Veterinary Podcast by the VetGurus

We are pleased, and relieved, to have Mark back from his recent ventures near Sulawesi in Indonesia. He was there at the time of the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami which has resulted in devastating loss of life and environmental destruction. The VetGurus get all the breaking news. This week Brendan is breathless talking about an inflatable pet hospital and spins some positive talk about Australian funnel-web spiders, whilst Mark muses on why mammals went the fur route instead of feathers and is surprised at the spotting of a beluga whale in the Thames River in England. Patient care from admission to discharge is our main topic this week. Mark and Brendan dispense tips and their tricks to ensure the patient is cared for properly and respectfully. They provide some great practice building tips and also tell a few lame jokes. Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials and Specialised Animal Nutrition Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Contact us: [email protected] | Twitter: @VetGurus | Facebook: facebook.com/VetGurus/ Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Sponsors: Specialised Animal Nutrition and Chemical Essentials. Links: Inflatable veterinary field hospital launched ahead of South Australia’s fire season Why did mammals go the fur route, rather than developing feathers? Deadly Australian funnel-web spiders can also kill melanoma cancer cells, study shows ‘Extremely rare’ beluga whale spotted in Thames in London

Dinosaurs are alive – at a new theme park in Portugal. Why do small dogs aim high when urinating? – Mark finds out! Brendan is concerned about a neighbourhood overrun by goats and a bounty placed on a Police dog’s head by a drug cartel. As usual, we report the important stories. Nasty Nine: The main topic this week is a quick rundown of 9 nasty conditions in unusual pets that Mark and Brendan don’t like dealing with. Do you have a condition to add to the list: please email us [email protected] Please support our sponsors Specialised Animal Nutrition and Chemical Essentials. Links: Dinosaur themed park has opened in Portugal Neighbourhood overrun by goats Small dogs aim high when peeing Drug cartel puts bounty on police dog’s head Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

We dig deep into the sticky issue of the reported medicinal properties of Manuka honey. Our main topic this week is Unusual Pets: more specifically, we outline common unusual pet species and debate which make good pets, and which species should not be kept. Brendan competes his review of the Clarius veterinary wireless ultrasound system. He gives its a high 9.4 Send us an email to enter our competition for a mystery prize pack delivered to your door: [email protected] Links: Manuka Honey -science or snake oil? Unique pollen signatures in Australian honey could help tackle a counterfeit industry Why do Canberrans pronounce Manuka differently? Please support our main sponsors: Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus  

A puppy undergoes a world first complex heart surgery in London. Are we heading for a world without turtles? We also try to answer patron Sandy’s thought provoking email questions. On a lighter note we look at the finalists for the 2018 Comedy Wildlife Photography awards. Our main topic this week is oestrogen toxicity in ferrets: what is it? We chat about how to treat it, and what steps you can do to prevent it. Enter our 50th episode competition to win! Just send us an email to enter. It IS that simple: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus The film review by Brendan is The Big Year. He gives it a 7.3. Please support our main sponsors: Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Links: Puppy undergoes world-first combination surgery Finalists For Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2018 Are we heading for a world without turtles?

We welcome our new ‘beardie’ patron: Sandy from Canberra, Australia. A big shout out to Sandy for helping cover our production costs, and thanks for the thought-provoking email – keep them coming! Why don’t YOU become a patron of our show, become famous, and feel good on the inside and outside? Visit Patreon.com/vetgurus for more details. In news this week California passes a bill banning the sale of cosmetics tested on animals and we bemoan the extinction of some bird species. In the final news story we discuss whether a puppy can save endangered owls. Endoscopy basics is the main topic of this week. Mark and Brendan get excited and enthuse about all the places you can shove a metal tube into! We outline the basics of endoscopy for those wishing to get started. It’s fun, easy to start, and a lot more inexpensive than you think. As Arnie would say: “Do it, do it now!” Links: These 8 bird species are the first to be declared extinct this decade California passes bill banning sale of cosmetics tested on animals Scientists want to train this puppy to save endangered owls Please support our main sponsors: Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

We investigate the New Zealand town that wants to ban cats. A huge drop of a king penguin population. Are Mumbai’s leopard’s good or bad? Thats the news stories for this week.. oh, and Mark talks about how to hang a birdhouse without harming the tree or the bird! Rabbit nutrition is the main topic this week. What is the best diet for pet rabbits? What is bad? What is toxic? Listen and find out all this and more. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Become a patron of the VetGurus – how about a being a bug, a rabbit or maybe an echidna? We have supporter levels of varying types. ALL the proceeds go back into help cover our costs for producing the podcast. So go-on – become a patron: Patreon.com/vetgurus Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Links: NZ town that wants to ban cats Worlds biggest king penguin population plummets 90% Mumbai’s leopards have killed humans – but could they also be saving lives? How to hang a birdhouse without harming the tree or bird!  

