snap

Dave Ramey, DVM


Fellow


Porter Ranch, California, USA





The medicine that I use has two things that distinguish it
from some other forms of "medicine”: It appears to work anywhere on the planet, and
I don't have to believe in it for it to work. — David Ramey, DVM



David W. Ramey, DVM, is an outspoken proponent of science-based veterinary practice. He is a prolific writer on a diverse range of unvalidated practices, such as the use of chiropractic and acupuncture with animals. He has served as a member of the task force on “Therapeutic Options” of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, as well as on the task force that wrote the current guidelines for the use of “complementary and alternative” veterinary medicine for the American Veterinary Association.

Dr Ramey is a 1983 graduate of Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine. After completing an internship in equine medicine and surgery at Iowa State University, he entered private equine practice in southern California. Dr Ramey is the author of numerous books on equine health care, as well as numerous studies and articles in both the professional and lay press.  He is widely published, in articles and books, on “alternative” approaches to veterinary medicine, including Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered, co-authored with renowned veterinary ethicist Dr Bernard Rollin.


Selected Books:
book coverThe Equine Medical Encyclopedia, with Peter Rossdale and Joanna Brocklesby (Trafalgar Square Books, 2009). The first exclusively equine medical encyclopedia, this book lists hundreds of equine medical and surgical terms relevant to those concerned with horse health, both the US and the UK. It is an attempt to summarize much of the vast and diverse skills and knowledge that are needed to be competent in the field of equine veterinary science. Its entries provide enough detail to give the reader an understanding of many of the basic diseases, pathogens, and therapies that are available to those who endeavor to heal the horse. Listing medical terms from abasia to habronemiasis, and from thymus to zygomycosis, this is a reference book for all veterinary and equine studies students, as well as horse owners.


journal cover Editor, “Evidence-based equine medicine,”  Special Edition, Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice, 2007 Aug; 23(2):191-532. Guest Editor David Ramey presents current evidence-based reviews of pharmacology, gastrointestinal disease and surgery, respiratory disease and surgery, lameness, musculoskeletal surgery, endocrinology, neurology, reproduction, nutrition, and more. From the Preface: “I got into practice to help horses. As a practicing clinician for over 20 years, I have often been bewildered by the array of therapeutic choices presented to me at conferences, in advertisements, and at stall-side conferences with my clients. It has always seemed to me that veterinary practice should be more than providing a poker table full of therapeutic ‘options,’ then letting the chips fall where they may. I have come to believe that an evidence-based approach to medicine offers veterinarians a clear-cut path to help make more rational clinical decisions—decisions that directly benefit horses and the people who own them, and it allows veterinarians to more efficiently and economically practice high quality medicine.”

book coverConcise Guide to Medications, Supplements and Herbs for the Horse (Trafalgar Square Books, 2nd edn., 2007). In today’s horse industry the ongoing debate between traditional and alternative medications can be truly overwhelming, and herbs and supplements are pre-packaged with “promises” of improvement. To help owners decide what their horses do and don’t need, the most common drugs, hormones, supplements, and herbs for horses are described and evaluated in a long-trusted guide, updated to reflect the latest scientific findings.

book coverComplementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine Considered, with Bernard E. Rollin (Wiley-Blackwell, 2003). This book can help practicing veterinarians to make informed decisions about specific CAVM therapies. It evaluates various prevalent therapies, and gives veterinarians the ethical and scientific bases they need to make sound decisions regarding CAVM therapies. For the veterinarian wondering whether to incorporate complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) into a practice, or having recently hired an associate eager to try such things as acupuncture or homeopathy, or with clients asking about chiropractic, herbal, or magnetic field therapy for their pets, here is a basis for understanding the history, science and ethics behind such therapies. The book thoroughly examines a variety of CAVM therapies and asks important questions regarding many alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, laser and light therapy, chiropractic, energy medicine and magnetic therapy.

book cover Consumer’s Guide to Alternative Therapies in the Horse (Wiley-Blackwell, 1999). A discussion and exploration of what works, and what doesn’t, based on scientific evidence. This book helps evaluate both common and alternative treatments, and in doing so, helps owners give a horse a more healthy, productive life. Here owners can sort through the misconceptions and myths surrounding alternative therapies, and learn what science has discovered about them. Presented is current scientific knowledge on acupuncture, manual therapy, massage, homeopathy, energy medicine, herbal therapy, laser and light therapy, magnetic therapy, and much more.


