Why evidence-based medicine matters in veterinary care

A new SkeptVet post argues that evidence-based medicine isn’t just a research ideal, but a practical safeguard against misinformation and the cognitive biases that can distort clinical judgment. In the December 3, 2025 article, veterinarian Brennen McKenzie frames evidence-based medicine as the formal integration of the best available research with clinical expertise and client values, while warning that intuition, anecdote, and expert opinion alone can mislead clinicians. That framing is consistent with how major veterinary evidence organizations define evidence-based veterinary medicine, including RCVS Knowledge and the Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association. (skeptvet.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is really a reminder that evidence-based medicine is less about rigidly following studies and more about making better decisions under uncertainty. RCVS Knowledge describes EBVM as applying the best and most relevant scientific evidence alongside clinical expertise and each patient and pet parent’s circumstances, and McKenzie similarly emphasizes that the method helps clinicians identify uncertainty clearly rather than hide it behind confidence. In a misinformation-heavy environment, that matters for conversations about diagnostics, treatments, supplements, vaccine concerns, and other topics where pet parents may arrive with strong beliefs shaped by social media or anecdote. (rcvsknowledge.org)

What to watch: Expect continued discussion around how practices, educators, and professional groups translate EBVM principles into everyday communication with pet parents, especially as misinformation pressures keep growing. (rcvsknowledge.org)