Pacific Chocolate and the koala genome – what’s the link? Listen and find out. Also hear about the vegetarian bear, dairy farming in India and finally, why chickens may wear diapers/nappies. Now that’s a variety of news items. Chlamydiosis in birds is this weeks main topic. Brendan quizzes Mark to find out how prevalent this disease is in pet birds, then they both discuss zoonotic aspects of this disease – Psittacosis. The discussion includes diagnostic steps, treatment options and control. Links: Cracking the koala genetic code Large vegetarian bear Does your chicken need a diaper? The Indian dairy industry Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Dogs prefer reggae when stressed… apparently. Or did you already know that? How about teaching birds to collect litter? Or did you hear about the Dengue fever outbreak halted by the release of mosquitoes? So many great news stories this week we decided to finish with 20 things you may not know about Zebras. Once you’ve listened to all this news you will be ready for your local quiz night, or to bore your family or partner. Mammary tumours in rats and mice is the main topic this week. Brendan and Mark discuss their approach to the these neoplasms in rodents: from diagnosis, to treatment, and prevention. Links: Stressed dogs prefer reggae and soft rock French theme park teaches birds to collect litter Dengue fever outbreak halted by release of special mosquitoes 20 things you may not know about Zebras Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Brendan wants to go to Bali – for work of course. Maybe he will be less angry about the situation with greyhound racing in New South Wales if he had a break? Mark goes mad about the pesky parasite toxoplasmosis, then sniffs out a story details dog’s detecting cancer in our final news story this week. Upper respiratory tract diseases of the rabbit is our main topic this week. ‘Snuffles’ is the catch-all phrase often used to describe these disorders. We talk about the various causes of these commonly seen upper respiratory diseases in rabbits. Mark and Brendan then get down to a serious discussion of treatment and have a philosophical debate on the possibility of preventing these conditions. Links: Greyhound racing prize criticised in New South Wales The dark side of toxoplasma Joint Conference of the Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) and the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia (WDAA) in Bali Dog’s noses and cancer detection Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus    

Is it a fish, is it a bird – or is it just a toxic mess? We look at the amazing fish-bird found in China. A kelpie sells for a record price in Australia. In our last news story Mark gets angry, very angry, about some ‘facts’ of the Jurassic world film. Our main topic this week is in response to an email from a long-time subscriber. Tom asks ‘how do I encourage veterinary staff to get excited about unusual and exotic pets?’ Listen on and we will try to help answer this, and more questions or is that answers?! Links: Half-fish half-bird found in China Working dog sells for record price Fact checking Jurassic world Please support our main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

A new species of armoured dinosaur has been identified and we report on this gorgeous, yet extinct, animal in our first news story. Brendan is sad, and his dogs know it; Mark is excited about a sun bear birth in the UK and is the pet trade killing off species? We find out – because we get the big stories. Respiratory diseases in rats and mice is our main topic this week. An important topic, chronic respiratory disease is endemic in pet rodents – certainly a topic not to sneeze at. Support our sponsors: When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Links: Scientists discover new species of armored dinosaur that lived 76 million years ago Dogs know when we are sad Birth of a sun bear cub in UK Trading in extinction: how the pet trade is killing off many animal species Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Welcome to the VetGurus podcast! Where else can you find out how to stop seagulls getting drunk, learn about a new species of venomous snake, hear about breeding rhinos in Australia and debate the pros and cons of animal research? Nowhere else! That’s why you listen (sometimes) and why we provide you with the best (or maybe the most obscure) news items.. and keep the emails coming in with news items for us to share. Our main topic this week is vomiting in dogs. Brendan and Mark chat about cases of ‘garbage guts’ – acute vomiting in dogs. They discuss their top 10 – or maybe 20 – tips for dealing with these cases, such as how long do you ‘rest the gut’? What diagnostics to consider (or not)? Links: Drunk seagulls Rhinos in Australia? New species of venomous snake discovered Animal research: Necessary evil? The Joint Conference of the Asian Society of Conservation Medicine (ASCM) and the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia (WDAA) in Bali Oct 28th to 29th 2018 Support our sponsors: When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus  

A flight crew springs to action to help a French Bulldog. How smart are birds? – we find out – sort of; and a discussion of wild animals helping us in the garden are news items this week. Our final news item is about an incursion of the varroa honey bee mite into Melbourne, Australia. This weeks main topic? Here it is: Illegal pets. Brendan and mark discuss the complex factors at play when dealing with illegal pets – from the massive money involved in the trade of these animals, the threat they are to ecosystems – both from zoonoses and competing with native species, and the decisions to make when presented with these animals at a veterinary clinic. Our product review this week is the Clarius C7 wireless portable veterinary ultrasound. Brendan had the opportunity to trial this ultrasound in his practice recently and he found it very user-friendly, in fact a joy to use compared to traditional ultrasounds. Brendan checks out another Clarius ultrasound soon and he will score these products in a later podcast. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Links: Clarius C7 Veterinary Ultrasound Illegal trade in wildlife Flight crew helps French Bulldog How smart are birds? Wild animals help guard your garden Varroa mites detected in Melbourne, Australia Support our sponsors: When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products.    

