Exotic Pets™
The show for people interested in pets that slither, hop, creep, fly or swim: from bunnies to iguanas, parrots to ferrets, snakes to tortoises. Information on the physical requirements of these exotic pets and how to manage the often challenging environment and correct diet essential to their welfare.Co-hosted by Dr. Doug Mader, author of "The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital,"who is a world-renowned specialist on exotic animals, author of four major veterinary textbooks on reptile and amphibians, and a passionate educator.Early episodes of this show were co-hosted by Dr. Karen R...
Mon, April 14, 2025
"Hedgies" Are the Trendiest Little Pet
#296: Dr Micah Kohles of the Woodland Animal Hospital outside Lincoln, Nebraska, explains how to best care for hedgehogs, who are "charming munchkins who have become an up-and-coming pet."
Mon, April 07, 2025
Is Your Ferret Grinding His Teeth?
#304: Dr. Doug Mader says teeth grinding in ferrets (whether when asleep or awake) is a red flag that could mean he has stomach ulcers from bacteria, just like in humans.
Mon, March 31, 2025
The Insect Jungle in Your House
#292: Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice (author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors”) says there are spiders everywhere and you are never more than four feet from one of them — although none will cause the havoc her own curly-haired tarantula did when it let itself out of his cage.
Mon, March 24, 2025
“Breast Cancer” in Rats — It’s a Thing!
#303: Dr. Doug talks about how rats get mammary gland tumors, a chain of glands that runs from their tail to over their shoulders, but they are benign 80% of the time and the rats often do just fine if operated on by a veterinarian experienced in small mammal surgery.
Mon, March 17, 2025
"Chins" Are Ridiculously Cute But Challenging Pets
#298: Dr. Micah Kohles of Woodland Animal Hospital in Nebraska, cautions that chinchillas are not a good starter pet for a child. They are very active, not cuddlers, a bit jumpy and nervous and require very specific nutrition and a habitat with lots of vertical climbing options.
Mon, March 10, 2025
I Am Mouse, Hear Me Roar
#289: Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” writes about the wondrous conversations mice have that we cannot hear. Mama mice sing to their babies — who sing back! She recommends getting an ultrasonic transducer so you can hear your pet mice communicate.
Mon, March 03, 2025
Do Not Put Your Reptile in the Freezer!
#297: Dr Doug talks about reptile euthanasia which is very tricky, since they can come back to life after being euthanized medically! And people mistakenly think they can euthanize their reptile in the freezer but it is a terrible, painful death.
Mon, February 24, 2025
Sy Montgomery “What the Rooster Knows”
#294: Sy Montgomery talks about her flock of “ladies” in her book “What the Chicken Knows: a New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird” and all the ways that chickens are delightful, intelligent, long-lasting pets (with the added bonus of eggs!)
Mon, February 17, 2025
Turtles Always Fly in a Chiquita Banana Box
#302: Michael Schneider founded Pilots to the Rescue to bring dogs and cats from the South, where they aren't wanted, to shelters in the Northeast that can place them in homes — but he never expected to be filling his Kodiak 100 plane with Chiquita banana boxes, the preferred transport method for endangered sea turtles that are cold stunned in New England, and fly them to the safety of waters in Florida.
Mon, February 10, 2025
Fresh or Saltwater Fish?
#300: Dr. Doug says freshwater is the easiest way to get into fish ownership but saltwater tanks are the coolest, with puckerfish and lionfish greeting you when you come home!
Tue, February 04, 2025
Does Having An Exotic Pet Make You Special?
#301: Are people surprised or amazed that you have an exotic pet? Do you ever wonder why you chose the exotic that you did? Do other people make assumptions about you — positive or critical — because of the pet who shares your home? Does that unusual pet make you feel special?
Mon, January 27, 2025
The Spider Chaser
#290: Chris Buddle has chased spiders his whole life — since childhood, although for academic purposes the past 30 years! and talks about the effect on visitors of his own lovely long haired tarantula.
Mon, January 13, 2025
Falling in Love With Sea Turtles
#299: Bette Zirkelbach, General Manager of the non-profit The Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys, talks about rescuing and rehabilitating Mojo, the 800 lb. Leatherback Sea Turtle and explains how “compassion is contagious" and ecotourism helps these endangered creatures.
