Category Archives: Herbs and Supplements

Veterinary Probiotics: Sloppy Labeling and Poor Quality Control

Probiotics are one of the therapies I frequently discuss here that I suspect may actually have some benefit(1, 2), though the evidence does not currently support routine clinical use. However, as with most herbal remedies, supplements, and nutraceuticals, a lack … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 4 Comments

Is Recommending Glucosamine for Arthritis Evidence-Based Medicine, or Wishful Thinking?

In January, I discussed growing skepticism about the benefits of oral glucosamine and chondroitin as a treatment for arthritis in dogs and cats. In that post, I made reference to a short feature I wrote which appeared in the Journal … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 19 Comments

Herb and Supplement Industry: Loves Marketing but not so Crazy about Research

One of the standard clichés alternative medicine proponents like to employ is the David and Goliath Myth: pharmaceutical companies and the mainstream medicine are profit-driven behemoths and alternative medicine is the plucky little guy, small practitioners and innovators fighting against … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 4 Comments

Neutricks(tm): Another Nutraceutical for Canine Cognitive Dysfnction

Yet another product has entered the market aimed at treating Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). This age-related brain disorder is analogous to dementia in elderly humans, and it involves a number of significant behavioral changes. Affected dogs may get lost … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 51 Comments

HealthyMouth Water Additive: Does It Help Prevent Dental Disease?

I am often asked by clients or readers about specific products, and while I certainly can  only investigate a small proportion of all the stuff marketed to pet owners, I try to look at as many of these things as … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 141 Comments

Skepticism about Glucosamine for Arthritis in Dogs and Cats is Growing

Ok, maybe not. But still, any sign that folks are questioning this ubiquitous practice is a good thing. I have written a number of times about the question of whether or not oral glucosamine and chondroitin are useful for arthritis … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 96 Comments

How Nutraceutical Research Should be Done: Lycopene for Osteosarcoma in Dogs

Proponents of nutraceuticals, nutritional supplements thought to have therapeutic or preventative effects, often promote the use of such products despite little or no legitimate evidence to suggest they will be safe or helpful. When skeptics challenge these unsupported claims, they … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements, Science-Based Veterinary Medicine | 1 Comment

Cognitive Dissonance In Action: Glucosamine No Matter What!

I’ve discussed cognitive dissonance previously. Briefly, it is the unpleasant feeling that comes from a conflict between beliefs, and its most typical manifestation is a powerful ability to rationalize away evidence that contradicts what we believe. Rather than experience the … Continue reading

Posted in General, Herbs and Supplements | 9 Comments

Nope, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Still Don’t Work in Humans

Just one more nail in the lid that’s never coming off the coffin of glucosamine and chondroitin. Despite the ubiquity of these supplements and the innumerable testimonials for their benefits in people and in pets, the research continues to accumulate … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 3 Comments

Another Study of Fish Oil for Canine Arthritis

In January, a couple of research studies were published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) investigating the possible usefulness of dietary fish oil supplementation for treating the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.[1-2] I have previously discussed … Continue reading

Posted in Herbs and Supplements | 5 Comments