can replace real medical care, and … Continue reading

Posted in Homeopathy | 27 Comments

Raw Diets for Pets

I have covered the raw diet debate since the beginning of this blog, and the evidence has been remarkably consistent: There is no evidence to support claims that raw diets are healthier than cooked commercial foods. There is consistent evidence … Continue reading

Posted in Topic-Based Summaries | 44 Comments