Category Archives: Presentations, Lectures, Publications & Interviews

Dr. Andy Roark and I had a great conversation about my book, Placebos for Pets? The Truth about Alternative Medicine for Animals, and all sorts of related subjects, from evidence-based medicine, to caregiver placebo effects, to acupuncture. Check it out!

People have been writing some great reviews of Placebos for Pets, so I thought I’d share a few. If you liked it, please take a minute to add a review on Amazon or Goodreads and help spread the word. Thanks! … Continue reading →

A Crucial Blind Spot in Veterinary Medicine While the placebo effect is a well-established phenomenon in human patients, it’s an underappreciated one in veterinary medicine. And the particular way it plays out in veterinary care highlights how unconscious cognitive biases … Continue reading →

There are two more weeks until the release of Placebos for Pets?, and the book is now the #1 New Release in veterinary medicine on Amazon! Thanks all for your support!

As I hinted a few months ago, I have had a book in the works for several years. Written for pet owners, but heavily researched and referenced so as to be a useful reference for veterinary professionals as well, the … Continue reading →

In October, I wrote a column for Veterinary Practice News (VPN) on the question of whether or not cancer is more common in dogs and cats now than it used to be. This is a core argument in the Truth … Continue reading →

Last summer, I was asked to take over the Evidence-based Medicine Column (previous the Alternative Medicine Column) in the trade magazine Veterinary Practice News from Dr. Narda Robinson. This was an excellent opportunity to  illustrate the principles and techniques of … Continue reading →

Here are the notes and slides for a recent presentation on placebo effects in veterinary medicine. WHAT IS A PLACEBO? Despite the fact that most people have heard of the placebo effect and feel they have some understanding of what … Continue reading →

Here are the notes and slides for a recent presentation on strategies for effectively choosing diagnostic tests. GOALS OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING Ultimately, the goal of any test we run should be obtaining information that allows us to more effectively treat … Continue reading →

Here are the notes and slides for a presentation I recently gave comparing various surgical sterilization and neutering techniques. INTRODUCTION Among the most common surgical procedures in small animal practice are those for sterilization (preventing reproduction) and neutering (removing the … Continue reading →