Mon, December 30, 2024
Exotic Emergencies
#295: Dr. Doug Mader talks about breathing difficulties and bleeding being the two symptoms of true emergencies in exotics. Reptile emergencies are rare but with birds, breaking a blood feather that causes more than 6 drops of bright red blood is an emergency.
Mon, December 16, 2024
A Baby Bird Needs Only One Friend: You!
#288: Sandi Pipock has been the manager of Walton's Pet Shop in the Florida Keys for 30 years and talks about the value of education and customer service at a small privately owned store.
Mon, December 02, 2024
“What the Chicken Knows”
#294: Sy Montgomery talks about her flock of “ladies” in her book “What the Chicken Knows: a New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird” and all the ways that chickens are delightful, intelligent, long-lasting pets (with the added bonus of eggs!)
Mon, November 18, 2024
Cold Weather Warning!
#293: Dr. Doug explains how birds in an outdoor aviary can handle the cold but wind and getting wet feathers are a danger more than the temperature. Ferrets love the snow! Snakes and fish have antifreeze proteins in their blood so the cold doesn't affect them.
Mon, November 04, 2024
From ‘Gator Wrestler to Gator Rescuer
#287: Social media star Chris Gillette really did put himself through school wrestling alligators — and now is their rescuer at Bellowing Acres Alligator Sanctuary in Florida, where he has saved many “nuisance” alligators (caused by what he calls “nuisance people”!) along with a vast array of other animals needing sanctuary.
Mon, October 21, 2024
Follow the Great Hawk Migration
#291: Mark Hedden — self-described bird geek in the Florida Keys — describes the yearly migration of raptors that has “hawk counters” at the 200 hawk counting sites around the U.S. (follow the hawks at HMANA.org)
Mon, October 07, 2024
Did Your Snake have a “Virgin Birth”?
#286: Warren Booth — snake reproduction geneticist and professor at Virginia Tech — discusses discoveries about some snakes' ability to reproduce without a member of the opposite sex [parthenogenesis]. However, this phenomenon might be misleading because some snakes, like rattlers, can store sperm for up to six years.
Mon, September 23, 2024
Is Your Venomous Snake Legal?
#285: Dr. Doug Mader explains that many snakes sold in pet stores have a venomous bite without people knowing it — from garter snakes to hognose snakes — which you should research before buying. The legalities differ by state, but obtaining a legal license to have a venomous snake has requirements nobody could realistically fulfill. Find out the amnesty date in your state for relinquishing your venomous snake and take advantage of it!
Mon, September 16, 2024
Betta Fish — The Meanest Fish on the Block
#284: Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice gives context to why betta fish attack others in her book “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” explaining that humans breeding for ever more exotic colors in Betta fish have made them increasingly aggressive.
Mon, September 09, 2024
The Purple Claw and Other Charming Hermit Crabs
#283: Dr. Doug convinces Tracie that hermit crabs make delightful pets — as those who belong to online hermit crab clubs can attest — some of which can grow as big as a grapefruit and live 25 years! He explains how they need ever-larger shells as they grow, adapting to discarded shells in the wild, as well as human detritus that can meet their housing needs.
Mon, September 02, 2024
Goldfish Can Be Taught to Drive a Car
#282: Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” discusses how truly intelligent goldfish are, with good memories — recognizing you and music they have heard — and have even been taught to drive a little goldfish car by Israeli scientists exploring their capabilities.
Mon, August 26, 2024
Canaries Learn Their Songs as Baby Birds
#281: Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” talks about how lovely little yellow canaries were once used to detect deadly gasses in mines (“the canary in the coal mine”) but actually have a natural “invisible force field” that protects them when others in their flock become ill.
Mon, August 19, 2024
Guppies and Their "Power of the Evil Eye"
#280: Eleanor Spicer Rice — author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors” — talks about guppies being the most popular pet fish which are easy prey in the wild for all the other fish, since the only defense a guppy has is the ability to turn their eyes jet black to lure a predator directly to them, then dart out of the way at the last minute.
Mon, August 12, 2024
Finches Are Darling Birds — Why have Just One?
#279: Dr. Doug’s grandmother had an aviary with nearly 100 birds in it — you don't have to rival that, but have at least two of these sweet little birdies with their elaborate coloring, easy management and generous lifespans of five to 10 years.
