Author Archives: skeptvet

Are NSAID Pain Relievers Dangerous for Your Dog?

One of the most common and useful class of medications available to veterinarians are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). These treat pain and inflammation, and the evidence for their safety and effectiveness is robust (1, 2). Like all medications that have any … Continue reading

Posted in General | 18 Comments

Why do Dogs get Old? Some Basic Theories of Aging.

Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really. Agnes Sligh Turnbull The question of why our dogs have to get old can be primarily a rhetorical one, expressing our dismay at the process. It can also be a philosophical … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Science | Leave a comment

Why do Dogs get Old? A New Adventure for the SkeptVet.

Most of us fortunate enough to be blessed with dogs in our lives have had to confront one great limitation in our canine companions-they don’t live as long as we do. Watching bright-eyed, bouncy puppies evolve slowly into creaky, grey-faced … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Science | 5 Comments

Evidence Update: Discouraging News for CBD & Arthritis in Dogs

I have been tracking the growing body of evidence concerning veterinary uses of CBD since 2018, and it is an exciting and fast-changing field. While there has only been a little clinical trial research in dogs and cats, there have been … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 13 Comments

Plant-based vs Meat-based Diets for Cats: Which is Healthier?

It hasn’t been very long since I last wrote about vegetarian diets for pets, but a new study is out that touches on the issue, so I thought it was time for an update.  Dodd, S. A. S. et al. (2021) ‘A … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 13 Comments

Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Dogs: What Do We Know So Far?

I have been following the controversy, and the research, on diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs since the issue was first addressed by the FDA in 2018. I recently had a chance to talk with Andy Roark on his Cone … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 7 Comments

Raw Pet Foods & The Death of Expertise

One of the more enlightening, and terrifying, books to come out in the last 5 years is Tom Nichols’ The Death of Expertise. In clear prose, with cogent argument and substantiating evidence, the author makes the case that the proliferation of misconceptions, … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 19 Comments

Neutering and Aggression in Dogs

I have written extensively about the positive and negative effects of neutering dogs for many years. This is an area of great controversy and rapidly advancing research. There is no simple relationship between neutering or age at neutering and health. … Continue reading

Posted in General | 4 Comments

Five Most Dangerous Alternative Therapies for Pets- From SkeptVet TV

Posted in SkeptVet TV | 10 Comments

New Study Shows No Benefit from Acupuncture for Dogs with Arthritis

I have written extensively over the years about acupuncture, and my investigations have ranged from the laboratory animal and human literature to veterinary clinical studies, to completing a certification in medical acupuncture and treating patients in my clinic. Through all of this, I … Continue reading

Posted in Acupuncture | 7 Comments