[Anonymous]

The Skeptvet has finally released his long-awaited review of Dr. Jean Dodds’ book “Canine Nutrigenomics.” The full review can be found here:

Canine Nutrigenomics by Dr. Jean Dodds: Science as Windowdressing

The Skeptvet provides many citations of peer-reviewed research to support his critiques
“Please note that not all of these points are critical of Dr. Dodds–the Skeptvet does agree with her on some topics, such as fish oils”.

Bottom Line
While Dr. Dodds’ book is a mixture of fact and fiction, science and pseudoscience, plausible ideas and outright nonsense, overall the work is deeply misleading. It has little at all to do with nutrigenomics or epigenetics, despite the title and claims to the contrary, and it uses real science primarily to give an aura of legitimacy or authority to claims which are unproven or outright false. References are employed in a manner that suggests an academic research summary with conclusions based on scientific evidence. The reality is that the book is a collection of opinions, some plausible and some not, supported in most cases by very little evidence and in some cases clearly contradicted by this evidence. The references employed are often simply other people’s opinions or, in some cases, Dr. Dodds’ own opinions reprinted elsewhere.

The recommendations made for and against specific feeding practices and dietary supplements are mostly typical for proponents of alternative medicine, and they stem from ideology and philosophical beliefs rather than scientific evidence. Occasionally, such claims turn out to be true, in the manner of a broken clock which happens to be right twice a day but this has little to do with the underlying principles. And while there are a few evidence-based claims here and there in the book, and some recommendations I would agree with, overall Canine Nutrigenomics is misleading, misguided, and in conflict with the best evidence and expert consensus in veterinary nutrition.

[Anonymous]

An excerpt from the above review by The Skeptvet:
“A fair bit of effort in the book goes to promoting a test called Nutriscan, which uses saliva to identify dietary sensitivities in dogs. Unsurprisingly, Dr. Dodds’ company owns Nutriscan, and equally unsurprisingly the mainstream community of veterinary nutritionists and dermatologists do not accept the legitimacy of her test because she has not provided any controlled evidence to show it is an accurate and useful test. She does provide a lot of citations to support her claims for this method, but if one takes the trouble to investigate them, they do not actually turn out to be compelling evidence”.

[Skye G]

Thank you for posting this! Good info to have.

[anonymous]

I thought I would bump up this thread. Nutriscan is being talked about in “comments”
I no longer post in comments (by choice)
So I am hoping the folks that are considering buying Nutriscan will see this.
Intradermal skin testing done by a veterinary dermatologist is the most accurate way to identify environmental allergies. There is no cure for allergies but there is effective treatment, often the expertise of a specialist is needed.
Food allergies are rare and food sensitivities tend to fluctuate.
Often a vet will recommend an elimination diet/prescription food to identify food sensitivities.
Also: /forums/topic/suggestions-welcomed/
And if you use the search button you will find more.

[anonymous]

Thought I would bump up this thread as Dr Jean Dodds is being discussed in a recent thread.

[Spy Car]

SkeptVet reminds me of the corporate shills who defended the tobacco companies in the 1950s and 60s who claimed there was no evidence that cigarettes caused cancer.

Lack of evidence isn’t evidence. This guy claims (preposterously) to be for science-based veterinary medicine while jumping through hoops to use half-truths and misleading statements to support the pet food industry.

Not a person on the side of science, but a bad actor with an agenda. Not trustworthy.

Bill

[anonymous]

(In response to the above post)
Interesting! That’s exactly how I feel about a lot of the stuff posted on forums.

If only people knew as much as they think they know, lol

[Author]

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