Episodes
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478: Location, Location
Main Topic: Reptile Real Estate Last week we talked about the value of zoos. On a somewhat related topic, this week we debate the value of reptile Indoor Enclosures vs Outdoor Naturalistic Setups: which is best? VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range…
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477: Caged
Main Topic: Are zoos worthwhile? We discussed this topic previously- way back in December 2022 (Episode 275: listen to it here). It’s time to revisit the controversial topic of zoos- are they worthwhile? What are the pros and cons of zoos? VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop...
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476: Bird Bones
Main Topic: Current Issues in Avian Orthopaedics This week: what’s changed in avian orthopaedics, and where the real problems still are. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support our…
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475: Tweethearts
Main Topic: Cardiac Disease in Birds We dive into the diagnosis, workup ,treatment and prognosis of cardiac disease in birds this week. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support our podcast…
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474: Snail Trails
Review: Brendan reviews the Netflix series Agent Kim Reactivated. It gets a very impressive 8.9 out of 10 score. Main Topic: Journal Paper Review It’s something different this week – very different – with a review of a paper detailing 2 case reports of Dystocia in Pet Giant African Land Snails....
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473: The Clap
Main Topic: Psittacosis in Birds “What’s the Latest with Psittacosis?” — 10 Things Avian Vets Should Know 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...
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472 Help the Helpers
Main Topic: Mark’s Top Five Tips for Veterinary Support Personnel This week’s podcast is aimed squarely at our veterinary nurses, technicians, receptionists, and support staff: we dive into Client Communication on Exotic Pet Prognosis and Costs. VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...
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471: This mite be the end?
Review: Mark reviews the AppleTv show Pluribus. Main Topic: Journal paper review We deep dive into a landmark paper published in the journal of Parasitology Research: Single oral-dose fluralaner treatment against Ophionyssus natricis infestation – a large scale study demonstrating long-term...
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470: AA
News: We also answer an email this week Spiders may lure male fireflies to their death with a call of love Main Topic: We discuss why amphibian pain matters – and how to alleviate it. In other words it’s all about Amphibian Analgesia this week! VetGurus Merchandise – VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...
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469: PAHA 2026
News: No News items this week Main Topic: 31st Annual PAHA Conference Brendan & Mark were thrilled to be invited to speak at the 31st Annual Philippine Animal Hospital Association conference, held in Manila. They discuss the conference and their trip to the wonderful country of the Philippines....
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468: Wildage
News: No News items this week Main Topic: Wildlife Triage What to do when your clinic is presented with wildlife - where to start? What to do? How to Triage? VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases…
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467: I only do eyes
Main Topic: Pseudobupthalmos in Snakes It's snake eyes this week, specifically pseudobuphthalmos. We discussed this topic back in August 2025 (Episode 360) so we thought it's time to revisit this topic, including a discussion of the anatomy of the reptile nasolacrimal duct. Here is the link to…
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466: Toothy Wheeze
Main Topic: We dive into looking at possible links between dental disease and respiratory disease in rabbits this week. A recent paper discussed the potential correlation between Dental and Thoracic Pathology in rabbits. Let's jump in! Here is the paper & it's link: Computed Tomographic Study in…
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465: Bored
Main Topic: The Role of Veterinary Boards in the Life of Veterinarians It's bit of dry topic this week: but an important one! We discuss the role of veterinary boards in the life of Veterinarians. What are the roles of the veterinary regulator boards and what do they do? Listen in! The…
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464: Cracking the Case
Main Topic: Eggshell Minerals and Dystocia in Eastern Indigo Snakes A threatened species, a captive breeding program fighting a near-1-in-3 dystocia rate, and a clever question: does that reproductive struggle leave a trace in the eggshell? Mark and Brendan dig into new eggshell mineral analysis...
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463: The UV Verse
News: How does street lighting impact wildlife and when should we turn off the lights? Main Topic: UV lighting in reptiles This episode we shed light on reptile lighting, specifically UV light. Note that we covered UV lighting in reptiles previously - way back in Episode 54 in October 2018. You…
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462: The ABC of EC
News: No news items today Main Topic: Encephalitozoon Cuniculi in Pet Rabbits We tackle the brain bending disease of EC in rabbits. This is a disease many vets struggle with - we are here to help! VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky,...
