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Category Archives: General
FDA Warns Consumers About Unsupported Claims for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
I reviewed the evidence for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) recently after a series of conversations on a popular veterinary discussion forum (Veterinary Information Network: VIN) in which quite strong claims were put forward about the potential value of this therapy … Continue reading
Posted in General, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine
4 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
American Academy of Orthropaedic Surgeons Evidence-Based Review of Arthritis Treatments
I have previously reviewed a number of common alternative therapies for arthritis. The evidence concerning veterinary use specifically is often limited, but for common therapies, like glucosamine and acupuncture, there is often extensive research data in humans. While extrapolation from … Continue reading
Posted in General
39 Comments
Plechner Syndrome and the Art of Making Stuff Up
Most proponents of so-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are ordinary, reasonable people, even when promoting beliefs that may be dubious or even thoroughly incredible. However, occasionally I run across one of those individuals with not only a bizarre understanding … Continue reading
Posted in General
224 Comments
Univ. of Tennessee Veterinary School Recognizes “Excellence” in Alternative Medicine
The University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the most noticeable academic institutions that appears to have been co-opted for the promotion of pseudoscientific veterinary medicine (along with Louisiana State and the University of Florida). I have … Continue reading
Posted in General
13 Comments
What’s Wrong with Integrative Veterinary Medicine?
The terminology associated with unconventional therapies has shifted a bit over the last 40 or so years. Initially, such therapies were often described as “alternative.” This fit well with the still widespread philosophical position that new or different ways of … Continue reading
Posted in General
32 Comments
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation gives $10,000 to University of Tennessee Veterinary School to Promote Alternative Medicine
Last fall, I wrote about the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation (AHVMF), an offshoot of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA), which is devoted to raising money for the promotion of alternative therapies. The AHVMA is a vigorous advocate … Continue reading
Posted in General
15 Comments
Screening Tests and Pre-Anaesthetic Bloodwork in Veterinary Patients: Issues & Evidence
A perennially hot topic in human medicine is the risks and benefits of screening tests. Blood tests, imaging (like CT scans) and other diagnostic tests are usually seen by the general public as only beneficial. How could it be a … Continue reading
Posted in General, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine
19 Comments
New Review of Complemetary and Alternative Therapies for Arthritis
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
Another Study Shows CAM Use Harms Cancer Patients
A recent study of cancer patients provides yet another addition to my list of examples of how complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can do harm. Yun YH, Lee MK, Park SM, Kim YA, Lee WJ, Lee KS, Choi JS, Jung … Continue reading
Posted in General
4 Comments