Ep 235: Exotic Animal Medicine: Tips for New Vets with Dr. Rachel Siu - Part 1

In this episode of "So You're a Vet, Now What?", Dr. Moriah McCauley welcomes Dr. Rachel Siu, a small animal and exotic animal veterinarian who loves to share her experience with pet parents and veterinarians through her social media accounts. Maybe you’re a new graduate who wants to bring exotic medicine to your practice but you just don’t know where to start? Well, over the next two weeks Rachel and Moriah will break down the basics of seeing exotic animals within a GP practice. As you’ll hear there is way too much information to cover in just two episodes, so Rachel and Moriah will be sticking to the specifics surrounding small and exotic mammals. Make sure you have a pen and paper handy because they'll be covering everything from resources to medication, staff training and beyond in this week’s episode.  Dr. Rachel Siu has dedicated over a decade to the specialized field of exotic pet medicine. Her extensive experience encompasses a diverse array of species, including reptiles, birds, small mammals, and amphibians. Dr. Rachel has a significant following on social media, where she aims to raise awareness and profile of exotic pets, their treatment, and care. Dr. Rachel Siu (previously Dr. Rachel Ellerd) graduated from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2017 from The University of Texas at Austin. While in veterinary school she did externships with the Dallas Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, and Dallas World Aquarium, and worked with native wildlife in South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. Her special interests include avian, reptile, and small exotic mammal medicine, as well as dog and cat preventative medicine and emergency medicine. She also takes a special interest in educating the public about the world of veterinary medicine through her social media platforms, where she shares animal facts with over 1 million followers worldwide.Episode Outline[00:00:56] Seeing exotic animals[00:05:10] Pocket pets, 101[00:07:44] Husbandry challenges.[00:11:01] Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary[00:14:25] Monitoring exotic animals under anesthesia.[00:17:42] Human challenges of exotic animals.Follow Dr. Rachel Siu at: Instagram: exotic.pet.vet TikTok: @exotic.pet.vet LinkedIn: Rachel Siu Facebook: Reptile Vet YouTube: Dr. Rachel Mentioned in this episode:So You're a Vet, Now What? - The CourseAre you a new or recent veterinary graduate? If so, Dr. Dave’s course, ‘So You’re a Vet… Now What?’ has been put together specifically for you. The course focuses on non-clinical skills. This is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, almost every career problem that people face is due to not having well-developed, non-clinical skills. These are skills like client communication, so you have great relationships with clients. Emotional intelligence, so you've got great relationships with your teammates. Effective negotiation skills, so you can get paid what you are worth. Management of imposter syndrome, so you can have confidence in your abilities. And, how to build formidable resilience, so you can handle everything that comes your way. These are not just skills. They are prerequisites vital for success and financial and emotional wellbeing. This course serves as an essential stepping stone to your