VETAHEAD Pod

We made it to 60 episodes! In this milestone finale of  season 1 , we celebrate a season packed with groundbreaking discoveries, spicy myth-busting, and a whole lot of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine). From the GI myths in rabbits and the mystery of guinea pig spleens, to CPR updates and controversial hot takes (yes, we’re looking at you, metoclopramide), season 1 has been a wild, educational ride...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to pre COVID-19 quarantine. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! Dr. Laila Proença™ sits down with Christina Lopes, CEO and co-founder of The One Health Company and a Young Global Lead...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's dive into a surprisingly neglected topic that affects the safety of every  anesthetized patient—yes, even your ZooMed (exotics)! Are your endotracheal tube cleaning protocols backed by science or just a mishmash of tradition and guesswork? Based on a real-world study using...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content.  In this firecracker of an episode, Dr. Laila Proença digs deep into the controversial conversation shaking up the world of rabbit medicine — do metoclopramide and cisapride actually help, or are we clinging to outdated practices? With new data reaffirming what female-led research has alre...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to pre COVID-19 quarantine. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! Dr. Laila Proença sits down with the multi-talented Jenny Januszewski—actress, writer, director, photographer, and devo...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Euthanasia is never easy — especially in reptiles, where vascular access can turn into a challenge and distressing scenes are the last thing you want during such a delicate moment. Today, le'ts dive into a new study testing transmucosal administration of pentobarbital and phenytoin as a po...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content.  Today, let's put portable glucometers to the test — literally.  A new study takes on the challenge of figuring out whether those quick glucose readings in bearded dragons are actually reliable or just giving us false confidence. Turns out, things get messy fast. From wild overestimati...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content.  Think all blood tubes are created equal?  Think again. Today,  we’re diving into a study that settles one of reptile medicine’s most overlooked debates — should you be using EDTA or heparin for CBCs in your bearded dragon patients? Turns out, heparin might be sabotaging your counts — lowe...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content.  Think heart disease is just a mammal problem? Think again! In this eye-opening episode, let's dive deep into a fascinating retrospective study on cardiovascular disease in  bearded dragons  — yes, those charismatic little reptiles warming laps everywhere.  With insights from 54 cases...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content.  Today, let's  challenge  everything we thought we knew about reptile diagnostics!  Dr. Laila Proença™ dives into a fascinating study exploring the postprandial effects of uric acid, bile acids, and glucose in bearded dragons —and the results might just change how you interpret bloodwo...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to pre COVID-19 quarantine. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! What happens when you bring a brutally honest, well-traveled veterinarian with a sharp wit and a heart of gold onto  Th...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Think you know how rabbits handle calcium? Think again! Today, let's uncover a fascinating twist in rabbit physiology—turns out, their cecum, not the duodenum, is the MVP of calcium absorption! What does this mean for rabbit diets? Should we still fear high-calcium foods? And what abou...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Rabbits recycle their own teeth for calcium? Yes, you read that right! In this mind-blowing episode, Dr. Laila Proença™ dives into a groundbreaking study that shakes up everything we thought we knew about calcium absorption and metabolism in rabbits. This research suggests that instead of...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Think UVB lamps are the best way to boost vitamin D in rabbits? Think again! This episode explores a groundbreaking study that tested UVB exposure vs. UVB-irradiated hay to see which method truly increases serum vitamin D levels in rabbits. Spoiler alert: the results may change how we thin...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to pre COVID-19 quarantine. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! In this heartwarming episode, Dr. Laila Proença™ sits down with Dr. Christine Molter, a veterinarian diplomate of the A...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's rethink everything we know about chameleon reproduction! Dr. Laila Proença dives into a fascinating study exploring follicular atresia in veiled chameleons—is it a normal physiological process, or a warning sign of reproductive disease? This episode unpacks key findings on...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's hop into the world of rabbit owners and their evolving perceptions of pet care and husbandry. From groundbreaking survey data to busting myths about the financial viability of treating ZooMed (exotic) pets, this episode dives deep into the growing market for rabbit medicin...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to pre COVID-19 quarantine. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! Dr. Trina Hazzah is a trailblazing veterinary oncologist, but in this episode, we step beyond her professional accolade...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's discover the groundbreaking findings of a 2024 study that compares the effects of Ketofol paired with midazolam, fentanyl, or dexmedetomidine in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) for rabbits. Explore practical applications, anesthesia tips, and why this technique could b...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's dive into a fascinating study that explores how  anticoagulants and time  impact hematologic values in cockatiels. From PCV changes (spoiler: fresh is always best!) to the pros and cons of EDTA and heparin, this episode is packed with practical tips to elevate your avian d...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to April 2020. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Franciele Maftum, a psychologist and neuroscience expert, to explore the often-o...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's unravel the latest advancements in avian sedation protocols! Join Dr. Laila Proença™ as she delves into groundbreaking research comparing the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine paired with either nalbuphine hydrochloride or butorphanol tartrate in chickens. Discover how these co...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's explore the emerging threat of  Emydomyces testavorans , a fungal pathogen linked to severe shell lesions in turtles. Whether it’s companion red-eared sliders or conservation-sensitive species, this fungus is making waves in veterinary care. Learn about its clinical implicatio...

In this special #TBT on Friday edition of  The Honest Podcast , we rewind to April 2020. Please keep in mind the date these episodes were recorded, as the topics discussed are related to the events and circumstances of that time. Since then Dr. Laila Proença has been happily divorced and VETAHEAD has grown a lot! Nonetheless, enjoy this nostalgic journey with us! Dr. Laila Proença sits down with D...

Get ahead with VETAHEAD and join Dr. Laila Proença™ on 15 minutes of ZooMed (exotic animal medicine) content. Today, let's unpack a groundbreaking study on spontaneous mammary neoplasms in guinea pigs, covering 85 cases over 16 years. Learn about key findings, including the fact male guinea pigs are more prone to malignant tumors, how age influences tumor type, and why malignant doesn’t always mea...