The Tiny Vet Podcast

If you've got some outdoor space, chickens can be great pets with additional egg producing benefits. These are often overlooked as avian pets in favor of parrots, but chickens are a charismatic species that come in many breeds and personalities, and can also be quieter and less bitey than parrots. Jez talks about a recent corporate gig he did where a right wing American was in the crowd, while Nic...

Fostering adoptable pets for a rescue agency is a great way of temporarily having a pet when you don't have the finances or stability to allow you to have your own. It also gives a shelter animal a chance to live in a real household while they are waiting for a permanent home, and opens up more space in the shelter for additional intakes. Recorded several months ago, Jez talks about the 800 Pound...

​​Pets are expensive! Everything is expensive now. Inflation is out of control. End stage capitalism has destroyed the economy. BUT! There are finance options that can help with the cost of vet care, and we're finding that pet owners are relying more on these options. Jez complains about editing, while Nicole and Jez discuss veterinary finance options such as memberships and pet insurance; so you...

Feather destructive behaviour is commonly misunderstood in parrots, as many assume it is behavioural or stress-related. This confusing syndrome can actually be caused by a long list of physiological illnesses and husbandry issues, and those all have to be ruled out before we can say it is a purely behavioural cause. Nicole and Jez discuss feather destructive behaviour and the diagnostic pathways w...

A common complaint - especially when a pet is switched to a more suitable diet - is that "they don't like the food", which many owners equate to "food is bad." Which is nuts, as WE often don't like the food that is good for us either. For example, despite having a fridge full of various leftovers, Jez ate 4-6 servings of butterscotch self serving pudding over 2 Christmas Days. Which wasn't good fo...

Some clothes can benefit pets, such as e-collars or little jackets to stop them from messing with a surgical site after surgery. However! Dog boots are a commonly overlooked item that can really help with dogs that love to run, or dogs with environmental allergies. Nicole and Jez discuss who might benefit from little boots, and how to pick appropriate ones for your dog, while Jez makes clear that...

Finding wild animals in need of help can tug at the heartstrings, but these animals need a trained wildlife carer or are at risk of a horrible death. Any wild animal in need to help should be surrendered to a vet clinic, who will then assess and provide first aid, or if necessary, compassionate euthanasia. If they have a future where a return to the wild is possible, staff go to all sorts of lengt...

Risk of vaccination reaction is TINY compared to risk of the disease it's vaccinating for, especially given the result of some of the diseases. Rabies? 100% fatal. Vaccines? Get em. Nicole and Jez discuss what vaccination reactions are and why they happen, plus Jez reveals the possibilty that Nicole has Double Muscle Disease. If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tiny...

Hay production is rarely top of mind for herbivore owners, but understanding the process can help them understand when & why hay shortages and quality changes happen. It's not something that's made in a factory!  Nicole and Jez discuss the impact of droughts and other weather events on hay, and what hay shortages can mean for pet owners, while Jez announces his wedding availabilities &amp...

Reptiles make fantastic pets! It is, however, incredibly important to ensure that their husbandry and enclosure are meeting their sometimes tricky requirements, as they rely 100% on their environment for digestion, heart rate, locomotion, metabolism and almost everything else! Jez and Nicole discuss reptile keeping and these amazing animals, and Jez reveals Nicole's secret medical taste tests. The...

Puppy school is more important than simply teaching them to sit, but that training does offer structure to a session. The misconception that puppy school is just about training causes lots of dogs to miss out on crucial socialisation and exposure during a narrow ideal window. Nicole and Jez discuss the importance of puppy school for canine mental and social development. If you'd like to support th...

Indoor pets really should be vaccinated. "But they don't go anywhere!" Well...they might. You can't predict the future. Also, there are situations where the 100% indoor pet does in fact leave the house and come right into the building in which you are having that argument A building FAMOUS for nosocomial infections! Nicole and Jez discuss the importance of vaccinating even indoor pets, and how the...

Pet owners are spoiled for choice nowadays with parasite preventatives, with several options for monthly dosing. However! As with any preventative: fear mongering and misinformation runs rife. Nicole and Jez discuss the benefits and risks of tick prevention, and why the benefits almost always outweigh the risks. If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod to dona...

It's a little strange that a common clapback to a vet telling an owner that their pet is sick and needs diagnostics and treatment is "but he's still eating" (especially when it comes to dental disease). He's probably still eating because if not he'll die! Nicole and Jez discuss some markers of quality of life and discomfort that could use a bit more thought. If you'd like to support the podcast pl...

The topic of food allergies is rife with misconceptions, and these can be exceptionally frustrating to pet owners as they lead them down blind ends. Faddish marketing that plays into these misconceptions doesn't help but sadly the march of late-stage capitalism is inexorable. Nicole and Jez discuss what food allergies actually involve, as well as the process in which you can identify your pet's di...

How much extra would you need to be paid to work from 10pm to 8am whilst also not knowing how your shift will pan out? That's why some of the thoughtless criticism thrown around regarding emergency veterinary services is kind of wild. Nicole and Jez discuss how emergency vet services work, as well as the unseen efforts behind the scenes that, very justifiably, takes money and time. If you'd like t...

FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus (sometimes known as "Cat AIDS") isn't necessarily a major barrier to a healthy, happy cat - and certainly isn't a dealbreaker if you're looking at an adoptable cat. Dr Nicole and Jez discuss the ramifications of FIV, as well as what you can do to prevent your cat from getting it, and managing an FIV positive household. If you'd like to support the podcast please...

The various holiday seasons have food and gatherings in common, and it can be easy to forget to prep your pet for them while also picking up the party food, making sure there's enough ice, and informing everyone of the plan to stop Uncle Murray from passing out in the neighbour's tomato patch again. Dr Nicole and Jez talk about some of the common dangers that pets can get into during holiday perio...

Cute, fat, sniffy little rats get a bad rap for such friendly little creatures. While feral rats ARE considered pests, domestic rats are sweet animals that make great pets. Nicole and Jez discuss the joys of having rats as friends. If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod or just rate, review & subscribe.

What is catnip?? Is it drugs for cats?? Kind of, but they don't need a lighter - which is great as they don't have thumbs. Nicole and Jez discuss what exactly catnip is and how it works (it's safe) If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod

Is the cheap stuff at the supermarket okay to feed your pet? Yes! (as long as you know your pet's requirements) but they may not be suitable for young pets, old animals, or those with issues like food allergies. Nicole and Jez discuss the difference between supermarket and premium pet foods. If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod  

Dogs love to eat! Dogs love to eat ANYTHING, and so they're really poor judges of what they should and shouldn't. That is our job as pet owners sometimes we don't do that job well either. Nicole and Jez discuss what human foods dogs can eat, and how that balances with their regular dog food. Our first episode of Season 2! If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetp...

There's a lot of misinformation about the dangers of parasite preventatives circulating on the internet, but parasite infestation is the far greater risk. Nicole & Jez discuss risk management with regards to parasite prevention, and why it's almost always the lower risk option.

Dogs love human food. Humans love human food. Humans just have the ability to manipulate foods for their palatability, but tastiness doesn't always mean it's healthy! (sadly it's kind of the opposite). Nicole and Jez discuss dogs eating too much human food.

If some protein is good, then more is better, right? Not always! While there are applications for higher protein levels in dog food, there is a limit to how much dietary protein can be processed and metabolised in a day, so "high protein" food might not be any better for your pet. Nicole and Jez discuss why there are optimal levels of protein in foods, and why more protein isn't always useful.