Explore every episode of the podcast Down the Rabbit Hole with AEMV: Exotic Companion Mammal Briefs

You've heard about GDV in guinea pigs, but what about in rabbits?  Should we even call it a dilation and volvulus - or a different kind of torsion?  Can a rabbit survive this?  Can you identify it quickly enough to make a difference?

Join me, Dr. Stephen Chan, DVM, DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal) and Dr. Nicholas Jew, DVM for an enlightening conversation through this interesting disease process.

Spoiler:  This podcast was in fact recorded before our annual conference in Seattle, WA August 2025 - look for us in 2026 in Philly!

For the e-mail contacts discussed in this podcast, or any other questions or concerns, please contact info@aemv.org

Have YOU found yourself teaching some tips and tricks of exotic mammal medicine and surgery to those around you?  Is there something you do in your every day that you just wish every exotic mammal veterinarian would know?

Share the knowledge!  

The HOW (Hands on Workshops) happen every year at our Exotic365 in-person conference, and is a great opportunity to get valuable technical know-how.  

As an Association, we know we are continually making advances in the care of our species, and would love it if more individuals would join us in teaching other veterinary professionals.

For the contact information for the speakers in this episode, or for any further HOW ideas, please contact info@aemv.org.

Join me and Dr. Colin McDermott - DVM, ABVP (Reptile and Amphibian Practice), CertAqV as we chat all about hamsters, including:

• what should they eat?
• how do I make them not eat me?
• how hard are they to spay, anyways?
• help!  the hamster is going bald 
• what are diagnostics we can do on these little guys?

Do you think you have what it takes to become a board-certified Exotics Technician?  Do it!

In this episode, we talk to Ian Kanda, VTS Exotics about the journey to become the best exotics veterinary technologist/technician (AKA veterinary nurse) possible.  We cover such topics as:

• Help!  How do I get started?
• Is there a test involved?
• What skills and knowledge do I need in clinical practice?

Join us with Dr. Angela Lennox DVM, DABVP (Avian), ECM; DECZM (Small Mammal) with a conversation about the tough stuff - euthanasia.  We answer such questions as:

• Can owners be present? (spoiler alert - YES)
• What medications are typically used?
• Does every patient require an IV catheter?
• What do the AVMA Euthanasia Guidelines (2020) tell us?

And more!

In this episode, we go over the highlights of 2024 in the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians - namely, tidbits from The Joint Conference with ARAV (Association of Reptile Veterinarians).  On the interview is our newly inducted President of our association, Dr. Jessica Robertson.  We go over a range of things, including:

• NEVER giving oral penicillins to a rabbit
• intralesional neoplastic injections
• intralipid ideas from the conference

Dr. Jo Sheen (BVM&S PGCert(Clin Pain Mgmt) Diplomate ABVP(ECM) CertZooMed) talks to us from Sydney about what is (and isn't) known about facial fractures in rabbits.  We cover a range of topics, including:

• Why do rabbits present to the vet hospital with facial fractures?
• What kind of primary fixation can be attempted?
• Are antibiotics indicated?

And other tidbits about mentorship, illegal pets, and more.  

Dr. Vladimir Jekl DVM, PhD, DipECZM (S. Mammal) chats with us about dental abscesses in rabbits and his 2023 retrospective review JAVMA paper that included 200 cases.  In it, we discuss:

• where do these abscesses come from, anyways?
• can you culture things from a rabbit abscess?
• what are the most common complications he sees?

And more.

Dr. Abby Needleman, DVM tells us all about starting out in practice with one of the least furry of the exotic mammals - the Pot-Bellied Pig.  We cover such topics as:

• what is a Pot-Bellied Pig, anyways?
• how difficult are these pigs to see in practice?
• what are their basic veterinary needs, and how do we get this done in the clinic?

Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney, DVM, primary author and editor of "Ferret Medicine and Surgery", assistant editor of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, AEMV Chair for the Welfare Committee, and "Mother of Ferrets" talks to us about ferret hypo- and hyper-glycemia.  She answers such burning questions as:

• what is the cut off for hypoglycemia in a ferret?
• are all ferrets prednisolone deficient?
• what can we do to improve the quality of life of these bouncy, zesty, obligate carnivores?

Dr. Jennifer Graham,  DABVP (Avian / Exotic Companion Mammal), DACZM, co-author of  textbook, "Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine"  answers many questions about starting to see rabbits in the ER, including:

• do you need specialized equipment?
• why do we care how much rabbits poop?
• what are some important blood work and x-ray findings too look out for?
• do rabbits always die in the ER?

Dr. Grayson Doss, DVM, DACZM  takes us through his hedgehog research and answers such burning questions as:

• How challenging is it to do research on hedgehogs?
• How often should you be giving buprenorphine?
• Does injectable sedation work in them?
• Should you be intubating every anesthetized hedgehog?

And, most importantly?

• Is there a Hedgehog Running Club?

In this first episode, we introduce Dr. Victoria Bender, current president of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV).  We talk about her career path, the goals and future of the AEMV, and of course, a kangaroo patient.