Mon, August 05, 2024
Frizzies or Hairless? So Many Mice to Love!
#278: Dr. Doug talks about the virtues of sweet, affectionate, low-maintenance “house mice” as wonderful “starter pets” for a small child. And they come in so many varieties now (he calls the hairless mouse “creepily adorable.”)
Mon, July 29, 2024
Reptiles Can’t Feel the Burn
#277: Dr. Doug cautions that faulty hot rocks, human heat pads and heat lamps used improperly can give 3rd degree burns to a reptile who cannot feel the damage.
Mon, July 22, 2024
33% of Pet Birds Test Positive for Borna Virus
#276: Dr. Jennifer Graham (board certified in Avian and Exotic Companion Animals) talks about this potentially deadly virus that is often in a breeder’s whole flock. Birds can be shedding borna virus without clinical signs — it’s not easily transmitted to other birds yet still contagious. The disease is costly to treat and sadly, once your bird has symptoms it is a death sentence.
Mon, July 15, 2024
“People Food” Can Harm Exotics
#275: Your ferret wants candy? Don’t do it! Even fruit is merely sugar plus water — give it sparingly to any exotic. Your bird loves cheese? Just say no! Chicken eggs for parrots — no! Too much protein for a bird is unnatural and can damage their heart, kidneys and liver so avian experts all agree to feed a balanced pelleted diet from a quality company. Dr. Doug Mader says, When in doubt, leave it out!
Mon, July 08, 2024
Check Your Bird’s Poop!
#273: Avian expert Dr. Jennifer Graham tells you all the ways that your bird’s droppings are a treasure trove of information.
Mon, July 01, 2024
Zoonosis — What Diseases Can Your Exotic Give You?
#273: Dr. Doug wants people to know about — but not be frightened by — the many illnesses exotic animals can transmit to people, especially those who are immunocompromised, elderly or young children whose immune systems are “not yet confident.”
Mon, June 24, 2024
Are Neurodiverse People Drawn to Exotic Pets?
#272: Tracie raises this question with the namesake of Jungle Bob’s Reptile World on Long Island, who goes into schools to put reptiles in a positive light and teach about what he calls “the Unloved, Unusual and Unknown” pets, to which many children are drawn.
Fri, June 14, 2024
Small Pet Birds Have Long Lives
#271: Dr. Micah points out that parakeets — also known as budgies — and cockatiels can live 8-10 years. It’s a responsibility and commitment. They need 65-75 degrees and 50% humidity. Nutrition matters, with Zupreem & Harrison food being the best.
Mon, June 10, 2024
Iguanas Have a Dark Side
#270: Dr. Doug says people buy a five INCH pet that becomes a five FOOT creature requiring 80% humidity and 80 degrees. In adolescence, when “in rut,” they can viciously attack their owners.
Mon, June 03, 2024
Anorexia in Exotics: What to do When They Won't Eat
#269: Dr. Kohles says that a decrease in appetite in a small mammal can be a big deal. They are a prey animal and keep problems to themselves for survival. Ask everyone in the household to pay attention to changes in appetite and behavior.
Mon, May 27, 2024
The Whole Truth About Bearded Dragons
#268: Dr. Stacey Wilkinson teaches us that we don’t know as much as we think we do about Beardies, America’s most popular exotic pet!
Mon, May 20, 2024
Eh, What's Up Doc? Your Bunny Needs More Than a Carrot!
#267: Dr. Karen Rosenthal describes the proper feeding of a bunny, which means getting the right hay from Oxbow Health and good quality pellets from Zupreem, to supply the fiber and grit necessary in a rabbit’s diet.
Mon, May 13, 2024
Don’t Let Your Small Fur Baby Get Chubby
#266: Dr. Micah Kohles suggests establishing a target weight for your small mammal, then getting a baby scale (even at a yard sale or on Craigslist) so you can tell if they are underweight or overweight.
Mon, May 06, 2024
Meet the Master Crocodilian
#265: Savannah is the resident Crocodilian at Gatorland in Orlando, with fascinating tales about crocs, especially the “albino” baby.
Mon, April 29, 2024
What Pet Has 8 Eyes & Hairy Legs?
