Author Archives: skeptvet

Homeopathy for Nasal Fungal Infections in Dogs?

A case report recently appeared in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (online only edition) describing the complete resolution of nasal aspergillosis (a fungal infection) in a dog following the use of an ultradilute homeopathic remedy. So what … Continue reading

Posted in Homeopathy | 7 Comments

Aural Hematoma Review and Other New Info from the EBVMA

The Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association (EBVMA) is continuing to try and support evidence-based medicine for veterinarians, and the latest activity in that effort is producing a series of brief, pragmatic literature reviews on common clinical problems and therapies. The first … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 8 Comments

Guidelines for Minimizing Commercial Influence in Veterinary Medicine

The potential bias introduced into research, medical education, and individual clinician judgment by relationships with commercial entities is a perennial and serious issue in medicine, including the veterinary field. While critics of mainstream veterinary medicine frequently raise this issue when … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 17 Comments

Dry Pet Food and Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats

One of the most common diseases in cats and dogs that I see in practice is dental disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, by three years of age 70-80% of dogs and cats will have signs of oral … Continue reading

Posted in Nutrition | 20 Comments

Protandim–Snake Oil Marketing at its Best (or Worst)

There are a seemingly infinite number of herbal remedies and dietary supplements marketed for pets, thanks largely to the inadequate regulation of such products and the inability of the government to enforce what rules there are. This creates an open … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 63 Comments

Less is More–A reminder of why irrational dietary supplement use is a bad idea

The dietary supplement industry in the United States is enormous, profitable, and growing. There is a widespread belief that nutritional supplements are inherently safe and beneficial and that everyone can benefit from taking them regardless of health status or dietary … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements, Nutrition | 2 Comments

Stem Cell Therapy Miracle–Maybe

I’ve written numerous times about veterinary stem cell therapies, and I’ve been quite critical about the proliferation of such interventions in veterinary medicine. This is not because I don’t see great hope in stem cell therapies, for I do. But … Continue reading

Posted in Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | Leave a comment

Popularity, not Evidence of Efficacy, Drives Growth of Alternative Medicine

A new survey adds evidence to a contention I’ve made before, that the growth in the popularity of alternative therapies has little to do with a growth in the evidence that they are safe and effective. Demand is driven by … Continue reading

Posted in General | 2 Comments

DogtorRx from Pet Equinox–Style without substance and a model of snake oil marketing

Even when I’m not working, I’m still a veterinarian and a skeptic, and I tend to notice things related to those subjects wherever I am. In this case, I was stopped at a traffic light when something caught my eye, … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 12 Comments

Honey for Allergies in Dogs and Cats

Among the alternative recommendations for pet allergy treatment I have seen in some of my recent reading, a popular one is raw unpasteurized local honey. Many alternative veterinary medicine sites confidently proclaim that this safe and natural product can cure … Continue reading

Posted in Miscellaneous CAVM | 8 Comments