Episode #15
Exotic Pets with Dr. Marc Silpa
It might sound like a cliché, but Marc Silpa has known he wanted to be a veterinarian since he was 12 years old. He spent his middle school years volunteering at local small-animal and wildlife clinics, and by high school, he was routinely waking up before dawn to patrol two-mile stretches of coastline to locate and protect nesting sea turtles. Marc graduated from the New College of Florida in 2008, where he developed a deep focus on marine mammal medicine, followed by a post-baccalaureate certificate in Zoo and Aquarium Science from Western Illinois University in 2009. He then earned his veterinary degree from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh in 2014. While in Scotland, Marc pulled double duty—working overnight ER shifts while spending his days responding to marine mammal strandings with British Divers Marine Life Rescue. After graduation, he completed a year-long internship at the Miami Seaquarium’s Manatee and Sea Turtle Hospital. A subsequent move to the desert—an environment famously lacking in marine life—prompted a natural evolution in his career: shifting his focus to pet exotics. Since 2022, Marc has practiced at the Exotic Animal Veterinary Center in Pasadena, California. In 2024, he achieved board certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in Exotic Companion Mammal Practice, making him one of only two specialists with this distinction in the entire state of California. Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute advice or professional services by either the host nor any of the guests. Exotic Animal Veterinary Center Pasadena, California Thank you for listening to the Enlightened Pet Behavior Podcast. I hope that you and your beloved pets have found valuable insights for a more harmonious life together. Please remember that this podcast provides educational information only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary or behavioral advice. If you need personalized support, please don't hesitate to contact me to explore how we can work together to achieve your pet behavior goals. You can reach me at www.enlightenedpetbehavior.com or via email at susan@enlightenedpetbehavior.com. Special thanks to Mac Light for composing the podcast's music; you can find him at www.maclightsongwriter.com If you find the show helpful and enjoyable, please consider showing your support! Subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and sharing with friends takes just a moment but significantly boosts the show's visibility, helping more pet parents discover it. Thank you for your support!
