Veterinary Ramblings

This week, we have a fantastic chat with Iain McGill! We discuss his fascinating career including his work spearheading an investigation into the BSE (Mad Cow Disease) crisis, his short stint filmmaking in India, his efforts in animal conservation and campaigning against the badger cull in the UK.

Iain trained at King’s College London in neuroscience before qualifying at the RVC. Working initially as a clinician for the Blue Cross, he transferred to a government research role for MAFF, investigating bovine neuropathological disease with a focus on BSE and other prion diseases. He continued research on the molecular biology of prions at the Institute of Psychiatry. Iain worked with Dispatches and Channel 4 to blow the whistle on the BSE cover-up. 

He has worked in phytotherapeutics - researching novel candidates for medicinal compounds derived from plants. Whilst at ZSL, he performed disease risk analysis (DRA) for the recovery of UK endangered species including red kites, dormice, cirl buntings, field crickets and for the re-introduction of the pool frog. Since 2012, Iain has focused on publishing scientific evidence on bovine TB in cattle and other species, campaigning against the badger cull and for animal protection. He continues to see clinical cases and is setting up the PVA (Progressive Veterinary Association).

In this episode, we delve into the heartwarming world of dog rescue and advocacy with the incredible Tracey Turnbull. Introduced to us by former guest Louise Buckley, Tracey enlightens us on the latest challenges facing dog charities, focusing on the complexities surrounding Brucella Canis, overseas rescues, and the financial aspects involved.

Beginning with the intricacies of adoption fees, Tracey walks us through the process, shedding light on what it means to rescue special needs dogs. Through her personal adoption story, she passionately advocates for these dogs, sharing the impactful life lessons they've brought to her family and the broader community.

Tracey's journey takes an unexpected turn as she recounts an accident that altered her life's trajectory and inspired her to become a nurse. We explore her career progression, gaining insights into her day-to-day responsibilities and the evolving landscape of mental health treatment in the UK, especially in children.

The conversation takes a thought-provoking turn towards biomedical ethics, as Tracey shares her interest and expertise. Amidst a discussion on asking difficult questions, our hosts, Mike and Julian, humorously slip in one of their regular tricky queries – this time about Tracey's favourite bread. The segue leads us into a sensitive conversation about pet euthanasia, guiding listeners on how to approach this difficult decision and the emotional complexities it entails.

As we navigate the poignant subject of loss, Tracey emphasizes the joy and love that any dog, especially those with special needs, can bring into one's life. Both hosts share their personal experiences with special needs pets, offering valuable insights. The episode wraps up with Tracey's 60-second CPD, titled "The Joy And Excitement Special Dogs Bring To Your Life," leaving listeners with a heartfelt appreciation for the unique bonds formed with our four-legged friends. Tune in for a touching exploration of compassion, resilience, and the transformative power of our furry companions.

In this weeks episode, Julian and Mike are joined by Angie and Jules, two women with a combined experience of 65 years in ultrasound, now focused on enhancing ultrasound skills within the veterinary field.

Starting with a light-hearted discussion about their favourite bread, the conversation quickly shifts to the serious topic of veterinary ultrasound diagnostics. Angie, a former radiographer turned ultrasound specialist, shares her journey from human to veterinary sonography, emphasizing the vast differences and challenges between the two fields. Jules talks about being drawn out of retirement to elevate standards and training in veterinary ultrasound, motivated by the glaring absence of standardized practices in primary care.

They discuss the pressing need for proper training and mentorship for veterinarians, the potential risks of inadequate ultrasound diagnostics, and their efforts to provide comprehensive online and mentor-led training programs. Their mission is to ensure vets can confidently diagnose and treat animals, mirroring the rigour and standards found in human medicine. The conversation also touches on their personal stories, challenges, and a memorable adventure in Sri Lanka, underlining their passion for their work and the veterinary community.

Join us this week as we sit down with Anna Mercer AKA Anna The Ferret Nurse!
In this episode, we talk about everything from ferrets to fine art - including bats, mustelids, skunks, abstract expressionism, bass guitar, qualifying during COVID, and hummus...
Anna shares her experience as a recently qualified vet nurse, and what it was like to qualify during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anna originally trained as a fine artist so we chat a little about our thoughts on abstract expressionism. After her degree, Anna worked with bats at the Bat Conservation Trust and therapy animals (including a therapy skunk!) in a hospital, which inspired her to retrain as a vet nurse.
Anna started as a VCA in 2016 and qualified as an RVN in January 2021 after a 10-month delay due to coronavirus. Before this, she had many jobs. She used to work for a company that specialised in animal-assisted therapy, taking exotic animals into brain injury units & mental health wards. She has also worked for an ecologist consultancy performing bat surveys. Anna is currently studying towards a certificate in advanced nursing of small mammals.
As you may have guessed by her name, one of her main passions is everything and anything that involves ferrets! She is keen to promote ferret health and spends her spare time researching health issues and ferret husbandry. You learn more about her work with ferrets on her blog: annatheferretnurse.wordpress.com/
She has a passion for wildlife rehabilitation and has volunteered for many years at The Bat Conservation Trust rescuing bats. In 2019, Anna also volunteered for the charity Barking Mad Dog Rescue, working to improve the lives of abandoned dogs in Romania.

This week Veterinary Ramblings is joined by fellow podcaster, Francisco Gomez, the man behind More Than Just A Vet Podcast!
Francisco made the decision to move to the UK to learn English. He loved it here so much that he decided to stay! We discuss his career progression and what led him to the decision to make Britain his new home. We also talk about brexit and its impact on European freedom of movement, challenges posed by working as a foreign vet in the UK, and of course, Francisco's latest project, "More Than Just A Vet", his new podcast. Julian shares his love of Spanish cuisine and Francisco gives us a fantastic 60-Second CPD on Opthalmology!
Born in Malaga, Spain, Francisco qualified in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Córdoba. Initially, he travelled to the UK for 6 months, however, that turned into 15 years (and counting)! He has been a Veterinary Surgeon at Lawrence Veterinary Centre since 2007, with a short break in between whilst living in Norfolk and a couple of years as a locum. He completed his Certificate in ‘Advanced Veterinary Practice’ in 2013 and has a passion for all surgery, especially ophthalmology cases. In January 2018, he was appointed a Clinical Director at Lawrence Veterinary Clinic.
Outside of work, he is always looking for new hobbies, particularly if they involve computers and the internet! During the pandemic, he learned programming and developed an app called Vetd0se to help people calculate premed dosages. Last year, he started More Than Just A Vet Podcast, in which he seeks to show everyone, not just vets, what the lives, struggles, and passions of veterinary professionals are.