Snake Oil?
Usually not. But there are things out there that are not “all that great” or, in fact, don’t perform at ANY level close to what they are purported to. This will be a growing list of things that fall short of being “Worth the money and time” spent on them.
What’s the point? Well, people spend money and time on these things, and if they’re not “up to par” they are wasting valuable resources (especially time) when a pet is supposed to be improving – but they won’t.
This section ALSO includes products and services which rely on ‘placebo’ effect. Be careful: Many things in this list do not use placebo effect. Mainly pet-supplements and certain dog foods rely heavily on placebo effect.
Melafix
I did some testing on Melafix when it first came out. I set up several systems and then cultured the water with live fish present. We got all the usual microbes including Citrobacter and Aeromonas in the usual, small quantities. We used the Melafix per label instructions for several weeks with interim / serial / periodic cultures of the environment for the various microbes, expecting to see a decline in some population. There was no effect. All microbes present at the beginning of the study were still present during and after. Any antibacterial claim comes from in vitro testing. And was absolutely NOT borne out in vivo testing. During the study however, it was noted that the fish WITH sores and lesions healed “overall” at a slightly faster rate than those fish in the control groups. This might have led researchers to believe that the germs that were causing the lesions were declining. It is the hypothesis of those associated with that testing that the Melafix may have soothed and accelerated healing as eucalyptus oil is known to do. So it’s not entirely without worth. I find it irritating to the fish, as they cough and struggle on addition of Melafix and I subscribe to the idea that the discomfort and extra mucus made in response to the irritation isn’t worth the benefits. I’m a veterinarian that treats fish. #drjohnson.com #savingsickfish.org #drjohnson,com #savingsickfish,org
The Farmer’s Dog
This is a disappointment because it’s strongest selling point is that ‘the food you’re currently feeding is embarassing crap, and ours should make your proud of what you feed you dog’. It’s a guilt-based marketing technology and says nothing about the quality of the food. On top of that, DOGS WILL EAT Farmer’s Dog NO MATTER WHAT. Dogs will eat that food whether they are hungry or not. So if the dog’s metabolism would have had him walk past the food bowl, well, nevermore.
So what I’m seeing is dogs that act HUNGRY ALL THE TIME, and then eat AS MUCH AS THEY CAN – beg for more, and then the scales are up 20% by the time their annual comes around.
Ironic that this company will “insinuate” that other companies’ food has “toxins and contaminants” hurting your dog – when it could be “insinuated” the same way that “Farmer’s Dog will give your dog joint and organ dysfunction by creating morbid obesity unnecessarily.”
“Farmer’s Dog will give your dog joint and organ dysfunction by creating morbid obesity, unnecessarily.”
“You need to feed dry food, and serve it, dry.”
“Why? He LOVES the Farmer’s Dog and I don’t want to be humiliated by feeding anything else!”
“That’s the problem. He loves it.”
“I don’t get it. What’s the matter with that?”
“He will eat as much as he can get, and eat when he’s not hungry. And even ACT hungry when he’s not.”
“And?”
“And that’s why he’s gained 20% over last year and is showing increased orthopedic signs like lameness, as well as cholesterol, bile duct and pancreas aggravation.”
And for the ridiculous price, REALLY? It’s not worth it nutritionally when there are very good, complete, well-engineered conscientiously produced dry diets for considerably less money without being “pizza in a bag”.
