No Way to Treat a Friend: Lifting the Lid on Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (Evidence Based Science)
27
Adams Parker
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"No Way to Treat a Friend" is an informative and readable expos�© of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM). Written in an accessible style and illustrated with stories and real-life cases from veterinary practice, this book is a counterweight to the mass of 'pro' literature in existence which uncritically promotes CAVM without consideration of whether or not it could be harmful to an animal companion. The authors, both practicing veterinary surgeons, take a close look at how animals can appear to respond to treatment, even when it is ineffective. Individual alternative practices are examined-including homeopathy, acupuncture, raw diets, and the anti-vaccination lobby-to find out if they stand up to scrutiny. With a thoroughly scientific focus, this is not an attack on different belief systems but a rigorous analysis of the facts, and a consideration of typical CAVM arguments. "No Way to Treat a Friend" will be a helpful reference for those who want to know more about the various therapies themselves, as well as an invaluable resource for veterinary practitioners and anyone with an interest in animals and their welfare. Niall Taylor is veterinary surgeon working in rural Somerset, England. A general practitioner, he also has a long-standing interest in critical thinking and how it relates to complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. He is a founding member of the Campaign for Rational Veterinary Medicine and runs the rationalvetmed.net website. Alex Gough is the Head of Medical Referrals at Bath Veterinary Referrals, and is the author of the veterinary textbooks "Differential Diagnosis in Small Animal Medicine" and "Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats", both of which have been translated into multiple languages. *** " Veterinarians who cringe when their clients refuse vaccinations, feed their pets raw food, and consult animal psychics will relish "No Way to Treat a Friend: Lifting the Lid on Complementary and Alternative Medicine". The authors 'lift the lid' on unsavory alternative practices, some of which have successfully escaped scrutiny so that they now appear in veterinary school curricula." --Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol. 252, No. 6, March 15, 2018(Series: Evidence Based Science) [Subject: Veterinary Medicine, Holistic Pet Care]
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Above all else, this book will open your eyes to the fact that our brains are hard-wired in a way that can cause us to be utterly convinced that a medicine is working … when it isn’t. It will also teach you to question the claims made by practitioners of alternative medicine, in veterinary or human medicine. On top of that, it’s a very interesting read, peppered with laugh out loud moments.
A detailed look at the ways people fool themselves and others into believing that ineffective medical therapies work, and a description and analysis of some of the weird beliefs on which alternative therapies are based; therapies that, astonishingly, even some practicing vets use to attempt to treat animals. There are similar books debunking alternative medicine for humans – perhaps the most well-known being Goldacre’s ‘Bad Science’ and Singh & Ernst’s ‘Trick or Treatment’ – but the only previous veterinary equivalent, Ramey & Rollin’s 2003 ‘Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered’ is now showing its age, so this new text is timely.There is growing unease in the veterinary profession about the use of ineffective and even harmful alternative therapies – some of which are so implausible and irrational that it is frankly unethical to use them to treat ill animals. The more the light of reason and evidence is shone on this nonsense, the better – so well done to the authors of ‘No Way to Treat a Friend’ for producing this detailed, highly referenced, yet easy to read book.
Well written? Yes.Well researched? Yes.Should you know this if you keep a pet? Absolutely yes.The facts in this book, showing the total lack of effect of homeopathy, are well explained, and are peppered with anecdotes to help explain these facts to us, the pet owner. This book is useful for both professionals and your average pet owner.Don’t be fooled by the quacks. This book will help guide you through the mass of misinformation out there.Some of the reviews infer that the authors have no knowledge of this subject and give only their opinions. If anyone reads this book they will know that this could not be further from the truth.Great book.
Contrary to what the authors want you to believe, both ‘regular’ vet care AND holistic/alternative care create a healthy pet. Stumbled across this book in my local library. The authors say the book is a ‘rigorous analysis of the facts’ but the very first paragraph I read when I flipped open the book was full of BS – they claim pentobarbitone found in dog food is ‘too low to cause ill health’, which is hilarious considering there was just a recall of three major pet food brands for just that. The same veterinarians who went to vet school using textbooks written by pet food manufacturers and who want to sell me pet food they stock tell me that a raw diet is ‘dangerous’ for my dog….. I’ll let his white teeth, shiny coat, lack of ‘doggy’ odor, and vibrant energy speak for itself. In my experience, veterinarians like these authors are just annoyed that owners who intelligently use alternative and holistic methods have less use for those very veterinarians.
Very well written, funny at times and informative throughout. A must-have for vet students and pet owners (or anyone with an interest). The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the fact that I felt a bit short changed since a whole third of it is just references! Having said that, I think it completely dispells other reviews claiming that the authors don’t know what they’re on about.To the readers worrying of bias – of course the authors are going to focus on presenting their conclusion. However, they don’t do this without explaining why views may differ from it. They’re trying to convince and educate you, not attack you!The book is asking “Does this work? If not, why not?” Rather than flat out bashing alternative medicine.Well worth the money, have looked back through it several times.