Apr 4, 2019 09:13 PM
https://skepticalinquirer.org/blog/pseud..._pet_world
EXCERPT: . . . Batman (dog) and I headed to the Holistic Care vet clinic and, when I walked in, the assortment of gorgeous glowing salt lamps lining the office immediately set off my woo radar. I’m sure my eyes widened—I’m not known for my poker face—but I tried my best to conceal my unease. As soon as the vet assistant whisked my little guy to the back office for his checkup, I pulled out my phone and looked at their website.
As I suspected, this clinic doesn’t just love salt lamps for their aesthetic. The office’s alt med offerings, including acupuncture, detox services, essential oils, and reiki, suggest that they believe the lamps confer health benefits, too (they don’t). I immediately vowed to keep my cool, finish the adoption paperwork, and get myself and Sebastian out of that clinic and never look back.
The thing is, I don’t hold it against the people who work at this clinic. They’re obviously kind and compassionate, and I have no doubt that they and most others like them really do care for the animals they see. But caring doesn’t make science-scarce therapies worthwhile or harmless. As I’ve started to pay attention to the pet world, I’ve noticed more and more unsettling trends. Here are just five... (MORE)
The five explored: Herbal Medicine, Avoiding Vaccines Because of Pet Autism, Pheromones, Amber Beads, Acupuncture
EXCERPT: . . . Batman (dog) and I headed to the Holistic Care vet clinic and, when I walked in, the assortment of gorgeous glowing salt lamps lining the office immediately set off my woo radar. I’m sure my eyes widened—I’m not known for my poker face—but I tried my best to conceal my unease. As soon as the vet assistant whisked my little guy to the back office for his checkup, I pulled out my phone and looked at their website.
As I suspected, this clinic doesn’t just love salt lamps for their aesthetic. The office’s alt med offerings, including acupuncture, detox services, essential oils, and reiki, suggest that they believe the lamps confer health benefits, too (they don’t). I immediately vowed to keep my cool, finish the adoption paperwork, and get myself and Sebastian out of that clinic and never look back.
The thing is, I don’t hold it against the people who work at this clinic. They’re obviously kind and compassionate, and I have no doubt that they and most others like them really do care for the animals they see. But caring doesn’t make science-scarce therapies worthwhile or harmless. As I’ve started to pay attention to the pet world, I’ve noticed more and more unsettling trends. Here are just five... (MORE)
The five explored: Herbal Medicine, Avoiding Vaccines Because of Pet Autism, Pheromones, Amber Beads, Acupuncture