Here we go again with topical veterinary news, information and lame jokes. Mark is seeing a run on nutritional deficits in patients presented to Sugarloaf Animal Hospital, which leads to a discussion of home made versus commercial foods for pets. Flat faced rabbits are in the news for all the wrong reasons, and we find out how bees may save elephants from train collisions. Poncho the Police Dog in in the news for his resuscitation play. On our final news story we chat about snail-sucking snakes- why not? Ferrets are our main topic this week. In particular, we discuss insulinomas in pet ferrets. We cover the diagnosis, treatment options and possible causes of this relatively common condition. And, as usual, Mark has a theory…. Please support our two main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Links: Brachycephalic rabbits – information here and here Elephants colliding with trains and how to avoid 5 new species of snail-sucking snakes discovered Poncho the Police Dog Cockatiel that speaks guinea pigs Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

How should we talk to dogs? We finds out all about ‘dog speak’ in our first news item. Dachshunds are popular pets in the UK – should they be? A good news story to finish: a dog saves a young boy from a dryer. Dr David Middleton is our star guest and main topic for this week. David is the owner of Mt. Mary vineyard in the Yarra Vallet wine region of Melbourne, Australia. Not only is he famous for his wonderful wines, David mentored Brendan when he was a zoo veterinarian. We sit down with David to discuss wildlife medicine, tell a few stores, and David tells us a wonderful story from his days working as a zoo veterinarian in the field. A wonderful man and a person we could chat to for much longer. We expect we will have David back on our podcast in the future. The interview was done at the Australian Veterinary Association annual conference. Product review Mark scores a 8.6 for the : Alivecor vet ECG monitor Please support our two main sponsors. When you next purchase their products let them know you listen to the VetGurus and thank them for supporting us!! Chemical Essentials. Cleaning and disinfection products and solutions for a wide variety of industries throughout Australia, as well as specific markets in New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. The sole importer of the internationally acclaimed F10SC Disinfectant and its related range of advanced cleaning, personal hygiene and animal skin care products. Specialised Animal Nutrition. Specialised Animal Nutrition is the Australian distributor of Oxbow Animal Health products. Used and recommended by top exotic animal veterinarians around the globe, the Oxbow range comprises premium life-staged feeds and supportive care products for small herbivores. Links: Mt. Mary Winery European Wasps Dog Speak Dachshunds as pets in Britain Dog saves boy from tumble dryer Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Bees get stressed – really! Good news about the wild jaguars of Mexico, and Mark is talking to dogs and trying to stop cats eating wildlife. In other news Brendan and Mark finally catch up on some emails, and we announce or new sponsors. Gout in reptiles is the main topic this week. We discuss what it is, the signs of gout in reptiles, diagnostic steps and treatment options. We are excited to introduce our two main sponsors: Chemical Essentials and Specialised Animal Nutrition. They have donated a considerable sum to help cover the costs to produce the VetGurus podcast. More details on our sponsors soon! Please visit their website and support our supporters.. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettalkpodcast/ Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Birds can see Earth’s magnetic fields – we find out how. A dog saves a child lost in the Australian outback, predators help farmers and mushrooms kill dogs. A mix of news stories this week to get things started. Thanks to Doug Black for the link to the Bird article. Euthanasia is our main topic. Specifically, we walk through the 2-stage process for euthanasia of unusual pets, and also discuss the logistics of how to help our clients during the stressful time of the planned death of a loved pet. Our review this week is a non- veterinary topic: the film Solo: A Star Wars Story. Brendan gives it a 6 out of 10 and Mark scores a 6.2. Both of us were very disappointed with this film and suggest anyone considering watching it wait until it is out for viewing at home via streaming on on DVD/Bluray. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Links: Birds can see Earth’s magnetic fields Dogs die for eating poisonous mushrooms Dog keeps child safe in Australian wilderness Helping farmers: the benefits of predators Pushing animals to be more nocturnal

Did you know blue-tongued skinks have UV emitting tongues? Now you do. Who is Pizza the polar bear and why should you care? Why are most dolphins called Bruce, and what’s with all the questions?? All these questions and more are answered in our news section. Product reviews: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury gets a 9.451 out of 10 from Brendan. Fencing wire for use as an endotracheal stylet gets a 10 out of 10. The main topic this week is Part 2 of Dental Disease in Rabbits. We dive into the gear recommended to perform dental treatments in rabbits, and also describe the methods for extracting incisors and burring cheek teeth. Links: Blue-tongue skinks and their UV emitting tongues Pizza the Polar Bear Bees and nothing Male dolphin names Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Does the human race do anything right? Well, we are very good at eradicating other species. Greyhound racing is banned in the Australian Capital Territory and giant predatory worms have invaded France! So what exactly is the Icarus project and why are we excited about it? Listen to our news section to find out. A rapid fire discussion of 10 conditions of unusual pets is our main topic this week. Brendan and Mark point out some common reasons why various unusual pets are brought to see a vet – including some conditions you may be seeing, but not noticing. Links: Human race just 0.01% of all life but has eradicated most other living things Greyhound racing and trialling in Australian Capital Territory banned Giant predatory worms have invaded France Where do songbirds go when the music’s over? The Icarus project Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Calls to ban trade in amphibians from Asia is our first news story. Do therapy dogs like their work? – we find out. The sad story of the Vaquita, the smallest porpoise species in the world leaves us depressed, so in our final news story we are amazed as a crow steals a credit card and tries to buy a train ticket! We interview Doug Black from Microchips Australia for our main feature this week. We discover the power of the ostrich. Doug has a fascinating story to tell: how he became an Ostrich vet – almost by chance – and he regales us with some stories of veterinary work during the ostrich farming boom. He then talks about his other interests including his wonderful work for male mental health. A great person and a great interview. Links: Microchips Australia Calls to ban trade in Amphibians from Asia. End Extinction International Do therapy dogs like their work? Crow steals credit card to buy ticket Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