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461: Geek
Previous Topics and Website: VetGurus.com Main Topic: Mobile devices in Veterinary Practice We discuss the use of mobile devices in veterinary practice- such as cameras, recording, practice management software and more... listen in! VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop…
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460: Ferret Basics
News: No news items today Main Topic: Ferret Medicine 101 It's another Back to Basics episode today, with everything you need to know (maybe..) about basic veterinary care of ferrets. We cover diet, desexing, distemper, dental disease and even some topics not starting with the letter D. VetGurus...
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459: Footsie Facts
News: Scientists target rabbit fertility in radical new pest- control plan Main Topic: Pododermatitis in Rodents We tackle sore feet this week - specifically pododermatitis in guinea pigs, rats & mice. What causes it, how can we treat it and what to do to prevent? Listen in to find out the…
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458: Reptile Wrap
Book Review: The Infinite sadness of small appliances Brendan reviews The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances and discusses why he has fallen for a kind vacuum cleaner. Main Topic: Back to Basics - Clinical techniques in Reptiles We cover clinical techniques in reptiles, such as blood…
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457: Fuzzy
Film Review: Emily: I Am Kam Main Topic: Antifungal Therapy in Avian Species We get furry and fuzzy this week with a deep dive into antifungal therapy in avian species. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All...
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456: Secrets
News: Scientists target rabbit fertility in radical new pest-control plan Main Topic: Confidentiality in Veterinary Practice We discuss the improtant issues of client and patient confidentiatility in veterinary practice. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the…
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455: Brissie
News: Marsupials previously thought extinct for millennia discovered in New Guinea Main Topic: 2026 Australian Veterinary Association Conference Brendan attended the recent Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) conference which was held in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. He chaired...
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454: Read this
News: No news items this week Main Topic: Journal Club We discuss some interesting recently published papers on exotic pets: The Rat Thoracic Ultrasound protocol: scanning technique and normal findings The Collapsing Ferret: More Than Insulinoma VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...
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453: Click
News: Why do foraging Spanish vultures stop at the border with Portugal? Main Topic: Photography in Veterinary Practice Many of you already know that Mark & Brendan are keen photographers. This week we discuss the use of photography in veterinary practices and the benefits of incorporating...
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452: Furniture
News: The rare rat virus behind cruise ship deaths Main Topic: Simple Environmental enrichment tips for exotic pets Time to exercise the minds of our exotic pets - or to put it another way: prevent them from getting bored! We dive into some simple and effective methods to provide environmental...
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451: Method One
News: Nigeria seizes more than 1,600 exotic birds in one of the biggest wildlife trafficking busts in years Supersized stick insect discovered in high-altitude trees in Australia Main Topic: Methadone for analgesia in Reptiles Determining an analgesic agent for reptiles can be problematic. This...
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450: Pesky Parrot Parasites
News: Once in a lifetime Koala sighting at family-owned wildlife sanctuary Main Topic: Nematodes in Australian Parrots We cover some pesky parrot parasites this week and look at nematodes in captive Australian parrots. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus...
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449: More lumps
News: How eastern quolls, once extinct on the mainland, have returned to Victoria Main Topic: Lumps in Lizards and Snakes Way back in March 2021 (episode 182 - 'One Lump or two?') we covered lumps in snakes. We return to this topic and also include lizards. As part of our Back to Basics series we...
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448: Jurassic
News: No News this week Main Topic: The veterinary challenges of treating dinosaurs. What would be the challenges of treating a pet dinosaur? Brendan and Mark delve into the veterinary aspects of dinosaur medicine in this lighthearted episode. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...
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447: Parrot Foie gras
Review: Mark reviews the movie Pig. Mark gives it a 8.6 out of 10. Main Topic: Hepatic Lipidosis in Psittacine birds What is it? How common is it? How do we treat it? How do we prevent it? Sooo many questions! Listen into find the answers. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop...
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446: Do it!
News: No news items this week Main Topic: Fear Free This week we discuss approaches to veterinary medicine and the concern of some new graduates to 'get stuck in' and 'have a go'. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded...
