Vet Podcast By The 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 vetgurus@gmail.com 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 W

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 vetgurus@gmail.com with a veterinary story for a chance to win a signed copy of A Guide to Health and Disease

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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 vetgurus@gmail.com.  Mark a

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      Twitter: @VetGurus Support

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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 stay

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      Twitter: @VetGurus Su

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      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 Je

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: VetGurus@gmail.com      Twitter: @VetGurus Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus Outro music courtesy of Canadian Lee Rosevere from happyp

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: Si

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