Craig Tessyman RVN

Craig started working in practice as a student in 1999 and has worked in small animal practice, referral, emergency out of hours and charity medicine. For the last 6 years, he has worked 100% with non-traditional companion animals (NTCAs or anything that is not a traditional cat or dog) He currently holds the position of […]

Dr. Jamil Dowling

After leaving the UK with his mother as a child, Jamil grew up in the jungles of South America with many different peoples, cultures and animals – becoming very well travelled at a young age. An unconventional student of life, he completed all of his GCSEs, A levels and placements in 6 months to get […]

Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray has worked as a clinical veterinarian for 25 years, graduating from Liverpool University with a degree in Zoology and Veterinary Science, and locuming between the UK and New Zealand.  Soon after graduating, she visited Cameroon, where she witnessed how poverty and the lack of basic resources hinder people’s ability to pursue their livelihoods.  […]

Exotics or NTCAs: What should you call the ‘weird’ pets?

You may have heard us mention these types of animals on Veterinary Ramblings before: they include hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and many other small furry friends – often called ‘exotic’.

But why do we call them exotic? Is this term really accurate? And what does it mean for owners of these animals?

Veterinary Ramblings Season 15: Get to know our new guests!

The new season of Veterinary Ramblings is here, and starts this Thursday! If you’re a regular listener, you know that this podcast has become the go-to show for veterinary professionals. This year they’ve got some exciting guests lined up—you won’t want to miss it!

Matthew Rendle RVN

Matt is Head Nurse at Tari Vets and a Conservation Veterinary Nurse at Wildlife Vets International. He has had a phenomenal amount of experience with many species across the world and is a keen herpetoculturist, breeding many species of reptiles and amphibians over the years and getting involved in several conservation projects to protect them. […]

Fabian Rivers AKA Dready Vet

Fabian is the lead exotics vet at an independent practice in Birmingham and has written, featured and given talks to a variety of veterinary and non-veterinary publications, universities and initiatives. He is also one of the vets on the Pets Factor, a children’s TV show on the CBBC, and was more recently the presenter on […]

Anna Mercer AKA @ferretnurservn

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 […]

Dr Amber Lee

Amber graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2010 and worked in small animal practice before moving to Indianapolis, in the USA, to undertake a 1-year rotating internship. From here, she completed an ABVP (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners) Avian medicine residency at the Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis. Shortly after finishing her […]

Dr John Chitty

John Chitty qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1990 and gained RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2000. The former President of the European Association of Avian Veterinarians (2015-17) and former President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (2017-18), John is now the director of a small animal/exotics practice in Hampshire. John is […]