The news just keeps on coming… this week Mark discusses stress in the veterinary workplace and the love life of Dora the hawk. Brendan discussed the amusing husbandry and feeding of veterinarians for new owners guide. Dingoes and some myths about these canines is the last story this week. Mark’s product review is the rabbit appeasing pheromone. He refuses to score it, as it is not available for use here in Australia! Zoonoses, in particular Q Fever – or Query fever – is our main topic this week. We discuss the importance and risks of this bacterial organism Links: Myths about Dingoes Hawk comes home from hospital to find her man shacked up with another bird Husbandry and feeding of veterinarians for new owners Rabbit Appeasing Pheromone About Q fever in Australia Q Fever general information CDC Q fever website (USA) Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

The news kicks off with the announcement of our competition winner. Congratulations to Elizabeth Pearson! Your signed book is on its way. In other news we report on a potential threat for the rarest ape in the world, the naming of species after celebrities, and the difficulties of livestock live export. Another non-veterinary ‘product’ review by Mark today, with a lowdown on a music video by Childish Gambino. We are on the road this week, reporting from the Australian Veterinary Association 2018 annual conference in Brisbane, Queensland. We have interviews from the trade floor, discussing products available from Specialised Animal Nutrition and Chemical Essentials, and learning a bit more about the owners of these companies and the journey they have taken to get to where they are. Links: China-backed Sumatran dam threatens the rarest ape in the world The naming of species after celebrities Can meat exports be made humane? Childish Gambino – This is America video Specialised Animal Nutrition Chemical Essentials Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Should we be more like sloths? In our first news story we discuss this important topic. In other news a tiger cub found in a bag is recovering well after being rescued, the unusual sex life of brown widow spiders, and veterinary interns speak out against exploitation. A flurry of emails last week with more entries for our book competition. The competition is now closed and we will announce the winner soon! An email from subscriber Nick asks for more information on the use of deslorelin implants in ferrets as an alternative to surgical desexing. See the links below for reference to scientific articles on this subject. Our main topic this week is fleas in dogs and cats. Mark and Brendan cover the basics, from diagnosis, treatment options and through in a few fun facts to keep things interesting. Links: Why we should live our lives more like sloths Tiger cub found in duffel bag expected to make full recovery Male brown widow spiders prefer mature ladies   Hormone therapy for chemical desexing of ferrets articles: Use of a Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist Implant Containing 4.7 mg Deslorelin for Medical Castration in Male Ferrets Use of a GnRH agonist implant as alternative for surgical neutering in pet ferrets. Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Death is in the news this week with the end of the world’s oldest spider at the age of 43, the weird and depressing world of hummingbird love charm trafficking, and we follow the trail of the London thylacines. Brighter news is the novel approach to control of locusts in China through the use of a chicken army! Brendan has a book review this week: Clinical anatomy and physiology of exotic species by B. O’Malley. An excellent text for anyone interested in unusual/exotic pet medicine and surgery, packed full of practical diagrams, tips and advice. A must for exotics vets and technicians/nurses. Brendan scores it a high 9.5 out of 10. Enter our competition: 1 week until close of entries! Send in an email to [email protected] with a veterinary story for a chance to win a signed copy of A Guide to Health and Disease in Reptiles and Amphibians. Shipping to the winner – wherever they are located in the world – is included. So drop us a line, say hi and tell us a story! Links for this week: Inside the Strange World of Dried Hummingbird Love Charm Trafficking China drafts chicken army to fight locusts On the trail of the London thylacines World’s oldest spider dies aged 43 in Western Australia Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

News is a bit depressing this week with a story about a kangaroo in a zoo stoned because it wasn’t hoping for visitors; popular animals facing higher extinction rates and the severity of the 2016 Great Barrier Reef bleaching. Brighter news is the story of Toby the cat who found a new home after his owners rejected him. The product review from Mark is a bit left-field, with his take on the state of Australian basketball. We’re not sure what it has to do with veterinary medicine, however his enthusiasm is infectious and he gives the Australian basketball a perfect score of 10. Not much room for improvement! Avian anaesthesia, with emphasis on how to keep the patient stable .. and alive.. during the procedure, is our main topic. Brendan quizzes Mark to learn the secrets of bird anaesthesia, including a discussion on mounting, fluid therapy, thermal support and more. Don’t forget to send in an email to [email protected] with a veterinary story for a chance to win a signed copy of A Guide to Health and Disease in Reptiles and Amphibians. Shipping to the winner – wherever they are located in the world – is included. So drop us a line, say hi and tell us a story! Links: A kangaroo wouldn’t hop – so zoo visitors stoned it to death Popular animals face higher risk of extinction Toby the cat walked 12 miles to get back to the family that didn’t want him How the 2016 bleaching altered the shape of the northern Great Barrier Reef Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Quirky news again this week, which begins with talk on empathy – can it be learned, is there a genetic factor or who cares? A field study of Mary River Turtles in Australia reveals an ageing population. The cannibal Red Squirrels of Yukon and the death of Australia’s last flamingo are our last news stories. Our main topic discusses the benefits of desexing, with particular emphasis on small mammals. What are the other benefits of desexing apart from the obvious prevention of breeding and helping control behaviour issues? Mark and Brendan point out significant reasons why we need to desex our small mammals. Links: Can you learn empathy? ‘They might just disappear’: warning over ‘punk’ turtle’s future Squirrels Are Also Baby-Killing Cannibals Australia’s last flamingo, ‘Chile’, dies at Adelaide Zoo Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Brendan has lost his mind – literally. He outlines his recent experience with transient global amnesia and a stay in hospital over the Easter period. In other news birds are pests in Melbourne – or are they?; and the concerns about backyard chickens and human health. Our main topic this week is dental disease in rabbits. We regard this as such an important (and often requested) topic that this is part one of a series of podcasts on rabbit dental disease. Links: Lyssavirus in Queensland Transient Global Amnesia Increased numbers of long- billed Corellas in Melbourne Backyard Chickens and Human Health concerns Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

