Category Archives: Medicine

74: Piggy Pee



What is it with crossbreed dogs? Why do we have to call them a ‘new’ breed. Brendan get a tad fired up about breed naming conventions. Mark gets all zen with a story on rainfall and prediction of bird colours and wonders why some cats are neurotic. In our final news story Brendan finds a use for old mascara wands…. just in cases you needed to know!

Urinary issues in guinea pigs is our main topic this week. Yes, we have this covered this topic before – in our second ever episode: Ham and Bacon, BUT this is a further update and we have had requests to talk about guinea pig urinary issue from listeners.

Links:

What’s the deal with doodle dogs?

Rainfall and temperature predict bird colouration, study finds

How old mascara wands can help wildlife

If your cat is neurotic, it may be your fault

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Support our 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.

Microchips Australia: Microchips Australia is the Australian distributor for: Trovan microchips, readers and reading systems; Lone Star Veterinary Retractor systems and Petrek GPS tracking products. Microchips Australia is run by veterinarians experienced in small and large animal as well as avian and exotic practice, they know exactly what is needed for your practice.

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.


67: Snake Top Ten



A good news story – Icelandic goats saved from extinction- and Brendan gets extremely emotional about this story. Mark then gets serious and talks about river systems and culverts for protection of fish. 

This week we have another Top Ten: Tips for dealing with snakes for clinicians who are unfamiliar with reptiles.  

Links

Meet the woman who saved the Icelandic goat from extinction  

Barriers to fish migration

 

Microchips Australia: Microchips Australia is the Australian distributor for: Trovan microchips, readers and reading systems; Lone Star Veterinary Retractor systems and Petrek GPS tracking products. Microchips Australia is run by veterinarians experienced in small and large animal as well as avian and exotic practice, they know exactly what is needed for your practice.

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: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus Become a VetGuru patron! Patreon.com/vetgurus

 

64: Curmudgeon



In this New Year’s special we interview James Harris. We interviewed James at the Adelaide UPAV conference and it was a pleasure to chat to him. James is universally known and loved as a living legend in exotic pet medicine, with a phenomenal reputation as an exotics and wildlife veterinarian. He outlines his journey from the UK to the USA, and eventually Tasmania, where he now resides. James was awarded an Order of Australia medal for services to wildlife care.

Contact us: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Support our 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.


63: Ho, Ho, Ho!



It’s our Christmas special with Mark and Brendan getting into the holiday spirit (literally) as they reminisce over the happenings in 2018 and look forward to 2019.

News: The winners of the 2018 Comedy Wildlife Awards are out.. and, not surprisingly, they are quite humorous. In other news, a dog digs up a bone.

We wish all our wonderful listeners a safe, happy and restful holiday period and a wonderful 2019.

Links:

Exuberant digging dog unearths 13,000-year-old woolly mammoth tooth

Squirrel can’t believe who won the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Coral Reefs Around The World Are In Grave Danger

Contact us: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Support our 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.


62: The show must go on



We’re back!!! Brendan is back for his pilgrimage to the far reaches of India, and he shares a few stories about his adventures.

We catch up with some news: Will our generation be remembered by the chicken bones we leave behind? What is the background of China’s legalisation of the rhino horn trade? Brendan muses over animal societies thriving without males, and Mark investigates the hairy business of the illegal market in tarantulas.

The UPAV (Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians) conference, recently held in Adelaide, South Australia, is the main topic of discussion this week. We chat about just a few of the excellent presentations from the conference.

Links:

Future archaeologists will remember us by the chicken bones we left behind

China’s legalisation of rhino horn trade: disaster or opportunity?

Termites: Advanced animal society can thrive without males

The illegal market for tarantulas is hairy business

The Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)

Contact us: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

Support our 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.

 


60: Alcatraz – Adrenal gland disease in Ferrets



Brendan is intrigued with camel beauty pageants and the shenanigans undertaken to enhance the chance of winning. Mark is looking even more radiant than usual after discussing advances in drugs to increase longevity, and he discusses some difficult ethical decisions veterinarians make when pressured by clients. In the final news story this week Brendan ask’s the age-old question: Can dog’s tell time?

Adrenal disease in ferrets is the main topic of this episode. What is it? How do ferrets get it? Can we treat it? Are there prevention options? We discuss these questions and more. WE have touched on this subject previously but not in an episode on its own.

Sponsors: thank them for supporting us!! Specialised Animal Nutrition and Chemical Essentials  

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:   VetGurus@gmail.com    |   Twitter: @VetGurus    |  Facebook: facebook.com/VetGurus/

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Links:

Inside the world of million-dollar beauty pageants for camels

Many veterinarians have ethical qualms about what some pet owners ask them to do

Scientists discover drug cocktail that doubles the lifespan of animals

 

 


59: Fluted Cats



How can a chimney save birds? When they are fake. Mark explains. Brendan is hot under the collar about leaf blowers as he continues to turn into a cranky old man! In other news Mark and Brendan marvel at the wildlife Photographer of the year awards for 2018, and we are glad to see that Lee Burger has won an award.

The main topic this week is fluted cats – or FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease).

Links:

How fake chimneys can help save birds

Wildlife photographer of the year awards 2018

Fighting frog fungus: Lee Berger wins PM’s Life Scientist 2018 award

Why we should ditch leaf blowers

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:   VetGurus@gmail.com    |   Twitter: @VetGurus    |    Facebook: facebook.com/VetGurus/

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

 


53: Mega-Macro what?



We put recreational fishing under the spotlight this week with discussion of an article on why catch and release is tough on fish. Singapore Zoo use a 3D-printed prosthesis to give a hornbill a second chance of life and Brendan is happy that the tiger population in Nepal has rebounded. In our final news story Mark  muses on the rise of the ‘bin chicken’ – the Australian White Ibis.

‘Megabacteria’ infections in birds, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, aka ‘gastric yeast’, or AGY, is the main topic. Brendan quizzes Mark on this condition in our feathered friends.

Contact us:   VetGurus@gmail.com    |   Twitter: @VetGurus    |    Facebook: facebook.com/VetGurus/

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus

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.

Links: Why catch and release is tough on fish

Hornbill gets second chance at life with 3D-printed prosthetic

Tiger population rebounds, nearly doubling in Nepal

The rise of the ‘bin chicken’, a totem for modern Australia

 


48: Rod



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: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus


41: Spewing!



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: VetGurus@gmail.com  Twitter: @VetGurus

Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/vetgurus