Veterinary Ramblings

This week on Veterinary Ramblings, hosts Mike Brampton and Julian Hoad kick off the episode with Mike’s recent trip to Japan, sharing observations from a culture built on respect, ritual, and remarkable attention to detail. Mike reflects on everything from impeccably organised airport baggage reclaim to the country’s legendary punctuality and the deeply ingrained bathing traditions of the onsen. The pair also discuss Japanese cuisine, including sea urchin, seaweed, and raw egg dishes, along with Mike’s experience exploring Tokyo’s famous “kitchen street” and the craftsmanship (and cost!) behind traditional Japanese knives.

The conversation moves into Mike’s photography adventures, including visits to the famous snow monkeys and the iconic Japanese cranes. He explains how wildlife viewing areas are carefully managed to protect the animals while still allowing visitors to observe them in their natural environments.

Back in veterinary territory, the hosts reflect on zoo welfare and the debate around stereotypical behaviours in captive animals, before Mike recounts a memorable (and slightly terrifying) story from early in his career involving anaesthetising a tiger. The episode wraps up with a candid rant about public services, touching on the challenges facing the NHS and the frustrations of unreliable infrastructure.

Packed with travel stories, wildlife encounters, veterinary insights, and the usual off-the-cuff humour, this episode is classic Veterinary Ramblings.

This week on Veterinary Ramblings, Mike Brampton and Julian Hoad are joined by Dr. Paula Boyden, newly appointed Fellow and leading voice on animal and human welfare. The discussion focuses on the Links Group, a registered charity highlighting the link between animal abuse and domestic abuse, and the difficult, often emotional cases vets may face. Paula shares key statistics, guidance on recognising non-accidental injury, professional responsibilities around reporting concerns, and the ARD framework (Ask, Reassure, Document, Report/Refer). The episode also touches on current legislative gaps in animal cruelty laws and available training resources, before ending on a lighter note with “60 Second CPD”,  a quick lesson on taking a narrowboat through a lock.

This week on Veterinary Ramblings, Julian Hoad and Mike Brampton are joined by Dr Polly Taylor to discuss veterinary ethics and the limits of modern medicine. Centred on the idea that “just because we can doesn’t mean we should,” the conversation explores difficult treatment decisions, experimental procedures, defensive medicine, and the moral injury vets face in practice. They also reflect on the importance of strong clinical judgement, the pressures on veterinary education, and concerns around the future of Cambridge Vet School. The episode ends with “60 Second CPD,” where Polly shares essential anaesthesia advice, focusing on the basics: airway, breathing, and circulation.

This week on Veterinary Ramblings, Julian Hoad and Mike Brampton debate the value of pre-anaesthetic blood tests for young, healthy animals, questioning whether they genuinely improve care or are driven by defensive medicine and rising corporate pressures.

They also discuss increasing veterinary costs, the real financial pressures on practices, and how vets can have more honest conversations with clients, with a dash of trademark humour and a whiskey review along the way.

We’re warming up for the London Vet Show with a mix of conference wisdom and classic chaos. Mike talks super-cuffs and reliable readings, Julian drops a 60-second CPD on making the most of your day and together they dive into exhibit fatigue, greener shows, and the joy of good kit used well. Expect the usual tangents, unexpected insights, and a brand-new take on the famous bread question.

This week we’re joined by Arlo Guthrie - publisher, community builder, and unapologetic critical thinker. From cake factories and cockpits to founding VetNurse.co.uk and VetSurgeon.org, Arlo explores how the profession communicates: the fragmentation of social media, AI’s confident mistakes, and practical rules for writing online with clarity and respect. We also dig into pricing, trust, and contextualised care, and how better communication can rebuild confidence in the profession.

This week we’re joined by Mark Johnston, former equine anaesthetist, digital innovator, and mental health advocate. From his early years in Newmarket to leading research on anaesthetic risk, Mark talks openly about burnout, reflection, and rediscovering balance beyond the profession. We explore the evolution of Vetstream, his work supporting Ukrainian vets, and why self-awareness is as vital as clinical skill. Along the way, he shares lighter moments on bread-making, open questions, and how connection over conversation can change everything.

This week we’re joined by Gunila Pedersen - ECC vet, life coach, and Muay Thai enthusiast who splits her time between Spain, Denmark, and the UK.

From belly dancing gigs to night shifts in emergency practice, Gunila talks candidly about chasing variety, hitting burnout, and finding her way back to vet med with stronger boundaries and a clearer head. We dive into what drew her to emergency work, how coaching reframed her career (and life), and a challenging safeguarding case that underlines why protocols and support matter.

This week we’re joined by Manon Verijdt - writer, adventurer, and editor of Ubuntu Magazine.

From a very Dutch loaf to a very big leap: Manon shares how a sleepless night on a boat off Norway sparked a global conservation magazine and how the spirit of “I am because we are” runs through its pages. We follow her overland across Africa: tracking gorillas, abseiling a towering waterfall, digging out of Zambian mud with strangers-turned-friends, and rescuing a tiny Nigerian street pup, Nim.

Manon also explains why Ubuntu tells conservation stories and delivers a brilliant 60-Second CPD on becoming media-ready. A joyful, reflective ride about curiosity, courage, and seizing the tide when it turns.

This week we’re joined by Karis Matik, Marketing & Brand Director at Kernow Vet Messaging and dedicated StreetVet volunteer.

From French baguettes to Cornwall’s hidden homelessness crisis, Karis shares stories of community, inclusion, and why volunteering has become such a central part of her life. We also dive into her work on making veterinary practices more accessible through inclusive communication and of course, her unforgettable 60-Second CPD.

A lively conversation full of heart, humour, and a reminder that sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest actions.