A dog in a park, Sea Turtles on a Mumbai beach, and a billboard built for birds in Sweden are the varied news items this week. In other news, Mark ponders on how rabies causes aggression. Our main topic is eggs and incubation. Mark talks us through the process of candling eggs to determine if the embryo is viable, the basics of incubation and tips to maximise the chance of the eggs hatching. We then provide an overview of the approach to infertility in birds – what to do when a client brings infertile eggs into the clinic for advice. Links: Priam Parrot Breeding information Sea turtles return to Mumbai beach after 20-year absence How does rabies cause aggression? Photographer captures bittersweet spirit of a dog who has been living in a park for 13 years Swedish billboard is quite literally for the birds Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

The news topics just keep on coming: How can dogs help us understand cancer? Can we use cats to control feral rats?; and some quirky facts (and fiction) about platypus. These are the news items this week, together with the sad tale of the last male northern white rhino dying. Sorry is the title of our main topic this week, as we delve into the complex matter of dealing with complaints. Brendan and Mark outline their experiences with dealing with complaints, and provide some thoughts on the best way to tackle these – something few, if any, people enjoy dealing with. Our product review is the Spidentify app for Australian spider identification Links: Platypus facts (or fiction?) How dogs are helping us understand cancer Last male northern white rhino dies Are feral cats the answer to rat infestations? Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

How long have you had your pet? We meet a woman who has had the same pet for 56 years. Mark gets the claws out and becomes haughty about declawing, and is anxious about caring for sick pets. In the final news item we put to bed the age-old question – can a newt kill you? This week’s main topic is how to make the surgical vet visit run smoothly from the client and pet perspective. Tips such as completing as much paperwork as possible before the surgery, having the client leave some favourite food and bedding items, and sending dog and cats home with a bandana are discussed – and more! We are excited to announce our competition. It’s easy to enter and you can win a signed copy of A Guide to Health and Disease in Reptiles and Amphibians, a text Brendan has co-authored. We will even pay for the postage to send it to the winner! How to enter: email us a funny veterinary story that you have witnessed – either as a veterinarian or a veterinary nurse/technician. Easy! send your story to [email protected]. Mark and Brendan will review the entries and announce the winner in an upcoming podcast. Good luck! News: Woman has the same pet for 56 years Can a newt kill you? Declawing linked to aggression and other abnormal behaviours in cats Caring for a sick pet can increase anxiety, depression Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Brendan may have Man Flu but that doesn’t stop the vet gurus from releasing another podcast full of veterinary goodness! He soldiers on, delirious, to warn us not to feed the monkeys, and directs our attention to a cute polar bear cub born in the UK. Mark presents 6 unusual facts about Tapirs and muses over the potential demise of the world’s smallest porpoise. Our review this week is a movie – or make that 2 movies: BladeRunner and the recently released BladeRunner 2049. Both of us award it over 9 out of 10. Top Tips and Tricks about Guinea Pigs is out main topic this week. We provide some fun facts and figures regarding our piggy friends, including the fact they don’t come from guinea, a disturbing picture of geriatric male guinea pig rectums, and the composition of uroliths in this species. Links: Please don’t feed the Florida Monkeys First Polar Cub born in the UK in 25 years Earth’s tiniest porpoise approaches extinction Tapir Facts Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Mark is looking resplendent in his Lacoste Polo shirt this week – trying to convince us he wears it for a good cause. In other news dogs are in the bad books – threatening wildlife and wreaking havoc on beaches, whilst Brendan ponders the choice of colour in a newly discovered giant slug. Mark’s book review is 1Q84, a dystopian novel. You can find more information here. He rates it a 7 out of 10. Brendan’s Melbourne Veterinary School Class 30th Reunion – can you see him? The main topic this week is dealing with dystocia in reptiles: What works? Medical or surgical or a combination of both? Oxytocin use, incubation of eggs, and an alternative use of the Toothpaste Technique is discussed. Links: Domestic dogs threaten endangered species worldwide Dogs and leashes, birds and beaches Lacoste swaps out iconic croc logo for endangered species The giant pink slugs of Mount Kaputar Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Mark is angry about dogs licking their faces, yet happy about horses roaming free. Brendan flexes his muscles with talk about a squirrel glider gym and is pleased that the 1st International Snail Grand National has been cancelled – ready, set, escargot for this and more from the VetGurus! Wildlife care is our main topic this week. A discussion on triage of wildlife brought into veterinary clinics, including decisions on when to euthanase, analgesia options, and the debate about who pays for wildlife care. Links: Przewalski’s horse: 10 things you didn’t know Squirrel Glider rehabilitation What do dogs licking lips tell us? Snail race cancelled Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus  

