#282: Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” discusses how truly intelligent goldfish are, with good memories — recognizing you and music they have heard — and have even been taught to drive a little goldfish car by Israeli scientists exploring their capabilities.

#281: Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors,” talks about how lovely little yellow canaries were once used to detect deadly gasses in mines (“the canary in the coal mine”) but actually have a natural “invisible force field” that protects them when others in their flock become ill.

#280: Eleanor Spicer Rice — author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: the Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors” — talks about guppies being the most popular pet fish which are easy prey in the wild for all the other fish, since the only defense a guppy has is the ability to turn their eyes jet black to lure a predator directly to them, then dart out of the way at the last minute.

#279: Dr. Doug’s grandmother had an aviary with nearly 100 birds in it — you don't have to rival that, but have at least two of these sweet little birdies with their elaborate coloring, easy management and generous lifespans of five to 10 years.

#278: Dr. Doug talks about the virtues of sweet, affectionate, low-maintenance “house mice” as wonderful “starter pets” for a small child. And they come in so many varieties now (he calls the hairless mouse “creepily adorable.”)

#277: Dr. Doug cautions that faulty hot rocks, human heat pads and heat lamps used improperly can give 3rd degree burns to a reptile who cannot feel the damage.

#276: Dr. Jennifer Graham (board certified in Avian and Exotic Companion Animals) talks about this potentially deadly virus that is often in a breeder’s whole flock. Birds can be shedding borna virus without clinical signs — it’s not easily transmitted to other birds yet still contagious. The disease is costly to treat and sadly, once your bird has symptoms it is a death sentence.

#275: Your ferret wants candy? Don’t do it! Even fruit is merely sugar plus water — give it sparingly to any exotic. Your bird loves cheese? Just say no! Chicken eggs for parrots — no! Too much protein for a bird is unnatural and can damage their heart, kidneys and liver so avian experts all agree to feed a balanced pelleted diet from a quality company. Dr. Doug Mader says, When in doubt, leave it out! 

#273: Avian expert Dr. Jennifer Graham tells you all the ways that your bird’s droppings are a treasure trove of information.

#273: Dr. Doug wants people to know about — but not be frightened by — the many illnesses exotic animals can transmit to people, especially those who are immunocompromised, elderly or young children whose immune systems are “not yet confident.”