That is very interesting and I think has a big role to play in the CBD craze - where somehow it fixes everything! From healing cancer to resolving behavioral problems.

It's also really important to keep in mind as a caregiver- because as they say placebo effect in humans actually does do something to relieve symptoms, while in our animals, we are just "seeing" what we want, even if the animal is still in pain.

Also applies to glucosamine and chondroitin, which are widely considered completely ineffective. Natural anti-inflammatories, Vitamin E, and Omegas do help, however. Just look at all the "miracle cure" reviews for natural dog joint products online.

Even I have to get over this hump with my older husky- who has stiffness in his back and legs. I tried the natural way, and tried to see results, but there weren't any. I have him on Meloxicam now, and his increased comfort is obvious.

Also, I think our animals try very hard to please us, and to some extent to try their very best to stop, or hide symptoms if they think that will make us happier.

Good article, and a bit of a wake-up call for me.

 

I think something that people forget is how much our emotions impact our dogs. An owner that is stressed may create a stressed dog. Stress increases strain on the body and can actually trigger some symptoms. So an owner that believes the dog is improving relaxes and the dog in turn relaxes. The symptoms seem improved. This would be especially relevant with seizures caused by epilepsy.

 

That actually doesn't surprise me. I see quite a few "facebook friends" who are always sick with something and their dogs seem to have many illnesses too. We certainly project ourselves onto our animals.

 

This study seems ridiculous to me. Expectations of the patient (in this case the dogs) play a major role in the placebo effect. A dog doesn't even know it is being treated for a disorder or that he has a disorder. A dog knows when he feels sick or is pain, but that is different than a dog having the capacity to "know" he has a medical condition. For me, It is another example of vets not being the sharpest tools in the shed.

 

I have seen some amazing things with electromagnetic pulse therapy. I have seen a friends horse who had ceullitis in its leg at age 30 and had a giant whole in its leg . Along with vet care and Electromagnetic pulse therapy the hole shrunk to half the size in a matter of two days. This horse is on a great road to recovery it did not look good for him in the beginning. I have read animals are more open to treatments and therefore respond quicker then humans. Michelle hit on a pointing in addition I do wonder if people’s anxiety doubt and stresses effect animals health . Horses seem to mimic physical weakness in their riders it would make sense.

 

How can an animal be more "open" to treatments? Treatment is a human construct and has no meaning to an animal. Animals reading people is a whole different matter.

 

Animals know when their body is healing and when things feel right. It is quite a site

 

But that is different than a horse having some notion that what initially is done to his leg with EPT is likely to help. The horse might have a sense of improvement after the fact.

 

That’s point the animal will have no positive or negative , preconceived views towards the pre treatment it’s why they take absorb treatment better even if it is an increment better sometimes it’s life changing that increment.