#264: A tarantula! Dr. Doug Mader talks about the fascination of having 8 legs and 8 eyes peering out at you from behind the terrarium glass. These spiders can live 20-25 years!
Mon, April 22, 2024
On the Road Again — Travel with Little Mammals
#263: Dr. Micah talks about practicing beforehand if you're planning on a trip with your exotic, especially get them used to the carrier by putting familiar objects in it. [Don’t use a soft-sided carrier because they will chew right through it!]
Mon, April 15, 2024
Geckos Will Steal Your Heart
#262: Dr. Doug Mader extols the virtues of geckos as perfect first reptiles because they can be as cute in real life as the Geico gecko on TV, with expressive faces (with eyelids) and charming personalities. Plus they can live 10 to 20 years!
Mon, April 08, 2024
Bunny Bonding Tips & Tricks
#261: Dr. Micah Kohles talks about how to add a 2nd bunny to your home. Slowly! Go to a shelter for a “bunny speed dating event” but still expect to spend months introducing them slowly. Once they are ready for a face-to-face introduction, the bathtub works great as a neutral territory [and it’s too slippery to get good traction to beat up the other bunny!]
Mon, April 01, 2024
Meet Dayyan the YouTube Reptiliatus Star!
#260: Starting with a love for dinosaurs as a child, Dayyan evolved into one of the most watched entertaining educators about “herp culture,” explaining fascinating phenomena like “obligate egg eater frogs!”
Mon, March 25, 2024
Gastrointestinal Stasis: What Every Bunny Owner Should Know
#259: Dr. Micah Kohles talks about the importance of "keeping things moving along in your bunny’s G.I. tract" by feeding a variety of fibers, like different hay and grasses and dark leafy greens to avoid shutting down the G.I. tract and causing a serious problem.
Sun, March 17, 2024
Decisions, Decisions. How to Choose a Snake?
#258: Dr. Karen talks about how to choose a pet snake. Corn, King, Milk, and Ball Pythons are all docile snakes costing from $50 to $200. Dr. Karen recommends going to a “reptile expo” to learn about good breeders, veterinary needs, and to join a reptile enthusiast club to learn from those who are passionate.
Mon, March 11, 2024
Small Pets in the Classroom
#256: Annie Petersen speaks about her fascination and love for guinea pigs and how she founded the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies particularly to promote small animals in classrooms (and in homes like her own!)
Sun, March 03, 2024
Exotics Need Vaccinations, Too!
#255: Dr. Doug Mader talks about the value of vaccinations for exotic pets, urging people not to be afraid of vaccines, especially rabies which all mammals can get. Ferrets can also get canine distemper which can be deadly — but it is essential that it be the killed vaccine for them, never the live distemper vaccine.
Mon, February 26, 2024
The Turtle Passionate Couple Behind Garden State Tortoise
#257: Chris Leone of Garden State Tortoise on the South Shore of New Jersey, tells how he and his wife Casey bonded over a shared love of turtles and now create social media content every day to educate and delight over 2 millions followers, while raising and selling tortoises to pre-approved homes.
Mon, February 19, 2024
Ferrets are Like Kittens That Never Grow Up
#254: Dr. Karen Rosenthal gives an overview of Ferrets as pets — the highly friendly, social, playful little pets who remain kittenish and will give you years of loving companionship. They use a litter box immediately: just put a litter box in a corner (their preferred location to relieve themselves) and cover the bottom with Dr. Elsey’s Touch of the Outdoors litter.
Mon, February 12, 2024
Did Tracie's Childhood Rabbit Need Orthodontics?
#253: Dr. Doug Mader explains how important dental care is for all rabbits and what happens when it is neglected. He answers Tracie's question about whether her childhood veterinarian really did suggest braces for one of her rabbits with buck teeth.
Mon, February 05, 2024
Dr. Doug Talks Turtles (and Tortoises)
#252: Doug talks turtles — and the differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Doug and Tracie reminisce about the “penny turtles” [red eared sliders] they had as kids, and how far we have come with environments designed by ZooMed instead of the little green plastic dishes with a plastic palm tree.
Mon, January 29, 2024
Don't Monkey Around with Monkeys
#251: Dr. Doug rarely says "don't" about exotic pet ownership if you're ready to provide the right environment. But in the case of monkeys, he explains all the reasons why it is impossible to create what a monkey needs at home. He makes clear it is simply wrong on so many levels to have a pet monkey. DON'T DO IT!