We marvel at the 2017 Wildlife Photo competition winners, watch some 3D with our praying mantis friends, and a cow joins a herd of wild bison in the news this week. A subscriber puts Brendan and mark on the spot by asking about the ethics of keeping unusual pets – or any pets for that matter. Our main topic this week is gastrointestinal stasis in rabbits – often referred to as gut stasis or ileus. The contributing factors of this condition in pet rabbits, together with treatment options are discussed, as well as preventative measures. Book Review: Exotic Animal Formulary 5th Edition can be found at BookDepository or Amazon. Brendan gives this essential reference text for exotic and unusual pets 8.9 out of 10. Links: 2017 WildlifePhoto Competition Winners 3D vision in Praying Mantises Cow joins a herd of wild Bison Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Mark is back from a holiday in Fiji, refreshed, tanned, and full of hot air. The news is mostly about birds this week, where we learn about bird brains, the pros and cons of feeding wild birds, and the sad life of a New Zealand Gannet. In brighter news, the invention of an edible 6-pack may help protect marine mammals. Our book review this week is a reptile text of great value and use for general practitioners, though Brendan refuses to give it a score out of 10: Listen to the podcast to find out why! Our main topic this week is ectoparasites of small mammals. We scratch the itch to discuss mange in guinea pigs, fur mites in rabbits, and rodents that can’t stop scratching. Just thinking about these topics is making us itchy. Book review: Reptile Medicine and Surgery in Clinical Practice or find it on the USA Wiley site here Links: Ecology expert to bid feeder Brewery’s edible 6-pack protects marine mammals Bird Brains No Mates Nigel the New Zealand Gannet   This is the Fiji resort that Mark stayed at. And here is a picture of one of his crabs!: Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

A thunderstorm, dodgy wifi and noisy neighbours make this weeks podcast special! Topical news includes discussion on a new species of Lemur discovery in Madagascar; a birding Facebook group gets all haughty and bans owl photos, and we wrestle with an article discussing the effects of war on wildlife. Mark gets off his couch to review an avian book full of pretty photos Then we wade into zoonoses as our main topic of the week with a discussion on avian chlamydia and salmonella in reptiles and their effects on humans. The book review by Mark is Owls,Frogmouths and Nightjars of Australia which he rates 8 out of 10. Links: Local Facebook birding group bans owl photos Elephants, lions and other wild animals are exquisitely sensitive to the effects of war Big-Eyed, Fluffy-Tailed Lemur Species Discovered CDC advice for reptiles and amphibian care NSW advice for safe handling of fish and reptiles Psittacosis advice sheet Australia Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

In news Mark talks about his sighting of the Regent Honeyeater, a critically endangered bird. Brendan reviews the Fujifilm Instax SP-1 Smartphone printer, a great promotional tool for clinics. The main topic for this week is something we are frequently asked about: the basics of reptile surgery. The discussion includes fluid therapy, suture selection and patterns, and heat retention and loss. Links: Regent Honeyeater For more information on the use of vascular clips for surgery: Hemoclips and Ligaclips Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus  

It’s the Australia Day holiday down under and Brendan and Mark are in a festive and feisty mood. News Mark jumps in the deep end to ponder on the meaning of Australia day – and what exactly should we be celebrating? Another load of news stories this week: Songbirds struggling with noise; banning of circus animals; and animal welfare campaigners protest a proposed dog breeding facility. in lighter news we jump on the treadmill with baby sea turtles and discuss a fishy story about tapeworm infections in humans. Book Review Brendan is good at sniffing out obscure titles and this week is no exception. Following on from the discussion in Episode 5, he reviews the educational, lighthearted, and fun book ‘Does it Fart?’. He scores it an aromatic 8.0 out of 10. Bearded Dragon Care The main topic is the iconic Australian reptile commonly kept as a pet world-wide, the Bearded Dragon (Pogona spp.). We outline the basics for keeping these as pets, and the common problems encountered when unwell bearded dragons are taken to veterinary clinics. Links Does it Fart? The definitive field guide to animal flatulence. Songbirds are struggling with noise pollution New Jersey (USA) plan to ban exotic circus animals suffers setback Animal welfare campaigners against proposed dog breeding facility in Australia Baby sea turtles on treadmills for science Tapeworm acquired from eating raw fish Can’t get enough of the VetGurus? Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

We are excited about our new professional recorded intro and outro. Lots of news this week: including how to cope with ‘vet shaming’; an automatic bird identification system program excites Mark; natures smallest rainbow found – on a spider; a lethal bat fungus sees the light, and Brendan dreams of heading off to Richard Branson’s private island. For our product review Brendan looks at the free PDF e-book Australasian Parasites Inside and Out. Ears are our topic for this week. We discuss the treatment of aural haematomas, and chat about various ear conditions in unusual pets, and ask the question ‘Why do most ferrets have grotty ears?’ Links: Coping with vet shaming Automatic bird identification system Nature’s smallest rainbow on spider Lethal bat fungus may be susceptible to UV light Richard Branson’s Koala Conservancy Australasian Parasites Inside and Out free e-book Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Here we are already half way through January. Brendan and Mark are both back at work fighting the good fight against pesky parasites, belligerent bacteria, vexatious virus, and cranky clients. In news, snake eggs are found in a school sandpit in Australia, pumas (or wild mountain lions) are picky when choosing their sleeping sites, and the Mekong region reveals over 100 new species. Mark fires Brendan up with a story about the animal inspirations behind the newest Star Wars creatures, then brings us back to earth with an article about the mental health of animal shelter workers. Since this is our 13th episode – lucky for some – we decided to make our main topic a chat about the lifespan of pets. How old can we expect our small mammals, birds and reptiles to live for? No spoilers – subscribe and listen to learn the answers. Links: Snake eggs found in Australian school sandpit Pumas sleeping habits revealed Mekong region reveals 115 new species Greater Mekong region Animal inspiration behind the Last Jedi creatures Why do animal shelter workers burn out? Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca

