Veterinary Podcast by the VetGurus

News ‘Demon ducks of doom’ laid melon-size eggs in prehistoric Australia Why so many Australians are feeding native birds Main Topic: Cheek teeth removal in Rabbits Toothy time this week – tackling a tough tooth topic: removal of cheek teeth in rabbits. Also see our previous podcasts on rabbit dental disease: Episodes 26 and 35 : Dental Disease in Rabbits Part 1 and 2 84: Complex...

News In Bali, bird sellers help endangered mynah make a comeback Monkey shot, tiger roams streets as toll mounts for cartels’ exotic pets Main Topic: Seizures in Unusual Pets Seizures are not uncommonly seen in unusual and exotic pets. We discuss causes of seizures in selected species and provide a clinical approach to the fitting unusual pet. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGu...

News Happy, the elephant, isn’t a person, a top New York court rules Headbutts hurt the brain, even for a musk ox Main Topic: Snake Skin Diseases It’s all about skin problems in snakes this week. Brendan and Mark discuss common (and some not so common) skin issues seen in snakes. NOTE: For a deep discussion of dysecdysis (abnormal shedding) in snakes head to Episode 233. VetGurus Merchandise...

News This farmer using guinea pigs to control weeds is all you need to brighten your day Magpies have outwitted scientists by helping each other remove tracking devices Main Topic: Eclectus Parrots It’s birds this week, with a discussion on the behaviour of pet Eclectus parrots and some of the diseases seen in this species. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Check...

News No news is good news! Main Topic: Crop needle usage Mark and Brendan go over the use of crop needles – including some unusual uses for these steel rods. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support our podcast , helping pay for our production costs. So the bonus for you is that...

News Rambo the fox evades latest capture attempt in New South Wales Pilliga forest Farmer sells slice of ‘heaven’ to protect endangered species Main Topic: Foods for Unusual/Exotic Pet Practice What are some useful foods to have readily available in exotic pet practice? Listen in to find out! Links: Wombaroo Food Products Critical Care for Herbivores VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Stor...

News These male spiders catapult away to avoid being cannibalized after sex The climate impact of wild pigs greater than a million cars Main Topic: Exotic Pet Practice Differences We often talk about how the approach to cases in Unusual & Exotic pet practice is similar to the approach for other species/practices. There are, however, aspects of exotic pet practice which are totally different to...

News Wolf or dog? Dingo genome reveals answer lies somewhere in between How lizards keep detachable tails from falling off Main Topic: Bird Beaks (Part 2) We follow up from Episode 235 which covered bird beaks. In that episode we covered repair of birds beaks. This week we chat about the reshaping of bird beaks in more detail, and delve into some more rare or complicated beak issues in various avi...

News Tunnels and scent trails ‘beneficial’ to ferret welfare Vegan diet the ‘healthiest, least harmful’ choice for dogs Main Topic: Sarcoptic Mange in ferrets This week we cover sarcoptic mange in ferrets. This is a relatively commonly encountered condition on pet ferrets in Australia, yet infrequently reported in other regions. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...

News A dolphin stranded on a Texas beach dies after beachgoers attempted to ride it Apes, robots and men: the life and death of the first space chimp Review: Australian Bird Guide Brendan has a book review this week: The Australian Bird Guide . It is an essential item for all those twitchy and not so twitchy bird lovers or anyone visiting Australia. The illustrations and layout are excellent. It e...

News Like elephants, grandmother giraffes spend years caring for young The U.S.’s first open-air genetically modified mosquitoes have taken flight Main Topic: Respiratory diseases in Shingleback lizards It’s reptiles this week: specifically Shingleback lizards ( Tiliqua rugosa ), also known as the bobtail, sleepy lizard, two-headed skink, stumpy-tailed skink, pinecone lizard, bobeye or boggi...

News Spix’s Macaw heads list of first bird extinctions confirmed this decade Plan to rein deer growth on Melbourne’s outskirts Review: Severance TV series Brendan reviews the disturbing Apple TV series severance . A solid 8.6/10 score. Series 2 has been given the green light. Main Topic: Dealing with troublesome clients It’s everyone’s nightmare: the angry client. It wrecks y...