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445: Scaly Tumours
News: No news items this week Main Topic: Neoplasia in Reptiles We dive into reptile neoplasia and discuss this topic in conjunction with a discussion of two recent papers from The Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery: Reptile Oncology: Current Insights and Future Perspectives. Part 1 &...
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444: Rock Stars
News: We marvel at the 2026 British Wildlife Photography Awards. Main Topic: Uroliths in Guinea Pigs Uroliths in pet Guinea Pigs are well known by those working in exotic pet practice. This week we summarise Guinea Pig uroliths. This is part our Back to Basics series of podcasts - simple…
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443: Body Shame
News: No news items this week Main Topic: Body Condition Scoring in Bearded Dragons How Do We Body Condition Score a Lizard? Listen in to find out. The discussion is based on this paper, published in the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store...
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442: Hold On
News: Pumas in Patagonia started feasting on penguins Main Topic: Safe Handling & Restraint of Wildlife & Exotic Pets This week's podcast if for the veterinary nurses/technicians. We discuss safe handling & restraint of a range of wildlife species and unusual/exotic pets. VetGurus Merchandise -...
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441: A Breed Apart
News: No news this week Main Topic: Reptile Production Medicine Time to chat about reptile 'herd health'. We dive into medical treatment of reptile breeder establishments. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items.…
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440: Scaly eye
News: VetGurus website update: Some of you may have had trouble accessing the VetGurus.com website. The website link is n ow back up and working. Otherwise, you can find the VetGurus website by searching for 'Veterinary Podcast with Brendan and Mark'. After 2,000 Years, Scientists Finally Solve…
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439: Spay or delay?
News: No new articles this week Main Topic: Ethical considerations of desexing of exotic pets. When it comes to exotic and avian pets, desexing is much less common, but when it is considered, there are several unique ethical considerations to unpack. Let's talk. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus…
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438: Avian Turtles
News: No news items this week. Main Topic: Ducks Five things about Ducks that intrigue Mark as Exotic/Avian Pet Veterinarian. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support our podcast , helping...
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437: Cut
News: High-speed cameras capture how venomous snakes bite Main Topic: Back to Basics - It's back to basics with the first of a series of episodes on basic exotics/unusual pet medicine and surgery. This first episode of the series is on desexing of small mammals. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus…
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436: Breath
News: Mark reviews the film Longlegs. He gives it 6.1 out of 10. Main Topic: Journal Club It's journal club time. This week we discuss a paper published in The Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery: Presumptive Hemolytic Anemia after Consumption of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum) and Blood...
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435: Presents
News: How Smart Are Snakes Really? He made beer that’s also a vaccine. Main Topic: What Mark wanted for Christmas - Veterinary Edition Mark laments about veterinary Christmas presents he wished he had. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky,...
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434: Christmas special 2025
News: The only snake known To cooperatively hunt In packs Main Topic: It's our annual Christmas/New Year Special. Mark and Brendan look back over 2025, and forward.. whilst imbibing some Christmas spirit. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of...
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433: Hop or Not?
Email: We catch up with some emails this week Main Topic: Rabbit Medicine in Australia: Clinical, Ethical, and Practical Challenges VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases help support our podcast ,...
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432: No Pain
News: Mark talks scorpions and fluorescence Main Topic: Nocita We discuss a new analgesic - Nocita - a bupivicaine liposome, and its potential use in exotic pets. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All…
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431: Finch
News Which venomous snakes strike the fastest? Main Topic: Veterinary Care of Finches It's an avian topic this week with a rundown on finch veterinary care. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus Shop Checkout the VetGurus range of quirky, distinctive branded items. All purchases…
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430: Scratch
News The long life of a Galápagos tortoise Main Topic: Mange in Guinea Pigs We tackle guinea pig mange this week. 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...
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429: Toad
News No news articles this week Main Topic: Amphibian Euthanasia & Ethical Cane Toad Control We use cane toads (and their control in Australia) to discuss methods for their control (collection and euthanasia) and amphibian euthanasia protocols. VetGurus Merchandise - VetGurus Etsy Store VetGurus...