Welcome to 2018. We hope you had a safe and relaxing holiday period and wish all our listeners the best for the coming year. 2018 is off to a flying start, though perhaps not for birds in Brighton, England, where residents have installed spikes in trees. In other news, sea stars (starfish) make a comeback, a new species of spider is named after a famous musician, and brain surgery is performed in a fur seal. Mark chats about trazadone use in dogs for anxiety based behaviour disorders in a product review. In our main topic this episode we get to the bottom of anal gland disease in dogs. Mark and Brendan discuss their preferred treatment regimes for this common condition in pet canines. Links: Trazadone Bird spikes in trees ruffle feathers in England Sea stars make a comeback in California Brain surgery in a fur seal Intertidal spider discovered Contact us: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca  

Having (just) recovered from their Christmas festivities, including a face-to-face catch up in Melbourne, Mark and Brendan reminisce over the happenings in 2017. They look into their crystal ball for 2018 and consider the future of veterinary science. We receive a fascinating email from a subscriber in Singapore, who educates us on the otter population in Singapore. In other news we report of a fire at London Zoo, person is killed in the USA from a dog attack, and we discuss an article about Christmas and dogs. Mark is concerned about the low genetic diversity of ferrets in some geographical locations, and is looking younger due to his skiing. Our main topic this episode is our thoughts on the year about to end and what to expect in 2018 – what is the outlooks for graduates? What are the likely popular species of pets? We wish all our subscribers and listeners a wonderful New Year and a safe and happy 2018. We look forward to talking to you soon… and don’t forget to send us an email to say hi. Links: Singapore smooth coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata): OtterWatch Facebook Page BBC Article Video of Singapore Otters London Zoo reopens fire I won’t be alone at Christmas – I have a dog Dogs kill person in USA Low genetic diversity in ferrets The 20 hardest jobs to fill in Australia Low-altitude skiing can slow down aging Our contacts: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca  

Ho Ho Ho. In this special edition Mark and Brendan spread some Christmas cheer. Each of us review items for use over the holiday period – some veterinary based and some not. In news we talk about the world’s heaviest flying bird and a fossil named after Darth Vader. Looking for some new equipment to spice up your practice? Then consider the great fold-away and portable Buster ICU enclosure, which will pay for itself in no time. Or keep your patients toasty with the aptly named HotDog pet warming system. The Rycom non-contact clinical thermometer is a useful temperature measurement gadget that Mark uses – 5.9/10. Suprelorin (deslorelin) implants are reviewed by Mark, as well as bird foraging video. Tired of vet life and need something to take your mind off work? Look no further than the intriguing documentary about Vivian Maier. It’s a great true mystery documentary about a street photographer and excellent viewing even for those with little interest in photography, as it is also about the human condition and is very poignant. 9.2 out of 10 From Brendan. A novel to read over the Christmas break is Artemis. It is a science fiction novel set on the moon by the author of The Martian, which was made into a film starring Matt Damon. Artemis is the story of Jazz, a small time smuggler on the moon and her adventures. A fun, fast paced, easy to read novel perfect for the post Christmas period, recommended by Brendan. Or consider the book The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, a thought provoking read for the holiday period. A non-fiction text to consider is the Avian Anatomy, Textbook and colour atlas. This second edition text is a high quality production For some Christmas cheer consider a beer from the Grand Ridge Brewery, located in Mirboo North, east of Melbourne, Australia in the Gippsland region. Links: Hot Dog Veterinary Patient warming system Kruuse Buster ICU enclosure: A PDF detailing the enclosure can be found here; It can be purchased in Australia from various suppliers including Sound Veterinary Supplies Foraging for birds Suprelorin (deslorelin) implants information for ferrets here The Finding Vivian Maier movie is listed on IMDB. The official movie trailer is on YouTube. You can view many of her amazing street photos on the official website vivianmaier.com Artemis novel by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. Avian anatomy textbook and colour Atlas Grand Ridge Brewery Rycom non-contact clinical thermometer The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill The comedy wildlife photography competition winners can be viewed here. Our contacts: [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca

This pre-Christmas special of the Vet Podcast is for the week ending December 22, 2017. In news, the genome of the Tasmanian Tiger has been sequenced and we discuss the consequences. Mark reveals that an extinct marsupial has been ‘rediscovered’, and we list 8 things about Guinea Pigs that you may or may not know. Spotted recently in Tibet has been Snow Leopards. The Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) syndrome in Turtles is the main discussion this week. Brendan and Mark chat about calcium and Vitamin D metabolism, the diagnosis of, and treatment options, of MBD in chelonians. Included is a discussion of turtle diets – and the poor prognosis of turtles presented to clinics as ‘turtle soup’. Links Tasmanian Tiger genome sequenced Crest-tailed Mulgara rediscovered Snow Leopards spotted in Eastern Tibet for the first time. Also see these stunning photos of snow leopards. [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca  

