I am a veterinary surgeon with a passion for communicating my love of my work through writing, radio, television and the internet. My mission is to use the media to act as an advocate on behalf of animals. I am a partner in a busy 4 vet practice in Bray, Co Wicklow, Ireland, but I spend 50% of my working week on media work. I've been broadcasting a weekly "vet spot" on my local radio station, East Coast FM, for the past fifteen years, and I'm delighted, through Soundcloud, to now make this w ...
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Fun and informative dog podcast that looks at all aspects of our dogs lives hosted by dog trainers Jordan Shelley, Gavin Muldoon and Steve Goodall with a wide variety of different guests.
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10 min podcast: the pros and cons of flea control for pets
8:08
8:08
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8:08This week, we discussed the fact that we are heading into peak flea and tick season. What should pet owners do to protect their pets, while also making sure that they do not harm the environment (insects and birds) in any way?By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: How to make your pet live a longer life
4:21
4:21
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4:21After my visit to the BSAVA vet congress, I heard about a proposed medication to make pets live longer. To hear my take on this, listen in!By Pete Wedderburn
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As summer approaches, many people plan to take their pets with them on trips to the UK and Europe. This short podcast explains what you need to do to prepare for this.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: alternative treatments for pets
10:15
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10:15In this week's podcast, I discuss the use of alternative or complementary treatments for animals. What's the evidence behind them, and how should they fit in with conventional veterinary care for pets?By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: what to do if you see a wandering dog
4:43
4:43
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4:43It's common for dogs to be seen wandering the streets, with no owner in sight. What should you do if you see such an animal?By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: an appeal to raise funds for an injured rescue dog
8:18
8:18
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8:18Most animal rescue groups are occasionally faced with the challenge of an animal needing medical or surgical treatment with a high price tag. Today we discuss one such case, under the care of the ISPCA.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: pets and emotions - what are they feeling?
8:47
8:47
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8:47In this short podcast, we discuss the current thinking on pets experiencing emotions.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: update on XL Bully ban in Ireland
9:27
9:27
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9:27Today is 1st February 2025, the day when the ban on XL Bullies comes into force in Ireland. I have recorded a short podcast on this topic, along with East Coast FM, and while this was done 10 days ago, it's still relevant.By Pete Wedderburn
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Pets need dental care, just like humans, but this is often misunderstood. This short podcast explains why it's so important, and what should be done at home to ensure that pets have optimal dental health.By Pete Wedderburn
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This week, we talk about what you can do to keep your pretty safe and comfortable in cold weatherBy Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: Christmas prep for pets & the great Temple Grandin
8:48
8:48
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8:48This week's podcast opens with some chat about Christmas preparation for pets, and then we talk about how Temple Grandin is helping to promote a scheme to make visiting vets more enjoyable for dogs and catsBy Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: my uncle John, the animal rights hero
9:34
9:34
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9:34My uncle John was passionate about animal rights. He was a vegan from the age of fifty, and he dedicated the rest of his life to improving the lives of animals in captivity.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: understanding pets by observing their behaviour
8:39
8:39
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8:39A new global veterinary initiative aims to focus more on understanding animal behaviour as a way of learning more about their needs.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: a manifesto for animals in the Irish general election
5:10
5:10
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5:10With the election in Ireland coming up later this week, this is a good time to discuss animal welfare. Do you know what your preferred candidate plans to do about animal issues? To find out more, listen in hereBy Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: helping overweight pets avoid obesity
10:47
10:47
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10:47It's common for pets to carry too much weight without their owners realising. This podcast explains how to identify this, and how to stop the weight gain before obesity develops.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: the use of local anaesthetics in pets
5:55
5:55
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5:55Local anaesthetics are widely used in veterinary surgery to allow painful procedures to happen while an animal is conscious. This is a brief summary of how this can be useful in day to day veterinary work.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: how pets are affected by daylight savings clock changes
6:39
6:39
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6:39This week, we talk about the way that pets adapt to the changes in time when the clocks adapt to daylight saving time.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: the ISPCA & the changing world of modern veterinary care
11:44
11:44
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11:44This week's short podcast discusses life in a busy vet clinic. The ups and downs can be far more intense and demanding than most people realise. This segment was recorded in early October, during World Animal Week, and we go on to talk about the valuable work carried out by the ISPCA, preventing cruelty and protecting animals.…
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This time of year is difficult for many pets, due to their high sensitivity to unexpected loud noises. Listen to this short podcast to learn how to help pets cope with fear of fireworks.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: how dog brains are different to human brains
7:46
7:46
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7:46The differences between dog brains and human brains are well established, and they explain many of the differences between dog behaviour and human behaviour. Listen here to find out moreBy Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: the danger of grass seeds to pets
10:06
10:06
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10:06Grass seeds are small sharp objects that can be hazardous to pets. Listen here to find out more...By Pete Wedderburn
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The ban on XL Bully dogs comes into effect on 1st October 2024. This short radio interview goes over, again, the reasons why Pete feels that a far more complex and detailed approach is needed to the issue of dog attacks on humans.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: differences between cats and dogs
8:45
8:45
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8:45Cats are very different from dogs, and this short podcast discusses some of those differences.By Pete Wedderburn
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Penguins have been making international news. This short podcast describes how I used to work with the penguins at Edinburgh Zoo, when I was a student, and then we go on to discuss the two recent news stories.By Pete Wedderburn
