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 Nicole and Jez discuss the world of pet chickens, and Nicole does multiple chicken impressions. Bok bok.

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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 Gorilla Release (that didn't end up happening) for his special, while Nicole and Jez discuss the benefits of becoming a foster carer, and why...

​​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 can be prepared if your pet needs expensive help.

If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod to donate - or just rate...

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 we can take to work out the root cause, while Jez plugs his very sexually explicit comedy special (on YouTube and audio streamers now).  If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.p...

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 for him.

Nicole and Jez discuss why pets (like people!) prefer food that is not necessarily good for them, while Jez accuses Nicole of sabotaging...

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 Nicole's head to toe scratches and wounds are caused by many, many possums and not himself.

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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 lengths to pair them with a carer that can make that happen.

Nicole and Jez discuss what to do if you find a...

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/tinyvetpod to donate - or just rate, review & tell a friend. Give Jez a follow on Youtube at www.youtube.com/@jezwattscomedy (episodes are up there too) and follow Nicole...

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 & rants about guinea pigs.

If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod to donate (or rate, review & tell a friend) Give Jez a follow on Youtube a...

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 easiest reptile to keep might surprise you!

If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod to donate (or rate, review & tell a friend)

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 the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod to donate (or rate, review & tell a friend).

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 benefits do outweigh the risks (unless that pet has had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a vaccination in the past which is very very very uncommon).

If...

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 donate, rate and review, or tell a friend.

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 please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod or just rate, subscribe and tell a friend.

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 dietary allergies.

If you'd like to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod or just like & subscribe.

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 to support the podcast please head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod

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 head to www.patreon.com/tinyvetpod

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 periods, and how to reduce the risk of a public holiday emergency vet visit.

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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/tinyvetpod

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.

It's easy to get carried away when planning to buy a horse. Going with a flashy colour, impressive CV, or pretty face instead of focusing on what you need as a rider are common traps. You need to be realistic about what you can do, and what you want to do.

Nicole and Jez discuss some common problems people make when buying horses, and why some horses pick up bad habits once they go to their new homes.

Cats are prone to developing urinary problems, and they can be frustrating to manage. Partly, this is because urinary issues often have multiple causes, involving several different triggers. Symptoms can also be nonspecific, or difficult to monitor.    Nicole and Jez discuss some ways to help kitties with urinary problems, and what to watch out for.

Birds love seed like humans love Snickers, and the analogy doesn't stop there. Foods high in fat and sugars trigger similar neural pathways to addictive drugs, but like drugs of addiction they are not good for you (or birds).

Nicole and Jez discuss seed addiction in parrots and how to help them eat healthier.

You can't get much weirder than the axolotl, a completely aquatic amphibian (kind of an oxymoron). Despite being common as pets, they're endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction.

Nicole and Jez discuss the intricacies of the axolotl.

Fat animals are very cute but are prone to lots of health problems. Weight loss can be challenging as the fatter they are, the more difficult it is for them to move around and keep active. Plus, it is incredibly hard to resist when they ask for a snack!

Nicole and Jez discuss some methods for successful weight loss in pets.

Snakes get a bad rap sometimes, but they're actually very nice animals, and because of their anatomy and physiology, NOT SLIMY. They also make great pets when proper attention is paid to their husbandry.

Nicole and Jez discuss the nice things about snakes and why they are our friends.

It can be tempting to feed your horse a performance feed they may not need, or load them up with lots of supplements. Just like people, it's important to feed your horse according to the amount of physical work they're doing.

Nicole and Jez discuss the basics of horse feeding, and what to increase first when looking to add more to your horse's feed regime.

Post-COVID, loads of people have taken advantage of the increase in puppy demand to make more puppies & it's sometimes difficult to tell a good, ethical breeder from a someone more concerned with turning a profit than providing healthy animals.   Nicole and Jez discuss some hallmarks of both good and bad breeders, and why going to a breeder CAN be an ethical thing to do.

It certainly seems a bit mean to classify whole species as invasive, especially when it wasn't their choice to be introduced to delicate ecosystems, but it can be one of the biggest threats to ecology, life and wildlife health in our global society.    Nicole and Jez discuss why some species are so good at invading new habitats, and why controlling them is important for native wildlife.

Our pets can run afoul of several species of wildlife, especially here in Australia (there are venomous snake avoidance courses for dogs).

While venomous snakes can be life-threatening, there are lots of other wildlife that can cause grief for our pets. 

Nicole and Jez go through some common types of wildlife that can cause injury or misadventure.

There's a strong push currently for keeping horses barefoot, as it is the way they naturally live. However, the reality for most of our horses is that they aren't really living in a wild-type environment, eating wild-type feed, or doing wild-type work. So, is barefoot really best for all horses? 

Nicole and Jez discuss which horses can benefit from going barefoot, and which horses are likely to require shoeing or other hoof care options to remain sound. 

Horses bring immeasurable joy to riders around the world, but we can't avoid the truth that they are EXPENSIVE to keep. Situations can change, and re-homing a large (potentially lethal) animal is fraught with pitfalls.   Nicole and Jez discuss the best way to safeguard your horse's future against sudden change of circumstances.

Cats get anxious too, and they can also show it in ways where it may not be apparent anxiety; they often toilet outside the litterbox or change their daily routine. There's lots that can be done for anxious cats! While many tools can be bought online, it's also important to get a vet checkup to make sure that medical problems like pain or infection aren't causing the problem.

Nicole and Jez discuss methods to help your kitty feel comfortable and at ease.

Siamese fighting fish, or bettas, are a commonly misunderstood little fish. They need a much bigger tank than most people think! While the males can't be housed together, there are lots of invertebrates that cohabit happily with bettas, and a larger tank containing one fish need not be a waste of space.

Nicole and Jez discuss the needs of fighting fish and how to set up an appropriate tank.

Crates and kennels are easily misunderstood as restrictive caging, but they have a great use for giving dogs a safe, comfortable space that is their own. Plus it helps with future vet visits & other transport because it teaches them that confinement is temporary and okay.

Nicole and Jez discuss crate training and why it is so useful for anxious dogs.