Veterinary Ramblings

Rewilding has mostly cracked the technical side. We know how to bring back species, restore forests and re-wet peat bogs. The hard part now is people.
In this episode of Veterinary Ramblings, Julian and Mike talk to wildlife photographer, storyteller and podcaster Peter Cairns. Peter went from playing bass guitar to running a haulage business, then walked away from it all to spend 30 years rewilding a small farm in the Cairngorms.
They talk about why some species are welcomed and others are seen as intruders: golden eagles vs white-tailed eagles, robins vs sparrowhawks, and the 17 million dogs on our sofas vs the wolf. They also cover a rancher in Montana, social media tribes, aurochs and lynx, the guga hunt, and whether birds really are dinosaurs. Peter also takes on the 60-second CPD challenge: how wild is enough?
Chapters
0:00 Welcome and introducing Peter Cairns
2:52 The icebreaker question
5:12 From bass guitar to a haulage business
8:26 How trucking led to nature
12:33 Thirty years rewilding a farm in the Cairngorms
13:55 Wildlife photography and stories of ecological recovery
16:48 How rewilding has evolved
19:37 The technical side is solved, the challenge is people
22:34 White-tailed eagles and the social media storm
26:43 Wolves, ranchers and Montana
28:06 Tribes, polarisation and agreeing to disagree
32:07 Cognitive bias and speciesism
36:17 Wolves, dogs and double standards
39:14 How media narratives shape our perceptions
40:34 Aurochs and the role of wild herbivores
44:53 Where do we draw the line on bringing species back?
50:20 The case for lynx
52:58 60-second CPD: how wild is enough?
59:22 Finland, wolves and Peter's podcast At the Edge
1:02:06 Reflection question
1:07:24 The guga hunt and the gannet debate
1:17:12 Robins, sparrowhawks and wilful blindness
1:19:13 Are birds dinosaurs?
1:21:10 Vermin and imposing human morals on animals
1:22:43 Why nature education matters
Listen to Peter's podcast, At the Edge, on all podcast platforms.
Veterinary Ramblings is supported by our sponsors MAI Animal Health and Thames Medical.
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In this episode of Veterinary Ramblings, hosts Mike Brampton and Julian Hoad sit down with guest Caroline Allen, a veteran veterinarian with nearly two decades of general practice experience and former Chief Veterinary Officer for the RSPCA.1
Together, they dive deep into the evolving landscape of veterinary medicine, exploring topics that range from lighthearted personal anecdotes to crucial issues in modern animal care.
Key Discussion Points:
Career Journey & RSPCA Legacy: Caroline shares her path from entering general practice to serving as the Chief Veterinary Officer at the RSPCA. She reflects on the history of the world's oldest animal welfare charity and her time managing complex welfare challenges.2
The Shift in Veterinary Practice: The group discusses the rise of extreme breed conformations (e.g., French Bulldogs, Pugs) and how the transition from curing illnesses to managing chronic, human-created breeding issues impacted practice.
Animal Advocacy & The Five Domains: Caroline delivers a "60-Second CPD" breakdown of the Five Domains Model (Health, Nutrition, Environment, Behavioral Interactions, and Mental State). She emphasizes the importance of giving animals a "voice" and focusing on animal feelings rather than just medical health.
Contextualized Care & AI in Practice: A candid look at the challenges modern vets face in 15-minute consultations, including the need for individualised treatment plans, proper communication, trust-building, and the pros and cons of AI in veterinary software.
Introducing "Pet Lighthouse": Caroline details her new independent consultancy service, Pet Lighthouse, designed to bridge the trust gap between pet owners and veterinary practices. She explains how she provides extended, holistic consultations to help owners navigate complex end-of-life decisions, chronic conditions, and care paths.
Euthanasia & End-of-Life Care: An open conversation on viewing euthanasia as a vital welfare tool, managing caregiver placebo effects, and asking whether advance
Tired of boring, clinical veterinary podcasts? Join Veterinarian Dr Julian Hoad & Anaesthetic Expert Mike Brampton, as they interview inspirational guests each week who are related to the veterinary world. Veterinary Ramblings is like going for a drink with your favourite work colleagues after a long day – we’ll make you laugh, inspire you and perhaps teach you something new!
#Veterinary #VetMed #VeterinaryPodcast #FunnyPodcast #VeterinaryStories

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What happens when a veterinary publisher, a vet and a vet nurse/podcaster sit down with a beer? Mike Brampton and Julian Hoad welcome Chris Ritchie – editor, publisher and accidental founder of "the old manosphere" – to Veterinary Ramblings.
In Part 1 we cover:
- Chris taking over Vet Surgeon and Vet Nurse and the future of veterinary publishing
- Print vs digital – are vets still reading journals cover to cover?
- The Veterinary Edge and Pet & Vet magazines
- Why Tesco's straight croissants are a crime
- Poisonous vs venomous – why adders aren't poisonous
- Pi, puns and the birth of the old manosphere
Veterinary Ramblings is the podcast for vets, vet nurses and veterinary students who want real stories, CPD and a good laugh.
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This week on Veterinary Ramblings, Mike Brampton and Julian Hoad are joined by feline medicine specialist Dr. Petra Cerna, DVM, PhD, to explore the unique clinical, physiological and legal considerations surrounding feline health.
The conversation explores the evolution of FIP treatment, including antiviral therapies and emerging insights into post-FIP complications such as myocarditis.
Petra also discuss animal advocacy and law, including the ethics of cosmetic procedures, evolving animal welfare legislation and the responsibilities of veterinary organisations.
The episode also takes a closer look at feline-specific diagnostics and why markers such as bilirubin, albumin and ALT can have very different clinical significance in cats compared with dogs.
From feline internal medicine to veterinary ethics and animal law, this episode offers an insightful look at the complexities of feline healthcare.

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