Veterinary Ramblings

Merry Christmas Ramblers!

We're blown away by the year that we've had. If you follow us on social media you might have seen that we've had one of the best years on record, and we're so thrilled that our following is going strong. 

We wanted to celebrate the end of 2022 with some of our favourite stories from this year, where we revisit some of our favourite moments with guests - including some awesome life stories, some fascinating research and veterinary work, some thought-provoking conversations that changed our perspective and a few of the biggest laughs that we've had this year. 

We hope you enjoy, and we look forward to producing new content for you all next year!

Bring on 2023 - may your dog go with you!

Merry Christmas Ramblers!

We're blown away by the year that we've had. If you follow us on social media you might have seen that we've had one of the best years on record, and we're so thrilled that our following is going strong. 

We wanted to celebrate the end of 2022 with some of our favourite stories from this year, where we revisit some of our favourite moments with guests - including some awesome life stories, some fascinating research and veterinary work, some thought-provoking conversations that changed our perspective and a few of the biggest laughs that we've had this year. 

We hope you enjoy, and we look forward to producing new content for you all next year!

Bring on 2023 - may your dog go with you!

Last week, we released part one of our episode with Helen MacDonald, giving you the chance to get the know the person behind the scandal surrounding Geronimo the alpaca. If you haven’t tuned in already, we highly recommend listening to part one before you listen to this week's episode which will focus on Geronimo's story.

Geronimo was born on Waitangi Day (6th of February) in 2013 at New Zealand's largest alpaca farm. In 2017, Geronimo was sold to Helen, who at that time had been breeding alpacas at her farm for more than 15 years.

She imported him to the United Kingdom in August after he had four skin tests for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) which returned negative results. Once he arrived in the UK, Geronimo was kept in quarantine and tested positive in two voluntary blood tests.

As a result of the positive tests, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered that Geronimo had to be euthanised. After years of court battles, protests and celebrity interventions, Geronimo, the UK’s most divisive alpaca, was put down by government officials on 31 August 2021. We sat down with Helen just over a year after Geronimo's death to hear her side of the story. 

Helen explains why she brought geronimo to the UK, the biosecurity measures her farm has in place and reveals why she thinks there is insufficient evidence as to the accuracy of DEFRA's testing process.  

She believes that she and Geronimo received exceptional treatment during the horrific events that took place between 2017 and 2021 and that Geronimo experienced unnecessary distress and animal cruelty when he was taken away from her farm to be euthanised. We also discuss why Geronimos post-mortem results are seen as inconclusive.

However, this is not the end of the story...

Helen explains how a campaign group came together to fight for Geronimo's Law, which aims to refine TB policy, biosecurity and animal welfare in the UK and shares how you can get involved. Lastly, Helen reflects on the silver linings that have come about as a result of this experience - as well as her hopes for the future.

We know that this is a very divisive topic, and we want to remind everyone that above all, we need to show compassion and kindness to each other.  In our industry, we need to stop having arguments and start having conversations. The views expressed by our guests may not necessarily represent our views, but we do believe that everyone deserves a fair and impartial platform to be able to share their stories. 

Last week, we released part one of our episode with Helen MacDonald, giving you the chance to get the know the person behind the scandal surrounding Geronimo the alpaca. If you haven’t tuned in already, we highly recommend listening to part one before you listen to this week's episode which will focus on Geronimo's story.

Geronimo was born on Waitangi Day (6th of February) in 2013 at New Zealand's largest alpaca farm. In 2017, Geronimo was sold to Helen, who at that time had been breeding alpacas at her farm for more than 15 years.

She imported him to the United Kingdom in August after he had four skin tests for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) which returned negative results. Once he arrived in the UK, Geronimo was kept in quarantine and tested positive in two voluntary blood tests.

As a result of the positive tests, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered that Geronimo had to be euthanised. After years of court battles, protests and celebrity interventions, Geronimo, the UK’s most divisive alpaca, was put down by government officials on 31 August 2021. We sat down with Helen just over a year after Geronimo's death to hear her side of the story. 