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Poisoning is a common issue for pets: this short podcast discusses three typical cases that I have seen at my vet clinic in the past couple of months.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: how to stop cats from hunting
8:00
8:00
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8:00Cats have a strong drive to hunt birds, but many owners would prefer that they don't do this. This short podcast discusses how hunting behaviour can be reduced.By Pete Wedderburn
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Another podcast about taking pets on holiday
8:02
8:02
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8:02Here's another short discussion about the dos and don'ts of taking pets on holiday with you, including travelling overseasBy Pete Wedderburn
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The first Spayaware event was held in 2002, when over twenty thousand unwanted dogs were euthanased in Ireland's dog pounds. Twenty years later, in 2022, there were less than five hundred euthanased. Still too many, but huge progress. Listen to the podcast to learn more.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: scooting and sledging in dogs
8:03
8:03
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8:03Scooting and sledging are common behaviours in dogs. Listen here to find out why they do it and what to do to help themBy Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: new WSAVA guidelines on spaying and neutering pets
9:11
9:11
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9:11The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has just issued new guidelines on spaying and neutering. As the ISPCA Spayaware campaign is launched for 2024, the message on the importance of neutering for pets is adapting to new information: the bottom line is TALK TO YOUR VET about what's best for your pet.…
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Every day in most towns in Ireland, dogs are reported wandering the streets on their own. This short podcast looks into the "lost dog" phenomenon, and discusses how this should be tackled.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: how to solve the dangerous dog issue in Ireland
8:39
8:39
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8:39After the shocking death of a young woman in Limerick last week, and another incident involving a dog attack in Cork, there has been much discussion about what should be done. Listen to this short podcast to find out more.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: summer gastric upsets in dogs
7:22
7:22
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7:22In the summer months, many dogs suffer from gastrointestinal upsets (vomiting and diarrhoea), both mild and serious. Why is this so common, and what should owners do when their dogs are affected?By Pete Wedderburn
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10 min podcast: why greyhounds deserve to be treated like other dogs
7:25
7:25
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7:25Greyhounds are no different to other dogs, and they deserve to be treated as such. Two examples are first, when considering keeping one as a pet, and second, under Irish law, when some procedures are banned in pet dogs, but apparently permissible in greyhounds. Listen to the podcast to find out more.…
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10 minute podcast: how long do cats live for?
6:49
6:49
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6:49Recent research is finding out more about the lifespans of different types of cats. To find out more, listen in.By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: skin growths in elderly dogs
9:36
9:36
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9:36This week's short podcast discusses skin tumours in older dogs: these are common, and they are usually harmless. Listen in to find out more!By Pete Wedderburn
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10 minute podcast: why tick control is important in dogs and cats
9:49
9:49
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9:49This short podcast discusses how ticks become more common in the early summer, and what can be done to control them effectively in pets.By Pete Wedderburn
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The BSAVA congress is one of the biggest pet vet gatherings in the world: here's a short review of some of the discussions and learningsBy Pete Wedderburn
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Using inhaled medications to treat dogs and cats
8:19
8:19
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8:19Inhaled medication - as used by humans with asthma - are sometimes used to treat dogs and cats with nasal and lung disease. This short podcast explains the basics of how this effective form of treatment is used.By Pete Wedderburn
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Update on spaying and castration from Pete the Vet
9:32
9:32
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9:32Spaying and neutering pets is important to control excessive populations of dogs and cats, but it's important to carry out an individual assessment of the impact of these operations on the pet's health before going ahead. To find out more, listen here.By Pete Wedderburn
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The ban on XL Bully Dogs in the UK - a podcast
8:29
8:29
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8:29In the UK, it is now illegal to own an XL Bully dog if you have not applied for a certificate of exemption for your pet. This short podcast outlines the details of the ban, including the pros and cons for this strict new law, as well as discussing what Ireland plans to do about the risk to the public from some of these dogs.…
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Pete The Vet - musings on animal cruelty in Ireland
6:43
6:43
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6:43This short podcast is a from a short radio interview on Spirit radio. We discuss the surge in dogs being abandoned and surrendered to animal rescues, and we talk about what can be done to helpBy Pete Wedderburn
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Dementia is a common problem in older pets: listen to this ten minute podcast to learn more about what happens, and what can be done to help.By Pete Wedderburn
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From dog and cat toys to pet cams and more, this short podcast discusses pet related Christmas giftsBy Pete Wedderburn
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Animals waking at night, from cats miaowing to dogs barking. What can be done to stop them?
9:01
9:01
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9:01We all need a good night's sleep. So what should we do when our pets wake us up in the early hours? How can we get them to stop? Listen to the podcast to find out.By Pete Wedderburn
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This week's podcast starts with a question from a listener about feral kittens, moving on to a discussion about how foster rescue charities work (with Milo's Mission being a great example).By Pete Wedderburn
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XL Bully Dogs: what is the best way to tackle this issue?
9:08
9:08
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9:08In this interview, Pete explains why the XL Bully ban in the UK is destined for disaster, and he talks about different ways of dealing with the serious problem caused when large, muscular, powerful dogs go out of control.By Pete Wedderburn
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Therapy cats instead of therapy dogs? Why not?
7:39
7:39
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7:39In the USA, therapy cats are being used like dogs to visit people in hospitals. This podcasts discusses the pros and cons of this idea.By Pete Wedderburn
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World Animal Week is a time to remember the animals in our lives. Listen to find out more about what the ISPCA is doing to help animals in IrelandBy Pete Wedderburn
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Pete the Vet and the ISPCA Cycle Away From Cruelty
6:31
6:31
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6:31The ISPCA is having a Cycle Away From Cruelty event on Saturday 7th October. Listen in to find out moreBy Pete Wedderburn
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