Category Archives: Herbs and Supplements

In the first year of this blog, I wrote about a supplement called resveratrol, calling it “a promising but unproven compound.” Last year, I reported on a scandal in which a major researcher of resveratrol retracted over 100 research articles … Continue reading →

The medical use of marijuana has long been a “hot-button” issue in human medicine. Now, the subject has become a growing focus of debate in the veterinary field as well. As is all too common in such debates, however, scientific … Continue reading →

One of the more popular herbal products in the last few years has been turmeric. Used as a spice in cooking, this herb has also been used for the usual wide range of unrelated conditions in traditional folk medicine, particularly … Continue reading →

I’ve written about so-called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is not actually traditional and which is a collection of untested folk beliefs that are inconsistent with much established scientific knowledge. The biggest problem with TCM, however, is that the remedies … Continue reading →

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 →

Much of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is offered either as an addition to conventional, science-based treatment or in situations in which conventional therapies are unavailable or ineffective. This doesn’t excuse offering treatments that haven’t been properly tested, and it … Continue reading →

I was recently asked to comment on yet another “kitchen sink” mélange of herbs and supplements promoted w/ claims of broad benefits for dogs: Canine Health from LifeVantage. This proved easier than I had expected since the product is identical … Continue reading →