Sun, January 21, 2024
Should People Have Birds as Pets At All?
#250: Leading avian and exotic pet veterinarian Dr Laurie Hess raises the ethical question of whether people should have birds as pets at all. Are you giving them a good life? Taking your bird in the shower with you? Playing TV and music he likes? Providing social interaction, UV light, something safe and satisfying to chew on all the time? And can you continue to do that for the 40 years that some of them live?
Mon, January 15, 2024
Ralphie, The Guinea Pig Therapy Pet
#249: Nikki talks about her rare therapy pet Ralphie, an Abyssinian guinea pig with a natural Mohawk “hairdo”, who regularly does therapy visits at an adult forensic psychiatric facility, where he has a positive effect on the population he is working with.
Mon, January 08, 2024
What Kind of Lizard Person are You?
#248: Dr. Karen Rosenthal discusses the ever-popular Australian Bearded Dragon, which stay small, have a pleasing personality (you need to interact with them!), they “color morph” and can be very beautiful, they don't need to climb and are generally easy to keep. Dr. Karen points out that Nile Monitor lizards are very aggressive, the Savannah Monitor gets large and needs to eat small mammals, and chameleons are the most difficult lizard to keep because — amongst other lifestyle requirements — they need to get their water dripped off the end of a leaf!
Mon, January 01, 2024
Ball Pythons — America's Favorite Snake
#247: Dr. Doug Mader explains that Ball Pythons are such easy pets, especially as a first snake. For one thing, if they get scared they don't get aggressive — they roll up into a ball and tuck their head into the middle ("with the bitey parts out of the way," as Dr Doug puts it.)
Sun, December 24, 2023
How Sick is Your Bird? The Smaller the bird, the Quicker She'll Get Sick
#246: Avian specialist Dr. Jennifer Graham discusses how birds are prone to respiratory disease and are very sensitive to pollutants in the air — which is why they used to keep canaries in coal mines as a bellwether of air quality. If your bird seems "off," she says, Do not wait before going to the veterinarian if your bird shows signs of illness! She also says "the smaller the bird, the quicker they get sick."
Mon, December 18, 2023
Ferrets — the Obligate Hyper-Carnivore
#245: Dr Micah Kohles, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Compana Pet Brands, talks about the specific nutritional needs of rats and ferrets, which are considered "obligate hyper carnivores." They need meat — and lots of it!
Mon, December 11, 2023
Annual Exams for Exotics Are "An Ounce of Prevention"
#244: Dr. Doug Mader, the author of "The Vet at Noah's Ark," explain why an annual exam for exotic pets is so important to catch medical problems early, before they become too costly or life-threatening.
Mon, December 04, 2023
Protect Against RDHV — The Rabbit "Ebola Virus”
#243: Dr. Micah Kohles from Oxbow Animal health discusses how the deadly RDHV virus can have up to a 90% mortality rate in bunnies — therefore the truly life-saving importance of getting the RDHV vaccine for all pet rabbits.
Mon, November 27, 2023
Birds Are Perch Potatoes
#242: Avian veterinarian Dr Jennifer Graham discusses the stewardship of a pet bird and how the inherent problem is that they cannot do their normal behavior, which is to fly! Being sedentary can lead to a host of physical and emotional problems, which as their guardian you need to be aware of and try to mitigate.
Mon, November 20, 2023
Your First Vet Visit with Your Exotic Pet
#241: Dr Micah Kohles, Chief Veterinary Officer with Compana Pet Brands, talks about how to go about planning your first vet visit with an exotic pet to form the beginning of a partnership in its care. You can find a specialized vet at the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians [AEMV], the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) and the Association of Reptile Veterinarians (ARV).
Mon, November 13, 2023
Dr. Doug Dispels the Myth — You CAN be Allergic to Exotic Pets!
#240: Are exotics hypoallergenic? "No, that’s a myth!," Dr. Doug says. Proteins in saliva, urine and feces are what can trigger allergies. These proteins dry — become airborne — and cause reactions in some people with a tendency to allergic reactions.
