The Tiny Vet Podcast

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 horrile 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 wild animal in need of help, while Jez reveals he does not have cancer. 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 on Instagram at www.instagram.com/fatpossumacademy (the new class is in) 

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 on Instagram at www.instagram.com/fatpossumacademy (the new class is in) 

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 at https://www.youtube.com/@jezwattscomedy (episodes are up there too) and follow Nicole on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fatpossumacademy/ (the new class is in)

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

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 

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

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 

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.