A Book from the SkeptVet
Please follow & like us :)
0
Set Youtube Channel ID
Author Archives: skeptvet
Does Challenging or Ridiculing Crazy Ideas Change Anyone’s Mind?
It has long been a sad and frustrating but generally accepted notion among skeptics that facts don’t matter to people who believe in pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, and other dubious ideas or claims. The so-called “backfire effect” appears to mean that … Continue reading
Posted in General
3 Comments
Another Systematic Review of Homeopathy and–Wait for It– Still No Good Evidence It Works!
Yet another systematic review of veterinary homeopathy has just been published, bringing the total to six. I have discussed several of these before (e.g. 1, 2). They have consistently failed to find high-quality research evidence to support homeopathy in animals, … Continue reading
Posted in Homeopathy
4 Comments
A Critical Analysis of a Study of Essential Oils and Apipuncture—Oh, Forget It, This is Just Ridiculous….
I recently ran across a prime example of lousy science done solely for the purpose of propping up alternative-medicine beliefs or practices. Good science aims to discover what is true, not simply buttress one’s existing beliefs or provide marketing material … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous CAVM
2 Comments
Petition Petco to Stop Selling Worthless Homeopathic Products!
I have discussed many time the evidence that homeopathy is nothing but a placebo. This has moved beyond the realm of reasonable doubt, and despite the misguided advocacy of homeopaths and some consumers, more and more governments (e.g. UK, Australia) … Continue reading
Posted in Homeopathy
13 Comments
Glacier Peak Holistics Pet Wellness Life Scan Stress Test or How Much BS Can Fit on One Web Page?
Allergies are a common and frustrating problem for many pet dogs. While the details are incredibly complicated and not completely understood, allergies are the result of inappropriate inflammation and other immune system responses to triggers in the environment. These triggers … Continue reading
Posted in General
44 Comments
Victory! The Federal Trade Commission Acknowledges that Homeopathy is a Placebo
Last year, two important regulatory agencies in the U.S. undertook to review their regulation of over-the-counter homeopathic remedies. The evidence is clear that homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo, but it has persisted for historical and cultural reasons. As … Continue reading
Posted in Homeopathy
2 Comments
Evidence Update: Neutricks Still up to Same Tricks
In 2011, I reviewed a product called Neutricks that claimed to help dogs with cognitive dysfunction, a condition in old dogs roughly analogous to dementia in elderly humans. At the time, there was little evidence to support the claims made … Continue reading
Posted in Herbs and Supplements
36 Comments
Evidence Update: Neutering and Cancer Risk in Dogs
I have written extensively about the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs and cats. This is an area of active research, and new data emerge regularly to challenge existing beliefs and illustrate the amazing complexity of living organisms and … Continue reading
Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine
11 Comments
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
23 Comments
Acupuncture for Hip Dysplasia In Dogs: Putting some Spin on the Data
Another study of acupuncture in dogs has been published, and it’s worth a look. It’s a classic illustration of clearly negative results being misrepresented as positive. The authors set up a nice study of acupuncture compared with a common non-steroidal … Continue reading
Posted in Acupuncture
4 Comments
