Author Archives: skeptvet

Brain Protection Blend: Can Nutritional Supplements Preserve or Improve Cognitive Function in Cats?

Age-associated Cognitive Dysfunction As our pets age, behavioral changes associated with aging of the brain often become evident. Cats and dogs may exhibit changes in sleep patterns, in interactions with other animals or with humans, problems with housetraining, and other … Continue reading

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Chiropractic for Ducks: Yes, That’s Really What I Said!

I’ve written extensively about the use of chiropractic in animals as well as humans. The bottom line is that the underlying theory is nonsense, and at best the evidence suggests it might offer some benefit for people with back pain, though no … Continue reading

Posted in Chiropractic | 39 Comments

The Veterinary Evidence-Based Medicine Landscape

This is a presentation I gave in London in 2012 at a conference sponsored by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The Sceptical Vet: Evidence or Eminence? This is the slide deck: EBVM Landscape & Perspective And this is a … Continue reading

Posted in Presentations, Lectures, Publications & Interviews | 1 Comment

The Three Most Dangerous Words in Medicine

A brief look at why individual uncontrolled observations are often unreliable. This was my opening statement in a debate at the 2012 Annual Convention of the AVMA on the subject of “Which is Better: Clinical Trials or Clinical Intuition?”

Posted in Presentations, Lectures, Publications & Interviews | 1 Comment

Can Complementary and Alternative Medicine be Evidence-Based?

This is a lecture I gave at the 2012 Annual Convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association.    

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How to Evaluate Unconventional Therapies: Part III

This is the third section of a four-hour series of lectures I gave at the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. The Frank W. Jordan Seminar, 2012 The Science Behind Alternative Medicine in Animal Health

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How to Evaluate Unconventional Therapies: Part II

This is the second section of a four-hour series of lectures I gave at the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. The Frank W. Jordan Seminar, 2012 The Science Behind Alternative Medicine in Animal Health  

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How to Evaluate Unconventional Therapies: Part I

This is the first section of a four-hour series of lectures I gave at the Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine. The Frank W. Jordan Seminar, 2012 The Science Behind Alternative Medicine in Animal Health    

Posted in Presentations, Lectures, Publications & Interviews | 2 Comments

Use of Leeches in Veterinary Medicine

I recently received an email promoting one of the strangest therapies I’ve looked into while writing this blog—leeches. 10 FACTS HOW LEECHES HELP DOGS! 1.         Leeches a new wave in alternative animal medicine? No way! Over 3000 years ago leeches … Continue reading

Posted in General | 5 Comments

More Philosophical Nonsense from Homeopaths

While some of the disagreements between skeptics and proponents of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are disagreements about details, interpretation of data or the finer points of methodology, it is often overlooked that fundamental, irreconcilable philosophical differences also exist. Some … Continue reading

Posted in Homeopathy | 2 Comments