Mon, November 06, 2023
Little Mammals Need to Forage
#239: Dr. Micah Kohles explains why foraging is a basic need that is essential to the wellbeing of all small mammals, who engage instinctually in this behavior. He describes how to support meaningful foraging activities to provide enrichment to guinea pigs, rats, gerbils and other little pets.
Mon, October 30, 2023
Decisions, Decisions. What Kind of Pet Snake to Get?
#238: Dr. Karen Rosenthal describes the characteristics of a variety of snakes to help people choose the right kind for themselves.
Mon, October 23, 2023
"Chonkosaurus" the Obese Snapping Turtle
#237: Tracie asks Dr. Doug whether exotics can get overweight — like the photos circulating on the internet about the gigantic snapping turtle nicknamed Chonkosaurus, who got too fat for his shell. Dr. Doug discusses the dangers of obesity in pets in general, but particularly exotics.
Mon, October 16, 2023
Feeding Your Bird — Is She Insectivorous? Granivorous?
#236: Dr. Micah Kohles discusses avian nutrition and how to layer the right foods on top of basic nutrition from Zupreem by adding the variety of foods your particular species of bird needs — insects, nuts and seeds, fruit? [Hint: the shape of your bird's beak does indicate the right foods for her.]
Mon, October 09, 2023
An Iguana Smuggled in a Bra?
#235: Dr. Doug tells the bizarre and hilarious story from his book "The Vet at Noah's Ark" about the woman who wanted a tranquilizer for her pet iguana so she could keep him quiet while she smuggled him into Australia — down her bra!
Mon, October 02, 2023
"What's Up, Doc?" Rabbits need More Than a Carrot!
#234: Dr Michah Kohles [Compana Pet Brands Chief Veterinary Officer] explains the diversity of hays and leafy greens that bunnies and hamsters need to mimic their natural diet, in addition to their pellets.
Mon, October 02, 2023
“Nine Lives and Alibis”
#850A: Cate Conte is back with another cozy kitty-infused mystery, this time with ghosts, a psychic, and deaths in a haunted house on Halloween.
Mon, October 02, 2023
Love Poems by Cats [Snarky, just as you’d expect]
#850B: Francesco Marciuliano has written “Oh. It’s You. Love Poems by Cats,” another hilarious collection of poems inspired by (and theoretically penned by) his own cultured kitties. He is giving a copy as a gift to everyone who buys tickets for the Meow Party, as well as to the filmmakers coming to the 6th Annual NY Cat Film Festival premiere.
Mon, October 02, 2023
A Dog-Centered Thriller for the Dog Film Festival Filmmakers
#850C: Lynn Hightower, the author of the thriller “A Beautiful Risk” — which is also a book about loss and grief — talks about how this book morphed into her column on grief for Psychology Today. [She generously bought copies of her book for the doggy swag bags for the filmmakers coming to the NYC premiere of the 8th Annual NY Dog Film Festival.]
Mon, September 25, 2023
Petula the Corn Snake, One Man's BFF
#233: Musical director Alex Rybeck tells why Petula the corn snake is the perfect pet for him... low maintenance, undemanding and he isn't allergic to her like he is to dogs or cats.
Mon, September 18, 2023
Dr. Doug's Basic Bunny Advice
#232: You can litter box train a bunny [but whatever you do, don't move that litter box!] Bunny proof your home, especially electric cords and cables. Rabbits can have delicate health, so find a "bunny veterinarian" and have a wellness exam twice a year to prevent possibly serious medical issues.
Mon, September 11, 2023
Poor Little Piggies on Craigslist
#231: Saskia Chiesa of the Los Angeles Guinea Pig rescue talks about how children lose interest in their first pet — a guinea pig — and the parents don't have a plan for what to do with them, so the piggies wind up neglected and discarded.
Mon, September 04, 2023
People Collect Snakes Like Trading Cards
#230: Ace Tilton wrote the charming "Little Book of Dog Care" but it turns out they also love snakes and rescue ball pythons (5 at the moment) from people who "collect and neglect" them, then put them on Craigslist. Ace also has a Kenyan sand boa named Confetti, who has what they call "a kitten face."
Mon, August 28, 2023
Is it Good or Bad to Clip a Bird's Wings?
#229: Dr. Doug talks about the circumstances that determine whether or not to clip a bird's wings. Should you do it yourself or have a professional handle it? And why you should do a "test flight."