News ‘Smart patrols’: The new hope for Malaysia’s last tigers Here’s how boa constrictors squeeze their dinner without suffocating themselves Review: Reacher streaming series Mark reviews (and raves) about the streaming series Reacher. It is available on Amazon Prime . He rates it a strong 8.6 out of 10. Main Topic: Geriatric Guinea Pig Care Caring for the elderly Guinea Pig is this weeks main top...

News Fenced-off regions to help make greater bilbies great again in NSW  The spongy moth’s new name replaces an ethnic slur Main Topic: Bird Beak Repair Brendan quizzes Mark on repair of beak injuries in birds for this weeks main topic. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support ou...

News Psychedelic toad’s sought- after venom puts rare reptile at risk Dead as a dodo … but maybe not for much longer   Main Topic: Abnormal caecotrophs in Rabbits Intermittent soft stools (ISS) or abnormal/excess production of caecotrophs is commonly seen in exotic pet practice. We cover the ins and outs of this syndrome. Sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation VetGurus Merchandise –...

News How 100 baby birds are holding up the defence department’s plan for Port Phillip Bay Unlocking the mysterious language of hippos Main Topic: Dysecdysis in Reptiles This week we cover shedding issues in reptiles. We did cover this topic previous – back in Episode 163: Nov 13, 2020 – so we are covering this popular topic again. Signs, treatment, and prevention … and more! VetG...

News ‘Nothing to do, nowhere to go’: What happens when elephants live alone It’s official: Groundhog Day’s spring predictions no better than chance Main Topic: Corneal Lipidosis in Frogs This week Brendan and Mark discuss the fascinating syndrome of corneal lipidosis in frogs. What is it and how do we treat it? They then debate the theories of its cause and thoughts on how to prevent it. VetGurus...

News These are the 5 costliest invasive species, causing billions in damages Scientists are turning to dogs to learn about the secrets of ageing Review: Tesla Powerwall 2 Brendan is in love with his battery. He reviews the Tesla Powerwall 2 and give it a stellar 9.5 out of 10. Main Topic: Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome Mark is in detective mode. We discuss Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome &#8211...

News New app identifies dogs using nose prints The Dolittle factor: ‘Talking to the animals’ during veterinary consultations Main Topic: Intra-abdominal castration of Rodents and Guinea Pigs Intra-abdominal castration of small mammals has several advantages over the traditional desexing methods for these species. We cover the ins and outs of this procedure and walk you through the technique. VetGu...

News Melbourne’s rare powerful owls at risk from long-lasting rat poisons Florida’s flamingos disappeared decades ago. That may soon change. Main Topic: Wildlife Care This week provide an overview of triage for wildlife brought into vet clinics. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help suppor...

News Part donkey, part wild ass, the kunga is the oldest known hybrid bred by humans Hamster pet stores in Hong Kong to reopen Main Topic: Interview with Dr Robert Johnson A special topic this week: an interview with Dr Robert Johnson, an Australian veterinarian with a worldwide reputation as a pioneer in exotic pet medicine. Robert is also renown for his work with wildlife and is a pst president...

News The prince, the mayor, and the U.S. fish that ate Japan An Arctic hare traveled at least 388 kilometers in a record-breaking journey Main Topic: Hemipene amputation We’re cutting to the chase again this week: why, when and how to amputate hemipenes from reptiles. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded ite...

News Hong Kong to kill 2000 animals after hamsters get COVID-19 Australian dragons’ gender determined by epigenetic differences Main Topic: Bird Desexing We cover the ins and outs (more out than in) of bird desexing this week. Get into it! VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help suppor...

News Here’s what goldfish driving ‘cars’ tell us about navigation Wildlife Conservation on Ice: Frozen Zoos To Save Animals Main Topic: Pruritis in Rats and Mice Itchy rodents are tacked this week. Common causes, diagnostics, treatments. Let’s get into it! VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purc...

News Some songbirds now migrate east to west Dog DNA reveals ancient trade network connecting the Arctic to the outside world Mark and Brendan review the film Power of the Dog . They give it a 8.6 out of 10. Main Topic: Cloacoliths in Parrots This week it’s about stones, specifically cloacoliths encountered in parrots. Brendan and Mark discuss this fascinating condition. VetGurus Merchandise...