How we research and check our work
The goal is simple: give you the best data for your decision, and show our work so you can trust it. Here is the standard every guide is held to.
Every clinical claim is sourced
If a claim rests on science, it carries a numbered citation that links to a source you can open and read. We grade sources in three tiers.
Tier 1 — Institutional and peer-reviewed. Veterinary journals, AVMA, AAHA, RCVS, FDA, university vet centers, systematic reviews and trials. Every clinical claim leans on at least this or Tier 2.
Tier 2 — Trade and professional. dvm360, AKC expert advice, specialty associations, vet-authored explainers.
Tier 3 — Community and sentiment. Reddit, forums, owner stories. Used only for color and to surface real questions, never as the basis for a medical claim, and always labeled as anecdote.
We check before we publish
Before anything goes live, we run an adversarial review: confirm every cited source exists and actually says what the draft claims, flag any number without a primary source, and cut weasel words. AI helps with the first pass. A human makes the call.
We show both sides
For each topic we present the conventional and the holistic or integrative view fairly, including research from outside the US, because regulators in different countries draw the line differently and that disagreement is part of the honest picture.
What we are not
This is information, not veterinary advice. We do not diagnose your dog or tell you exact doses. We help you understand the options and walk into the vet visit prepared. Always talk to a licensed veterinarian about your own dog.