Helen explains why she brought geronimo to the UK, the biosecurity measures her farm has in place and reveals why she thinks there is insufficient evidence as to the accuracy of DEFRA's testing process.  

She believes that she and Geronimo received exceptional treatment during the horrific events that took place between 2017 and 2021 and that Geronimo experienced unnecessary distress and animal cruelty when he was taken away from her farm to be euthanised. We also discuss why Geronimos post-mortem results are seen as inconclusive.

However, this is not the end of the story...

Helen explains how a campaign group came together to fight for Geronimo's Law, which aims to refine TB policy, biosecurity and animal welfare in the UK and shares how you can get involved. Lastly, Helen reflects on the silver linings that have come about as a result of this experience - as well as her hopes for the future.

We know that this is a very divisive topic, and we want to remind everyone that above all, we need to show compassion and kindness to each other.  In our industry, we need to stop having arguments and start having conversations. The views expressed by our guests may not necessarily represent our views, but we do believe that everyone deserves a fair and impartial platform to be able to share their stories. 

You may know Helen MacDonald as the owner of Geronimo the alpaca - however, there is so much more to her story! As such we have decided to release Helen's episode in two parts.  In Part One, we get to know the fascinating person behind the scandal.

We begin this week's episode discussing Helen's time spent in Australia as a child and the difference in culture and education that she experienced when she moved back to the UK. 

Formerly a keen diver, Helen and Julian discuss the wonderful places they have explored under the sea and we learn how one summer changed everything about Helen's career path, beginning her love of Veterinary Nursing. 

With 32 years experience in the industry, Helen has worn many hats. From Head Nurse to Teacher, Locum to Assessor - even hitting the road in 2010 to work in the commercial veterinary sector in sales and practice support.

Her fascination for alpacas led to her buying her first 3 breeding females in 2002. 20 years later, she now has a quality breeding herd of over 80 coloured alpacas. Her focus is on the health and welfare of alpacas with an emphasis on best practice, biosecurity, education and evidence-based science.

Following the horrific events surrounding Geronimo spanning 5 years, she is now a reluctant campaigner for evidence-based science and transparent justifiable policies for disease eradication. We will be discussing Geronimo's story in next week's episode, which will be released on Thursday the 24th of November.

You may know Helen MacDonald as the owner of Geronimo the alpaca - however, there is so much more to her story! As such we have decided to release Helen's episode in two parts.  In Part One, we get to know the fascinating person behind the scandal.

We begin this week's episode discussing Helen's time spent in Australia as a child and the difference in culture and education that she experienced when she moved back to the UK. 

Formerly a keen diver, Helen and Julian discuss the wonderful places they have explored under the sea and we learn how one summer changed everything about Helen's career path, beginning her love of Veterinary Nursing. 

With 32 years experience in the industry, Helen has worn many hats. From Head Nurse to Teacher, Locum to Assessor - even hitting the road in 2010 to work in the commercial veterinary sector in sales and practice support.

Her fascination for alpacas led to her buying her first 3 breeding females in 2002. 20 years later, she now has a quality breeding herd of over 80 coloured alpacas. Her focus is on the health and welfare of alpacas with an emphasis on best practice, biosecurity, education and evidence-based science.

Following the horrific events surrounding Geronimo spanning 5 years, she is now a reluctant campaigner for evidence-based science and transparent justifiable policies for disease eradication. We will be discussing Geronimo's story in next week's episode, which will be released on Thursday the 24th of November.

This week we're joined by the wonderful Carly Kilby!

Carly is a veterinary nurse, scout leader and mother. She grew up in South London, but discovered her love for veterinary work and the outdoors after moving to countryside in her teenage years. We discuss the difficulties of finding people who understand the intricacies of a job in the veterinary profession, and the embarrassment of accidentally recounting  disgusting work stories to non-vet friends over dinner.