Selected Publications:

  • “Is There a Placebo Effect for Animals?” Science Based Medicine, 2008 Oct 25.
  • “Statement of chiropractic manipulations for the back lacks support,” Equine Veterinary Journal, 2008 Jul; 40(5):523.
  • “The end of veterinary homeopathy”  (with A Rijnberk), Australian Veterinary Journal, 2007 Dec; 85(12):513-516. [DOI]
  • “Evidence-based gastrointestinal medicine in horses: it’s not about your gut instincts” (with R Nolen-Walston & J Paxson), Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice, 2007 Aug; 23(2):243-266.
  • “An introduction to evidence-based veterinary medicine” (with M Holmes), Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice, 2007 Aug; 23(2):192-200.
  • “Veterinary Acupuncture and Historical Scholarship, Part III: Politics, Popularity, and the Promotion of TCM” (with RH Imrie & PD Buell), The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, 2005 Spring-Summer; 9(1):.
  • “Homeopathic veterinary medicine” (with A Goldman, M Milstein, D Haas, HC Robinson, PR Plante, JT Lumeij, M Graper, R Imrie, V Devaney, S Urfer, PJ Johnson, R Dalefield, P Yankauskas, DH Jaggar & E Reinertson), The Veterinary Record, 2005 Sep; 157(13):391. [DOI]
  • “What’s the point?” New Humanist, 2005 Jan-Feb; 120(1):.
  • “A true history of acupuncture” (with P Buell), Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 2004 Dec; 9(4):269-273.
  • “Acupuncture and ‘traditional Chinese medicine’ in the horse” (with PD Buell), Equine Veterinary Education, (Part 1: a historical overview) 2004 Aug, 16(4):218-224; (Part 2: a scientific overview) 2005 Apr, 17(2):136-144.
  • “Inaccurate acupuncture history,” Rheumatology, 2004 Dec; 43(12):1593.
  • “Evidence-based conclusions missing from study,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004 Nov 1; 225(9):1332.
  • “Differing opinions on regulating CAVM.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003 Aug 1; 223(3):299-300.
  • “Regulatory aspects of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003 Jun 15; 222(12):1679-1682.
  • “Alternative therapies:  doing the right thing.” Veterinary Forum, 2003; 20(4):27-31.
  • “AVMA’s proposed Model Veterinary Practice Act: an open letter to the AVMA Practice Act Task Force” (with RH Imrie), Veterinary Watch, 2003.
  • “Massage therapy in the horse:  assessing its effectiveness from empirical data in humans and animals”  (with PM Tiidus), Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 2002; 24(5):418-423.
  • “An analysis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate content in oral joint supplement products” (with N Eddington, E Thonar & M Lee), Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2002 Mar; 22(3):125-127.
  • “Look before you leap,” Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice, 2001; 17(2):195-208.
  • “Medicine can’t be everything to everyone,” British Medical Journal, 2001 Jun 16; 322(7300):1484. [DOI]
  • “Equine medicine in Sixth Century China:  Qimin yaoshu” (with P Buell), in P Rossdale & RE Green, eds., Guardians of the Horse II (Romney Publications, 2001):154-161.
  • “A review of the Western veterinary literature on equine acupuncture”  (with M Lee & NT Messer), Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2001 Feb; 21(2): 56-60.
  • “Ethical aspects of proof and ‘alternative’ therapies” (with B Rollin), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001 Feb 1; 218(3): 343-346.
  • “Facts and fallacies in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine” (with RH Imrie & PD Buell), Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 2001; 23(2):188-193.
  • “Acupuncture lacks scientific evidence,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2001 Jan 15; 218(2):190-191.
  • “Do acupuncture points and meridians actually exist?” (with PD Buell), Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 2000; 22(12):.
  • “The evidence for evidence-based medicine” (with RH Imrie), Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2000 Jun; 8(2):123-126.
  • “No legitimate alternatives” (with VT Valli), DVM Journal, 2000; 12.
  • “The scientific evidence for homeopathy,” Priorities for Health, 2000; 12(1):.
  • “Evidence for homeopathy is lacking,” British Medical Journal, 2000 May 13; 320(7245):1341. [DOI]
  • “Effect of a static magnetic field on blood flow to the metacarpus in horses” (with PF Steyn, J Kirschvink & J Uhrig), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000 Sep 15; 217(6):874-877.
  • “Readers question articles in support of complementary and alternative therapies,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000 Aug 1; 217(3):320.
  • “Further comments on veterinary chiropractic” (with JC Keating), The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2000 Jul; 41(7):518-519.
  • “Thoughts on teaching complementary and alternative therapies,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000 Apr 15; 216(8):1209.
  • “Claims for veterinary chiropractic unjustified” (with JC Keating, RH Imrie & D Bowles), The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2000 Mar; 41(3):169-70.
  • “A Review of laser therapy in the horse” (with JR Basford), Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 2000; 22(3):.
  • “Veterinary homeopathy – a rebuttal” (with RH Imrie & D Bowles), The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2000 Jan; 41(1):3-4.
  • “The evidence for evidence-based medicine” (with RH Imrie), Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2000 Jun; 8(2):123-126.
  • “The scientific evidence on homeopathy,” American Council on Science and Health, 2000 Jan 1.
  • “Horsefeathers: acupuncture from a veterinary perspective” (with J Raso), Priorities for Health, 1999 Spring; 11(2):.
  • “Acupuncture founded on magical and mystical musings about how the world works” (with RH Imrie & D Bowles), The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 1999 Dec; 40(12):840-841.
  • “Horsefeathers:  acupuncture from a veterinary perspective” (with J Raso), Priorities for Health, 1999; 11(2):.
  • “Magnetic and electromagnetic therapy in the horse,” Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 1999; 21(6):.
  • “Alternative therapies for a reason,” World Equine Veterinary Review, 1999 Jun.
  • “Homeopathy and science: a closer look” (with MH Wagner, RH Imrie & VJ Stenger), The Technology Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1999; 6(1):95-105.
  • “Energy medicine” (with V Stenger), in DW Ramey, Consumer’s Guide to Alternative Therapies in the Horse (Wiley-Blackwell, 1999):55-66.
  • “Herbal medications and horses,” Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 1998 Nov.
  • “Pathological science,” World Equine Veterinary Review, 1998; 3(2):25-27.
  • “Magnetic and electromagnetic therapy,” Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, 1998; 2(1):13-19.
  • “How to evaluate evidence,” World Equine Veterinary Review, 1998; 3(1):26-30.
  • “Why therapies may seem to work (even when they don’t),” World Equine Veterinary Review, 1997; 2(4):32-34. (also Keynote Address, Texas Equine Industry Conference, Texas A&M University, 1999)
  • “Veterinary chiropractic,” ChiroBase, revised 2000 Dec 15.