Lots of news this week: Vets save lions from illegal zoo in Bulgaria. Australian vets no longer require licensing for examining dogs and cats for export. Mark walks on the wild side with his experience dealing with venomous animals, and we discuss pigeon brains. Brendan provides some insider tips to Melbourne culture and explains why the ‘magic’ is his new favourite beverage and how it can help you discern the good from the bad coffee establishments. The final news item is that the Magpie have been voted Australia’s favourite bird, though Brendan and Mark have other thoughts. We launch out Patreon site where subscribers can help by ‘throwing us a bone’ and kicking in a donation to keep the VetGurus podcast going. Mark shines a light on the WolfEyes Tactical torch in a product review. The main topic this week is rat care. The basics of preventative health for pet rodents are discussed, including diet, desexing, environmental enrichment and geriatric care. Links: Melbourne’s Magic coffee is for coffee lovers. Find out more about the types of coffee you can get in Melbourne at this website or here An overview of the Australian Magpie. Vets save lions from illegal zoo in Bulgaria. Article from Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Pigeon brains Wolf eyes tactical beam wildlife torch Support us on Patreon here and keep our Podcast running by helping cover costs and throwing us a bone. [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca  

This week we have an update on the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery program in the news section, together with a dramatic follow up regarding rabbits and their flatulence. The main topic this week is a discussion of egg coelomitis and egg binding. What species are prone to these conditions, how do we treat, and what is the prognosis? We are very excited about our upcoming Christmas special. The special will have lots of reviews – both veterinary and non veterinary. Send us a link to any products you think we should include in the special. Email us at [email protected]. Links: Tasmania Government official Orange-bellied Parrot Facebook site Orange-bellied Parrot recovery program Definition of Yolkal from the Urban Dictionary Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happypuppyrecords.ca [email protected] Twitter: @VetGurus

In news, we chat about species extinction. Johnathan the giant tortoise, who is over 186 years old, is newsworthy, possibly not for the right reasons. Brendan reveals his medicinal tea secret. Mark reviews the Olympus tough TG-4 camera for in-clinic use. We welcome new subscribers from the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. The main topic this week is head tilt in rabbits. We put on our thinking caps and discuss the causes of head tilt in rabbits, the diagnostics that may help narrow down our differential list, and debate the effectiveness of potential treatment protocols. Episode links: Commentary on species extinction and media coverage. This article by the Guardian from the UK provides some thought provoking reading about the extinction of Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog and the lack of interest of the media to report such events. Johnathan the Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) has his own Wikipedia page. You can also learn more about visiting him from the St Helena official website. The New York Post article on Johnathan is amusing reading. Olympus Stylus TG-4 Tough Camera review. TG Series cameras information here. Or view the TG-4 on Amazon Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) Listener Survey We want to learn more about YOU, our listeners and subscribers. Please complete this very short survey so we can make our podcast better!

We launch our new domain name – VetGurus.com. News and book review. Our first listener email is answered. How long to fast exotic pets before routine surgery? Mark interviews Brendan about the Melbourne Rabbit Expo which was held last weekend. Do Rabbits Fart? Discussion on the toothpaste method of removing uroliths in Guinea Pigs. To contact us send an email to [email protected] Book review: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance You can purchase the book on Amazon here Links: PlatinumCPD – Hosts of the Melbourne Rabbit Expo AVA Love is Blind campaign No Hairs Ark Chinese Crested Rescue  

Mark chats about his weekend away glamping and reveals some wildlife photography tips, then jumps into the frying pan. Two-stage euthanasia of unusual pets. Melbourne weather. Topic of the week: Intestinal parasites in exotic and unusual pets. Bird, small mammal (rabbit, guinea pig, rat, mice and ferret), and reptile intestinal parasites are discussed. What parasites do we need to worry about in exotic species? Strategies to prevent parasites and effective use of antiparasiticides. What is a pseudo parasite? A new term is coined – pseudo-yeast – you heard it here first. Links: A selection of veterinary parasitology texts Veterinary Parasitology Reference Manual 5th Edition. Spiral bound, highly rated by clinicians and students. Veterinary Clinical Parasitology 8th Edition Good spiral bound text for quick reference for students or busy clinicians. Georgis’ Parasitology for veterinarians Comprehensive text, probably best for those with a deeper interest in parasitology. Satin Bowerbird taken by Mark on his Glamping trip  

Advice for new graduate veterinarians and vet nurses/technicians: job interview tips; how to choose a practice; lifestyle choices; Brendan’s Yashica camera. Book review: Desert Vet by Dr Alex Tinson, an Australian veterinarian who went to the United Arab Emirates to look after camels. Links: Desert Vet by Alex Tinson: Bookdepository link or Amazon Kindle link Australian Veterinary Association Graduate Mentor Program Outro music supplied by Canadian Lee Rosewarne from happypuppyrecords.ca To contact Brendan and Mark directly: [email protected] Brendan’s Yashica Mat 124-G Medium Format camera and a sample picture of Jezza, one of Brendan’s rescue greyhounds: