Author Archives: skeptvet

Benefits and Risks of Neutering, an Evidence Update: Neutering and Urinary Incontinence in Female Dogs

Posted on February 8, 2013 by skeptvet

A couple of years ago, I wrote a review of the risks and benefits of neutering. This handout, originally intended for clients, was also turned into a journal article for veterinarians: Evaluating the benefits and risks of neutering dogs and … Continue reading →

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 1 Comment

Measuring Arthritis Pain in Dogs: Are Owner Surveys as Good as Force Plate Analysis?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by skeptvet

I have written about a wide variety of conventional and alternative therapies for arthritis pain in dogs. A recurring issue in evaluating these therapies is how we know whether or not interventions designed to reduce pain in animals are effective. … Continue reading →

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 4 Comments

Repeat After Me: “Dogs are not Wolves”

Posted on January 25, 2013 by skeptvet

It should be obvious that there is a difference between acknowledging domestic dogs evolved from wolves (which is a widely accepted theory with strong supporting evidence) and saying that dogs essentially are wolves (which is nonsense). Try to picture a … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition | 35 Comments

New Review of Complemetary and Alternative Therapies for Arthritis

Posted on January 9, 2013 by skeptvet

I’ve written extensively about alternative arthritis therapies, largely because that is one of the most common conditions for which complementary and alternative treatments are used. While a few are promising (such as fish oils), there is little good evidence to … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 37 Comments

Response to Comments from the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association on the AVMA Homeopathy Resolution

Posted on January 7, 2013 by skeptvet

Detailed evidence supporting the AVMA resolution on homeopathy is available in The Case Against Homeopathy, and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy’s attempted counter arguments are examined in detail in The Evidence for Homeopathy-A Close Look. What is presented here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy | Leave a comment

Evidence Update-Most Homemade Cancer Diets for Dogs are Inadequate

Posted on January 7, 2013 by skeptvet

I have often discussed the problems with homemade pet diets, which are frequently recommended in books and websites that complain about commercial food or proclaim some magic method for preventing or curing disease. Raw diets, grain free diets, and other … Continue reading →

Posted in Nutrition | 63 Comments

What “Experts” in Homeopathy are Supposed to Believe

Posted on January 7, 2013 by skeptvet

One of the most compelling letters of support for the AVMA resolution on homeopathy came from a source that might seem unexpeted, Dr. Narda Robinson, Assistant Professor of Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the Colorado State University Veterinary School of … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy | 3 Comments

The Evidence for Homeopathy-A Close Look

Posted on January 4, 2013 by skeptvet

A number of defenses of homeopathy have been offered in response to AVMA Resolution 3, declaring homeopathy to be ineffective. The most comprehensive, though not at all compelling or convincing, has been a white paper offered by the Academy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy | 9 Comments

Growing Support for the AVMA Resolution Declaring Homeopathy is Ineffective

Posted on January 4, 2013 by skeptvet

As I discussed last month, the AVMA House of Delegates will soon vote on Resolution 3, declaring that all veterinary therapies should be judged by the same standard, the standard of scientific evidence, and that homeopathy has consistently failed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Homeopathy, Law, Regulation, and Politics | 3 Comments

Supraglan Replaced By Adrenal Harmony Gold: Different Ingredients, Same Empty Promises

Posted on December 16, 2012 by skeptvet

Note. Updated with correction Jan. 30, 2013 (see below) One of the most widely read, and controversial, reviews I have written was for an herbal combination product called Supraglan which was marketed to treat hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s Disease … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 59 Comments