In the News:


Selected Presentations:

  • “Nutritional Content of Five Equine Nutritional Supplements Relative to a 500 Kg Working Horse,” with Stephen S. Duren, PowerPoint presentation, American Association of Equine Practitioners, 20 Nov 2011.
  • “International Speaker, Equine Veterinarians Australia, Bain-Fallon Conference on Equine Medicine and Surgery, 2008 Jul:

    • “An introduction to evidence-based medicine”
    • “An evidence-based assessment of alternative therapies”
    • “An evidence-based assessment of the decision for colic surgery”
    • “An evidence-based assessment of the diagnosis and treatment of common equine endocrine disorders”
    • “The evidence in support of routine preventive care”
    • “An evidence-based approach to selected equine joint therapies”

  • International Speaker, Australian Veterinary Association, 85th Annual Meeting, 2006 May:

    • “Ethics and evidence-based medicine”
    • “Why therapies may seem to work, even when they don’t”
    • “How to read a scientific paper”
    • “An introduction to evidence-based medicine”
    • “Acupuncture: history” 
    • “Acupunture: science” 
    • “Herbal medicine: an evidence-based review”
    • “Homeopathy: an evidence-based review”
    • “Chiropractic: an evidence-based review”
    • “Colic diagnosis: an evidence-based guide”
    • “Laminitis: an evidence-based review”
    • “An evidence-based review of Navicular Syndrome”
    • “Effects of shoeing and trimming the horse’s foot: an evidence-based review”

  • “My dog/cat/horse limps and has osteoarthritis. What should I tell my client about ‘alternative’ that they can use for their pet?” Alternative Medicine for the Medical Practitioner, University of Chicago School of Medicine, 2001.
  • “Science and veterinary medicine: a candle in the dark.” Phi Zeta Research Day, University of Missouri, 2001.
  • “Acupuncture: what’s the point?” Alternative Medicine for the Medical Practitioner, University of Chicago School of Medicine, 2000.
  • “A review of the evidence for the existence of acupuncture points and meridians,” 46th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 2000.
  • “Science in veterinary medicine,”  Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1999; Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 2000 Mar; University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine, 2000 Oct; Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 2000.
  • “Magnetic and pulsating electromagnetic field therapy and low-intensity laser therapy,” Alternative Medicine for the Medical Practitioner, University of Chicago School of Medicine, 1999.
  • “How to read a scientific paper,” 45th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 1999 Dec; Proceedings, 45:280-284.
  • “Alternative therapies in the horse,” Keynote Address, Equine Health Day, University of Missouri, 1999.
  • “The effect of magnetic wraps on circulation to the equine third metacarpal region”  (with P Steyn & J Kirschvink), 44th Annual International Conference of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (1998 Dec):272-274.
  • “Hormone use in performance horses,” 43rd Annual International Conference of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, 1997.


The Online David Ramey:

logo
logo

Upcoming Events:

  • Speaker on “alternative” veterinary medicine at the American Veterinary Medicine Association Convention, St. Louis, MO, 2011 Jul 16-19.