Author Archives: skeptvet

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 | 30 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

The “Natural” Nonsense that is Applied Zoopharmacognosy

Introduction A few years ago, I wrote about an interesting phenomenon called zoopharmacognosy. The idea is that animals might select specific plants or other substances to eat that would have therapeutic effects. An example might be an herbivore with a … Continue reading

Posted in General | 28 Comments

Why Anecdotes & Testimonials Can’t Be Trusted

By far the most frequent response I get to any article critical of claims for an alternative therapy or focused  on the lack of good evidence for such claims is an appeal to anecdotal evidence.  Some variation on “I tried it … Continue reading

Posted in Topic-Based Summaries | 13 Comments

Evidence Update- Stem Cell Therapies for Companion Animals

Introduction One of the most frequent recurring topics on this blog has been stem cell therapies. Generally, I have concluded that various types of stem cell therapies are plausible and promising, but they are unfortunately being marketed with claims and … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 3 Comments