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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Another podcast about taking pets on holiday
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Here'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
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Scooting 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
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The 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
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After 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
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In 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
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Greyhounds 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?
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Recent 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
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This 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
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This 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
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Inhaled 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
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Spaying 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
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In 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
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This 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?
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We 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?
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In 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?
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In 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
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The 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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Podcast: the latest stray dog statistics in Ireland
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This six minute podcast discusses the latest stray dog control statistics from Ireland.By Pete Wedderburn
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After discussing the tragedy around the Ironman event in Cork, Pete went on to discuss puppy farms in Ireland. Two contrasting topics. Plenty to say about each.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: killing cats in NZ and TNR in Ireland
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10:49
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In New Zealand, a school set up a competition to reduce the local feral cat population by asking children to shoot cats dead. After a huge outcry, this crazy idea was abandoned. But it does raise the issue: what is the best way to control feral cat populations?By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: New rules coming on controlling dogs in Ireland
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An inter-departmental working group has just made a submission to Cabinet with suggestions for improving the control of dogs, including forty new dog wardens, increased on-the-spot fines, and a unified dog microchip database, accessible to the dog licensing system. Listen to this seven minute podcast to find out more.…
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Irish dog pounds and rescue centres are overloaded with unwanted dogs, either abandoned or surrendered by their owners. To find out more about this, listen to this 10 minute discussion on my podcast.By Pete Wedderburn
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How technology has improved the diagnosis of pets' illnesses
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The diagnostic ability of vets has improved dramatically in the past twenty years, using a range of high tech equipment. Owners often do not realise this, as it happens behind the scenes. This short podcast outlines how laboratory and diagnostic imaging equipment has enabled rapid and effective diagnosis of pet illnesses that might formerly have re…
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Stories from a vet clinic: the dog that swallowed a stone
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In this week's vet spot, we discussed a recent case from my clinic, when a dog needed an operation to remove a stone that had accidentally been swallowed, and then had become stuck in the intestines.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: how to deal with the aftermath of dog attacks on children
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In the wake of the dreadful attack on a child in Wexford this week, here's a discussion about how we handle dog attacks in Irish society, and how, perhaps, we could do this better.By Pete Wedderburn
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The live animal crib debate, plus do animals dream?
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In this week's 15 minute podcast, after an initial chat about phones (a shared interest of myself and Declan Meehan, the interviewer), we discussed the recent debate about a live animal crib in Dublin city centre, and we went on to talk about animals dreaming.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: Halloween tips to keep pets happy and safe
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In this interview from Spirit Radio, I discuss issues for pets at this time of year, including how to keep them calm and relaxed when there are fireworks going off outside.By Pete Wedderburn
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Vegan or insect-based dog food as an alternative to meat
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This week's podcast discusses feeding vegetarian or vegan food to pets, as well as using insect-based pet food as an alternative to meat-based pet food as an environmentally-friendly and animal-welfare friendly option.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: International Dog Day and Pups in the Park
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In this week's podcast, we highlight the fact that today is International Dog Day, and discuss the plight of dogs in Ireland in 2022. We also highly the upcoming dog festival, Pups In The Park, that is happening on the weekend of September 10th and 11th in Marlay Park, Dublin.By Pete Wedderburn
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Nutritional supplements: does your pet really need something extra?
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Nutritional supplements are given to around 20% of pets every day. But are they really necessary? Listen to this ten minute podcast to find out more.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: helping dogs cope in the heat (plus how small dogs make men more appealing)
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10:39
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This week's podcast starts with a light piece about some recent research which shows that a man is more appealing to women if he is accompanied by a small dog. Then we discuss a more serious topic: helping dogs stay comfortable in the recent hot sunshine.By Pete Wedderburn
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Parvovirus - an ongoing threat to unvaccinated dogs
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After a new outbreak of Parvovirus in the Dublin area, dog owners have been warned to keep their pets up to date with their vaccinations to ensure that they stay safe. To learn more about this, listen to the podcast.By Pete Wedderburn
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Surge in dog bite compensation claims in Ireland
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8:57
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If a dog bites a person, the dog's owner is usually legally liable for damages, and sometimes they may be covered for this by insurance (either pet insurance or home insurance). But why do dogs bite in the first place? And what can be done to prevent dog bites? Listen in to find out.By Pete Wedderburn
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This week, Pete discusses the common summer problem of heatstroke in pets: how can it be prevented, and what to do if your pet is affected?By Pete Wedderburn
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This week, I was delighted to be interviewed by Andrea Hayes, who I have worked with previously in a television series called Animal A&E. Andrea is passionate about animal welfare, and we had a useful discussion about the latest developments in Ireland, including the recent discussion in the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) about dog licences, microch…
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Pugs and health: podcast following new UK report
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A new report highlights that pugs are 54 times more likely to suffer from breathing issues compared to other types of dog. The report authors say that Pugs can "no longer be considered typical dogs". To find out more, listen to this podcast.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: The planned swan-trapping bridge in Bray
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In my home town of Bray, Co Wicklow, a new bridge over a local river has been proposed. The design includes a screen of vertical cables that will create an obstruction to the many swans that live in the area. To find out more, listen to this podcastBy Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: 600 pets from Ukraine arriving in Ireland
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Over 600 pets have been imported into Ireland in recent weeks as companions for refugees from Ukraine. To hear more about the details of how this is being organised, listen to this podcast.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: the essentials of chocolate poisoning in dogs
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In this 5 minute podcast, Pete outlines the essentials behind the serious issue of chocolate poisoning in dogs. This is especially important at Easter when chocolate eggs are so common in our homes.By Pete Wedderburn
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Puppy farms, Chocolate poisoning and more: weekly vet podcast
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In this week's podcast, we discuss puppy farms and online advertising of pets, the risk of dogs being poisoned by chocolate over Easter, and the background to the pets of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: the impact of the Ukraine crisis on animals
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In this podcast, Pete discusses the ways that the crisis in Ukraine is having adverse effects on animals.By Pete Wedderburn
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Podcast: the Norwegian ban on breeding Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
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5:21
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It's been made illegal to breed British Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on animal welfare grounds in Norway. To hear more about this, listen to this podcast.By Pete Wedderburn
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My weekly podcast from East Coast FM this week featured the common problems of asthma and chronic bronchitis in cats and dogsBy Pete Wedderburn
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