The Tiny Vet Podcast

Guinea pigs should have a diet that is at least 80% hay, which helps to reduce the risk of dental disease and gastrointestinal issues. It can be challenging getting them to eat a healthy diet sometimes, just like us. Nicole and Jez talk about why hay is so unique as a food, as well as why it can help with normal dental wear and digestion. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-bio...

Knowing when to make the decision to let your pet cross the rainbow bridge is one of the hardest things pet owners have to do, and the emotional toll of such a decision never gets easier. However, there are some things that can help reassure pet owners that they are making the right decision for their pet. Nicole and Jez discuss the concept of "quality of life," and how that can help quantify the...

Blood testing is one of the first diagnostics options vets reach for, but there are many misconceptions about what a blood test actually tells you. Nicole and Jez go through the different types of blood tests, as well as what the results look like, and discuss why sometimes blood testing doesn't give us an answer. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotechnologist, and togethe...

Mystery meat! A disgusting idea for a person, but a scrumptious offering for a pet? Meal meal doesn't deserve its scary reputation, and it is actually more balanced than a block of ground beef from the supermarket. Nicole and Jez talk about what actually is in meat and bone meal, and why that isn't as scary as it sounds. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotechnologist, and...

"Fillers," a commonly used scary word to warn pet owners away from one product, and into the arms of another, but do we really know what that word means? What exactly IS a filler anyway? Nicole and Jez talk about what a filler ingredient actually is, and why some ingredients that commonly get the "filler" blame are unjustly slandered. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotech...

If there ever was a minefield of a topic, it is premium pet foods. The huge range of pet foods on the market can be confusing, and marketers prey on pet owners' fears and doubts to sell their products. However, there are great pet foods out there, and no, we are not paid to shill their products. We just like 'em. Nicole and Jez discuss what constitutes a premium pet food, and what the difference i...

Why are some medications prescription-only, while others are over the counter (OTC)? Are the OTC equivalents of prescription medications? Nicole and Jez discuss the classification criteria for medications, and why OTC medications are not always the best choice instead of a vet visit or a prescription. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotechnologist, and together they discus...

Antibiotics are one of the most common medications that people recognize, but they are often misunderstood. Nicole and Jez discuss common misconceptions regarding antibiotics, what they actually do, and why you need a consultation and a prescription for them. Dr Nicole Su is a veterinarian, Jez Watts is a comedian-biotechnologist, and together they discuss commonly misunderstood topics in the pet...

It seems that everyone out there has their own idea of how to train a dog, and most of us know that smacking and shock collars are not good methods. However, commonly held beliefs on how dogs' minds work can actually be counterproductive and inaccurate to training and welfare. Nicole and Jez discuss positive reinforcement training methods, and why some popular ideas on dog psychology are inaccurat...