After qualifying in 2006, Carly has worked within farm, equine, first opinion practice and the referral locum scene. She has gained an ISFM certificate in Feline Friendly Nursing, an ESVPS certificate in anaesthesia, an ISVPS certificate in surgical nursing and is also the BVNA Regional Representative for the South West (Somerset and Gloucestershire)! 

We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of family and the difficulties of finding balance between commitments at home and work. As veterinary professionals, it's something that we can all relate to. Carly talks about her experiences of having to put work before fun during her vet nurse training, and the pressure of being a parent alongside supporting a number of busy teams as a locum.

Carly gives us a reflective 60-second CPD on  returning to work after maternity leave and we discuss the worries, guilt and pressures that working parents can experience when trying to balance life's wants and needs.

If you are ever struggling with any of the issues we spoke about in this episode (or any episode) don't forget there's support out there -  speak up if you're struggling: we all have times when we need some care ourselves. Please reach out to Vetlife on 0303 040 2551.

This week we're joined by the wonderful Carly Kilby!

Carly is a veterinary nurse, scout leader and mother. She grew up in South London, but discovered her love for veterinary work and the outdoors after moving to countryside in her teenage years. We discuss the difficulties of finding people who understand the intricacies of a job in the veterinary profession, and the embarrassment of accidentally recounting  disgusting work stories to non-vet friends over dinner.

After qualifying in 2006, Carly has worked within farm, equine, first opinion practice and the referral locum scene. She has gained an ISFM certificate in Feline Friendly Nursing, an ESVPS certificate in anaesthesia, an ISVPS certificate in surgical nursing and is also the BVNA Regional Representative for the South West (Somerset and Gloucestershire)! 

We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of family and the difficulties of finding balance between commitments at home and work. As veterinary professionals, it's something that we can all relate to. Carly talks about her experiences of having to put work before fun during her vet nurse training, and the pressure of being a parent alongside supporting a number of busy teams as a locum.

Carly gives us a reflective 60-second CPD on  returning to work after maternity leave and we discuss the worries, guilt and pressures that working parents can experience when trying to balance life's wants and needs.

If you are ever struggling with any of the issues we spoke about in this episode (or any episode) don't forget there's support out there -  speak up if you're struggling: we all have times when we need some care ourselves. Please reach out to Vetlife on 0303 040 2551.

Join us as we chat with the awesome Ruth Greenhill, an ECC veterinary night nurse at a busy 24hr hospital in central London.  Maintaining a good work-life balance is important to her and she has many fascinating hobbies and passions outside the veterinary world. 

Ruth talks to us about how she uses night-shift work to achieve a better work-life balance and helps her find time for all of her eclectic hobbies. Ruth is an avid snorkeller and at the time of recording was due to complete a scuba diving qualification the very next day. We discuss the differences in dead space between snorkels and anaesthetic equipment. 

Ruth is an amazing ballerina and uses dance to keep her grounded and to blow off steam both in and outside of work. Ruth recalls how she nearly became a professional ballerina - but after a work placement with a veterinary surgeon, decided that she would much rather work in veterinary medicine.

Finally, we quiz Ruth on her diving signals and she delivers an awesome 60-second CPD about how to overcome exam nerves. 

Join us as we chat with the awesome Ruth Greenhill, an ECC veterinary night nurse at a busy 24hr hospital in central London.  Maintaining a good work-life balance is important to her and she has many fascinating hobbies and passions outside the veterinary world. 

Ruth talks to us about how she uses night-shift work to achieve a better work-life balance and helps her find time for all of her eclectic hobbies. Ruth is an avid snorkeller and at the time of recording was due to complete a scuba diving qualification the very next day. We discuss the differences in dead space between snorkels and anaesthetic equipment. 

Ruth is an amazing ballerina and uses dance to keep her grounded and to blow off steam both in and outside of work. Ruth recalls how she nearly became a professional ballerina - but after a work placement with a veterinary surgeon, decided that she would much rather work in veterinary medicine.

Finally, we quiz Ruth on her diving signals and she delivers an awesome 60-second CPD about how to overcome exam nerves.