Comments on: Glucosamine and fat dogs with sore knees http://northerndoctor.com/2009/10/22/glucosamine-and-fat-dogs-with-sore-knees/ "Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition" Adam Smith. A blog from a British doctor. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:24:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Anonymous http://northerndoctor.com/2009/10/22/glucosamine-and-fat-dogs-with-sore-knees/#comment-1027 Anonymous Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:16:11 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/?p=348#comment-1027 What about piriton for itching, no better than placebo? but you also forget a heavy dollop of persuasion, (think it was Balint, The Dr as a Drug) isn't the combined effect better than prescribing nothing? The art of persuasion has always been one of GPs most valuable tools. What about piriton for itching, no better than placebo? but you also forget a heavy dollop of persuasion, (think it was Balint, The Dr as a Drug) isn’t the combined effect better than prescribing nothing?

The art of persuasion has always been one of GPs most valuable tools.

]]> By: Brian E. http://northerndoctor.com/2009/10/22/glucosamine-and-fat-dogs-with-sore-knees/#comment-1026 Brian E. Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:22:26 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/?p=348#comment-1026 What about magnets? (Yes I know they're not a medicine!) My friend gave his arthritic Labrador a magnetic collar and it made a great improvement. To his knowledge nothing else had changed. What about magnets? (Yes I know they’re not a medicine!)
My friend gave his arthritic Labrador a magnetic collar and it made a great improvement. To his knowledge nothing else had changed.

]]> By: northerndoctor http://northerndoctor.com/2009/10/22/glucosamine-and-fat-dogs-with-sore-knees/#comment-1025 northerndoctor Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:29:28 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/?p=348#comment-1025 Dear Anonymous, Almost impeccable logic but I've spotted a flaw. Given I now think glucosamine is no better than placebo then it is also, in effect, a placebo. Therefore glucosamine should not be prescribed and should be banned as being fundamentally dishonest. Of course, in much the same way as I can't stop people playing golf (as good an idea as it might be) I can't stop people going out and buying placebos. Dear Anonymous,
Almost impeccable logic but I’ve spotted a flaw. Given I now think glucosamine is no better than placebo then it is also, in effect, a placebo. Therefore glucosamine should not be prescribed and should be banned as being fundamentally dishonest. Of course, in much the same way as I can’t stop people playing golf (as good an idea as it might be) I can’t stop people going out and buying placebos.

]]> By: Anonymous http://northerndoctor.com/2009/10/22/glucosamine-and-fat-dogs-with-sore-knees/#comment-1024 Anonymous Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:01:16 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/?p=348#comment-1024 No better than placebo? but we're not allowed to prescribe placebos so prescribing glucosamine IS better than placebo! No better than placebo? but we’re not allowed to prescribe placebos so prescribing glucosamine IS better than placebo!

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