Mon, August 21, 2023
Where Does a Camel Go for Refuge in Florida?
#227: Martha Rivera, curator of the Everglades Outpost, talks about the joys and challenges of running a refuge facility where people dump unwanted exotic pets. They also rehabilitate and release wildlife, often with Dr. Doug’s veterinary expertise.
Sat, August 12, 2023
Petula the Corn Snake asks “What’s for Dinner?”
#226: Musician Alex Rybek lists the advantages of having a snake as a pet --- Petula is quiet, hypoallergenic, undemanding and an object of beauty. [However, Petula’s weekly meal does require dangling a defrosted mouse with a forceps.]
Mon, August 07, 2023
This Epic Heat is Deadly to Exotics
#228: Protect your vulnerable exotics from mercury-busting temperatures. Parrots, Jackson's chameleons, bunnies, small birds and mammals can all die in un-air-conditioned indoor spaces or outdoors, too. Dr. Doug suggests ways to keep them cool.
Mon, July 31, 2023
Avoiding Bumblefoot in Guinea Pigs
#225: Dr. Doug extols the virtues of friendly, easy to keep and affectionate guinea pigs as his favorite “starter pet” for kids. But he cautions to house them correctly or they can get bumblefoot!
Mon, July 24, 2023
The Brilliance of a Snake’s Forked Tongue
#224: Dr. Doug Mader extols the wondrous sophistication and utility of a snake's forked tongue and explains “tongue flicking.”
Mon, July 17, 2023
A Day in the Life of Two Mexican Tortoises
Laura Cohen discusses her tortoises, Pedro and Petra (featured in “In Good Company”), acquired from live animal market in Mexico City, and have lifespan of 100 years
Mon, July 10, 2023
A Tortoise Can Come When Called!
Dr. Doug gives an overview of tortoises: love to have shell rubbed, scratched under chin, learn their name, come when called, keep growing until they die, up to 250 lbs, live for 80+ years
Mon, July 03, 2023
The Frog with a Tumor on His Face
The tale of a horned frog the size of a softball that ate its own tumor is a preview of Dr. Doug Mader's upcoming sequel memoir
Mon, June 26, 2023
An African Gray Keeps the Baby at Bay
Jenny & Joel thought they weren't going to have a child because of their parrots (a rare Greater Vasa parrot and a African Grey parrot) but had a baby anyway
Mon, June 19, 2023
Got Your WIll in Order? Parrots Can Live 80 Years or More!
Dr Doug talks about parrots, how very smart they are, may live 80+ years, demand your attention, and the more you give, the more they want, and how unhappy parrots may self-mutilate
Mon, June 12, 2023
Beware a Horny Iguana: He Can Bite Off Your Finger!
Dr. Doug Mader on why iguanas are not good “starter pets,” how males aggressive during mating cycle, have put owners in emergency room, how castration before puberty can mellow personality
Mon, June 05, 2023
What to Feed Your Dragon?!
Miranda Huntley (Food & Regulatory Specialist, Zoo Med) on recently developed bearded dragon food, what goes into formulating/creating specialized foods for exotics
Mon, May 29, 2023
One Foot Long “Living Art”
Dr. Doug Mader explains why bearded dragons are #1 most popular exotic pet in America, how they are "easy keepers" and a great "starter exotic"
Tue, May 23, 2023
Smoothing “Ruffled Feathers”
Clearing up misunderstanding between board certified veterinary specialist vs an expert, who may be better practical doctors, but cannot legally call themselves specialists
Mon, May 15, 2023
Looking for a Vet? Beware the Word “Specialist”
Dr. Doug Mader explains how very few veterinarians are board-certified exotic pet specialists, how it's a “buyer beware" situation, to ask for credentials before entrusting care of your exotic pet
Tue, May 09, 2023
Mother’s Day Shout Out to Moms Who Inherit Their Kids’ Snakes!
Dr. Doug Mader on why people have snakes as pets and their atypical human-animal bond, how snakes even know their owner's voice
Tue, May 02, 2023
What Does an Exotic Pet Say About YOU?
Dr. Doug Mader and Tracie discuss why people have exotic pets? And how they choose a particular species? Are you a boa constrictor or Betta fish person?
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