Exotic Pets™
Episodes
Birds Are Perch Potatoes
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 b...
Your First Vet Visit with Your Exotic Pet
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 ...
Dr. Doug Dispels the Myth — You CAN be Allergic to Exotic Pets!
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#240: Are exotics hypoallergenic? "No, that’s a myth!," Dr. Doug says. Proteins in saliva, urine and feces are what can trigger allergies....
Little Mammals Need to Forage
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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...
Decisions, Decisions. What Kind of Pet Snake to Get?
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#238: Dr. Karen Rosenthal describes the characteristics of a variety of snakes to help people choose the right kind for themselves.
"Chonkosaurus" the Obese Snapping Turtle
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#237: Tracie asks Dr. Doug whether exotics can get overweight — like the photos circulating on the internet about the gigantic snapping turtle nickn...
Feeding Your Bird — Is She Insectivorous? Granivorous?
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 food...
An Iguana Smuggled in a Bra?
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 fo...
"What's Up, Doc?" Rabbits need More Than a Carrot!
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#234: Dr Michah Kohles [Compana Pet Brands Chief Veterinary Officer] explains the diversity of hays and leafy greens that bunnies and hamsters need to...
Petula the Corn Snake, One Man's BFF
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#233: Musical director Alex Rybeck tells why Petula the corn snake is the perfect pet for him... low maintenance, undemanding and he isn't allerg...
Dr. Doug's Basic Bunny Advice
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 ca...
Poor Little Piggies on Craigslist
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 parent...
People Collect Snakes Like Trading Cards
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 momen...
Is it Good or Bad to Clip a Bird's Wings?
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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 profession...
Where Does a Camel Go for Refuge in Florida?
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#227: Martha Rivera, curator of the Everglades Outpost, talks about the joys and challenges of running a refuge facility where people dump unwanted ...
Petula the Corn Snake asks “What’s for Dinner?”
12 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#226: Musician Alex Rybek lists the advantages of having a snake as a pet --- Petula is quiet, hypoallergenic, undemanding and an object of beauty. ...
This Epic Heat is Deadly to Exotics
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#228: Protect your vulnerable exotics from mercury-busting temperatures. Parrots, Jackson's chameleons, bunnies, small birds and mammals can all ...
Avoiding Bumblefoot in Guinea Pigs
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#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...
The Brilliance of a Snake’s Forked Tongue
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#224: Dr. Doug Mader extols the wondrous sophistication and utility of a snake's forked tongue and explains “tongue flicking.”
A Day in the Life of Two Mexican Tortoises
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Cohen discusses her tortoises, Pedro and Petra (featured in “In Good Company”), acquired from live animal market in Mexico City, and have li...
A Tortoise Can Come When Called!
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Frog with a Tumor on His Face
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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
An African Gray Keeps the Baby at Bay
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
Got Your WIll in Order? Parrots Can Live 80 Years or More!
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
Beware a Horny Iguana: He Can Bite Off Your Finger!
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Doug Mader on why iguanas are not good “starter pets,” how males aggressive during mating cycle, have put owners in emergency room, how castra...
What to Feed Your Dragon?!
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miranda Huntley (Food & Regulatory Specialist, Zoo Med) on recently developed bearded dragon food, what goes into formulating/creating specialized...
One Foot Long “Living Art”
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Doug Mader explains why bearded dragons are #1 most popular exotic pet in America, how they are "easy keepers" and a great "starter...
Smoothing “Ruffled Feathers”
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Clearing up misunderstanding between board certified veterinary specialist vs an expert, who may be better practical doctors, but cannot legally call ...
Looking for a Vet? Beware the Word “Specialist”
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Doug Mader explains how very few veterinarians are board-certified exotic pet specialists, how it's a “buyer beware" situation, to ask...
Mother’s Day Shout Out to Moms Who Inherit Their Kids’ Snakes!
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Doug Mader on why people have snakes as pets and their atypical human-animal bond, how snakes even know their owner's voice
What Does an Exotic Pet Say About YOU?
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 perso...