Search Results for: Allergies

Protandim–Snake Oil Marketing at its Best (or Worst)

There are a seemingly infinite number of herbal remedies and dietary supplements marketed for pets, thanks largely to the inadequate regulation of such products and the inability of the government to enforce what rules there are. This creates an open … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 62 Comments

DogtorRx from Pet Equinox–Style without substance and a model of snake oil marketing

Even when I’m not working, I’m still a veterinarian and a skeptic, and I tend to notice things related to those subjects wherever I am. In this case, I was stopped at a traffic light when something caught my eye, … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 12 Comments

Integrating Myths and Nonsense with Standard Advice for Allergic Pets

I hear a lot of claims from clients about the cause and treatment of their pets’ allergies that sound like myths or misunderstandings to me, and I expect that. Obviously, a huge part of my job is educating my clients. … Continue reading

Posted in Miscellaneous CAVM | 16 Comments

From SBM: The Top Ten Pet Supplements–Do They Work?

From Science-Based Medicine: The Top Ten Pet Supplements–Do They Work? An Embarrassment of Riches? Much has been written here about the dietary supplement industry, a multibillion dollar industry with powerful political connections, and about the woeful inadequacy of regulation which … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 20 Comments

Integrative Medicine or Bait-and Switch?

For a while now, the Huffington Post has been providing a platform for a prominent voice in the alternative veterinary medicine community, Dr. Richard Palmquist. Dr. Palmquist is involved in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), and has had … Continue reading

Posted in General | 10 Comments

American Animal Hospital Association Promotes CAVM and Quackery

The American Animal Hospital Association promotes itself as an organization which accredits veterinary hospitals and claims, “The Standards developed and published by AAHA are widely accepted as representing those components of veterinary practice that represent high quality care…Because of the … Continue reading

Posted in General, Miscellaneous CAVM | 29 Comments

Evidence-Based Canine Allergy Treatment

Allergies are an incredibly common, and frustrating, problem in pet dogs. Unlike humans, respiratory manifestations of environmental allergies are not usually very noticeable. Dogs with allergies get itchy skin, and they scratch like crazy as a result. The underlying inflammation … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 42 Comments

Guest Post from Alison Averis–The Rise of Equine CAM in the UK

Alison has offerred another interesting piece that offers insight into the role of CAM therapies in equine medicine “across the pond.” I’m not sure whether to be comforted or saddened by the fact that the retreat from rationality and the … Continue reading

Posted in Guest Posts, Miscellaneous CAVM | 4 Comments

Spinmaster Messonier at it again

I recently discussed, and corrected, some comments Dr. Shawn Messonier made on his blog concerning Alison Averis’ post here illustrating how personal experience can be unreliable in evaluating whether a medical treatment works or not. Dr. Messonier has responded to … Continue reading

Posted in General | 2 Comments

CAM Word Salad

I often find that rationalizations of alternative medicine are garbled and hard to follow, but I recently ran across a site promoting veterinary alt med that combines the usual fuzzy logic with an mechanical or straight-from-the-dictionary translation into English, with … Continue reading

Posted in Humor | 1 Comment