The Underdog Vet Podcast Dr Judy Puddifoot MRCVS

Welcome to this episode of The Underdog Vet Podcast!

In this episode’s Animal Advocate Interview, I spoke with Dr Meghan Vaught a vet from the Maine Veterinary Medical Centre in Maine on the East coast of America.
 
Meghan is a Critical Care Specialist and one of the medical directors at the hospital. She was the lead vet on a particularly upsetting case back in June 2022.
 
Meghan and I discussed the details of the case, its coverage in local media and the subsequent repercussions of that coverage.
 
We then moved on to talk more generally about the impacts on vet staff, team morale and the importance of teamwork. And finally we spoke about how pet owners can be best prepared for unexpected veterinary bills!

Some terms mentioned in the podcast that not every listener might be familiar with:


Free fluid/pleural effusion: Fluid seen in spaces within the body where it shouldn't normally be seen
Double cavity: Meaning more than one body cavity is affected eg the chest and the abdomen
Core Credit: Financial services company
Wells Fargo: Financial services company

Links:

Dr Meghan Vaught's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mvaughtdacvecc/
Maine Veterinary Medical Center Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rarebreedvets/
Not One More Vet: https://www.nomv.org/
Vetlife: https://www.vetlife.org.uk/
Maine Veterinary Medical Centre Statement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CetDa8JNSbo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Support the podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theunderdog




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Welcome to this episode of The Underdog Vet Podcast!

In this episode’s Animal Advocate Interview, I spoke with Jemima Harrison, a TV producer, dog rescuer
and all-round animal welfare campaigner who also runs a small gundog rescue.
 
She’s probably best known for having produced the ground breaking investigative documentary Pedigree Dogs
Exposed.
It aired on BBC One back in 2008 and exposed a multitude of welfare issues within the pedigree dog
breeding and showing industries.
 
Jemima and I discussed the heart breaking issues raised in her documentary, whether she feels things have
improved since then and what her latest projects are.

Definitions:
Coefficient Of Inbreeding: Inbreeding is a measure of how closely related your dog’s parents were. The higher the inbreeding coefficient, the more closely related the parents. In general, higher inbreeding coefficients are associated with increased incidence of genetically inherited conditions, reduced fecundity, and reduced life span
IVDD: Intervertebral Disk Disease (https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/intervertebral-disc-herniation-or-slipped-disc-fact-sheet/)
DCM: Dilated Cardiomyopathy (https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/dilated-cardiomyopathy/)
F1/F2/F3 Cross: F1 crosses in animals can be between two inbred lines or between two closely related species or subspecies.
DM: Degenerative Myelopathy (https://veterinary-neurologist.co.uk/canine-degenerative-myelopathy/)

Links:
Pedigree Dogs Exposed: https://documentaryheaven.com/bbc-pedigree-dogs-exposed/
Pedigree Dogs Exposed Blog: ⁠http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/
Coefficient Of Inbreeding information from BSAVA: https://www.bsava.com/position-statement/inherited-diseases-and-exaggerated-characteristics/
Brachycephalic Working Group: http://www.ukbwg.org.uk/
CRUFFA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cruffa/?locale=en_GB
Anti epilepsy Drug that can cause birth defects: https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/sodium-valproate/#:~:text=The%20risks%20of%20valproate%20during%20pregnancy&text=It%20can%20harm%20the%20baby,as%20the%20child%20grows%20up.

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Paws For Thought - where I chat about my life as a veterinary surgeon.

In this very first episode of the segment I give you five top tips to have the best relationship with your pets' vet! Please do get in touch with any areas or subjects you'd like me to cover in future segments. Email theunderdogvetpodcast@gmail.com

Enjoy!

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Hello!

This bit is probably only of interest to vets and vet nurses or those with a particular interest in cranial cruciate ligament surgery techniques.

There are a handful of different surgical techniques to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament, which is a pretty good indication that there's no one perfect method!
Each vet will choose which technique is best on a case by case basis. I asked Karen which was her favourite.

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Welcome to this episode of The Underdog Vet Podcast!



In this episode’s Animal Advocate Interview, I spoke with Dr Karen Perry a Tenured Associate Professor in Small Animal Orthopaedics and Chief of Small Animal Surgery at Michigan State University in America.

 

After graduating from Edinburgh vet school in 2005 Karen also completed a residency there in 2010. She then spent 4 years lecturing in orthopaedics at The Royal Veterinary College in London before making the move to Michigan State University.

 

Karen is passionate about improving veterinary education and mentoring her students. Her clinical interests include feline orthopaedics and trauma.

 

Karen and I spoke about being an orthopaedic surgeon, mentoring the next generation of vets and protecting your mental health as a vet.



Links:

Osteoarthritis: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/osteoarthritis/

Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO): https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/tibial-plateau-levelling-osteotomy-or-tplo-fact-sheet/

Elbow Dysplasia: https://vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/elbow-dysplasia-fact-sheet/

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD): https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/osteochondritis-dissecans-or-ocd-in-dogs

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cruciate-ligament-rupture-in-dogs

Medial humeral epicondylitis: https://cvm.msu.edu/annualreport/2016/a-feline-focus-detecting-and-treating-mhe

Primary hyperparathyroidism: A condition in which a tumour in the parathyroid gland produces excessive levels of parathyroid hormone, leading to increased blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia)


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Welcome to this episode of The Underdog Vet Podcast!

In this episode’s Animal Advocate Interview I spoke with Laura Ward a Clinical Animal Behaviourist, who specialises in dog aggression.
 
Laura set up Minds Alike Animal Behaviour after working as a veterinary nurse for 10years. She has always had a passion for how animals think and feel
and now dedicates her time to helping owners solve their dog’s behavioural issues. Laura firmly believes in using only positive approaches and that having
an understanding of how your dog is feeling means you can then appreciate why they are behaving in the ways they are.
 
Laura and I spoke about the importance of using a qualified dog behaviourist, the difference between a dog behaviourist and a dog trainer and why
it is vital dog owners understand some dog psychology!

Laura used some words that some listeners may not be familiar with, here's some explanations:
Desensitisation: Desensitisation means very gradual exposure to the scary thing, starting at a very low level and building up very slowly, at every step on the way, you dog should be happy and comfortable.
Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement training means training with rewards, such as a treat, praise or a toy. You give your dog something they want when they’re behaving in a way that you like (more info here: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/training/techniques/positive-reinforcement-training-with-rewards).
Socialisation: The process of getting a puppy/dog comfortable and familiar with everyday things.
Positive Punishment: The addition or application of something unpleasant to the dog or it's environment eg using a prong or electric collar or hitting the dog.
Threshold: The point at which a dog will be triggered by something.


Links:
Minds ALike Website: https://www.mindsalikeanimaltraining.com/
Grain free diet info: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
Ladder of Aggression/Communication: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/canine-ladder-of-communication
The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (UK): https://abtc.org.uk/
Find an accredited practitioner in your area (UK): https://abtc.org.uk/practitioners/

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