Having spent my working life in veterinary practice, a lot of it as a practice owner, I am well used to comments about how much veterinary services cost, some in jest, some in shock and occasionally some in anger. Is this fare criticism though? Let’s take a closer look. Often the comments are in jest. I have been introduced a few times as “this is Bryan Gregor, my vet, the richest man in Timaru”.  I don’t think so. There is this perception that veterinarians have a license to print money. Another comment I sometimes hear is “it costs me less to see my doctor”.  I will put this comm ..read more

Unfortunately, the veterinary profession can really take a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of those in it. In this episode of The Vetpodcast I have a frank discussion with Canadian veterinarian Dr Marie Holowaychuk who is a passionate advocate for veterinary team wellbeing. Marie is CEO and founder of Reviving Veterinary Medicine  and host of the  Reviving Vet Med podcast. If you are an animal health professional, you probably owe it to yourself to listen to this discussion. If you require guidance or help with your mental wellbeing, many veterinary associations provide free ..read more

Following the disastrous floods that have hit the north of New Zealand following cyclone Gabrielle last week, I think it is opportune to revisit a podcast I recorded a year or so ago with Sue Kinsella and Alison Vaughan from RNZSPCA. If you have the responsibility of looking after animals, you should listen to this ..read more

“Without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill”  A quote directly from The World Health Organization. This isn’t hyperbole, this is potentially our future (as if there aren’t enough other things to be concerned about!). And then we have the British Health Secretary giving her left over antibiotics to family and friends. Really!!! In this episode of The Vetpodcast we discuss antimicrobial resistance ..read more

One of the givens in this world is that things never stay the same, we are always learning and we are always improving. This is as true for the veterinary profession as it is anywhere else. The information changes are based on must come from somewhere though.  Many of us will be aware of the change in recommendations as to the timing of desexing dogs. When I trained it was almost written in stone that it was by 6 months. It would now appear that the timing isn’t quite that simple. Early spey and neutering has been associated with an increase in non-traumatic orthopaedic injuries. Where d ..read more

If you have been a listener of the Vetpodcast for a while you may recall an episode we recorded back in early 2021 with Dr Melissa Trupia discussing end of life decisions and treatment. In this episode we are taking the inevitable next step today and discussing euthanasia. It is a topic that perhaps isn’t discussed as often as it should because but lets face it, almost all pet owners have to go through this process at least once in their pet owning life. I have a broad reaching discussion with Dr Kathleen Cooney, veterinarian, founder and Director of Education for The Companion Animal Euthanas ..read more

This is the second part of our discussion on the history of veterinary medicine with Dr Bruce Vivash Jones.  Bruce is a retired veterinarian, veterinary historian and author and has written what is possibly the most complete account of the history of veterinary medicine published. Bruce’s comments on the events that changed veterinary medicine, the current state of our profession and the possible future are truly insightful ..read more

This is the first of 2 episodes discussing the history of veterinary medicine with Dr Bruce Vivash Jones.  Bruce is a retired veterinarian, veterinary historian and author and has authored what is possibly the most complete account of the history of veterinary medicine published. In this first instalment, I discuss the origins of veterinary medicine as we know it, but we start some 4000 years ago with superstition, sacrifice and religion with a bit of the classical history on the side.    ..read more

Whether you are a vet, vet nurse, RVN, allied veterinary professional or a pet owner, if there is only one episode of The Vetpodcast you ever listen to, please let it be this one.   It is heart-breaking. I read with absolute despair that another of our veterinary colleagues have taken their own life – again! The statistics relating to suicide, and for that matter mental health in our profession are shocking.  I make no apologies for repeating this podcast I posted a year or so ago, it is just so important. Not One More Vet! #NOMV ..read more

Here in New Zealand, apart from the obvious religious significance of the festival there are 2 icons that you cannot escape. Chocolate Easter eggs and raisin filled Hot Cross Buns. Unfortunately, both chocolate and grapes are potentially toxic to dogs so without pouring cold water on your festivities, what is all the fuss about ..read more