What happens when a veterinary professional’s own pet needs veterinary care? Do they schedule an appointment? Who cares for them, when are they seen, and how much do they charge? What are some of the potential disruptions and discord that bringing in our own pets for veterinary care can create in a veterinary practice? Perhaps more than you’d think…

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore the benefits - and potential pitfalls - of taking our own pets into the clinics we work in. From “picking staff favorites,” to micro-aggressions and staff tensions, to determining fair fees, and being asked to perform diagnostic tests or treatments on our ailing pets, this week we tackle a tough topic rarely discussed publicly.

Beckie shares her recent experiences in not being able to get prompt care for her own pet and Dr. Ward offers some of the solutions he discovered in his clinics. Both express the need for being proactive on this issue, particularly given the current state of staff shortages and overwhelmed schedules. Viewfinders, this is a good one!

Viewfinders, how do handle staff pets in your clinic? What problems and solutions have you found? Share them on our social media or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com!

Finally, as Dr. Ward says, “GO DAWGS!” Congratulations on Dr. Ward’s alma mater the University of Georgia for winning the 2021-22 NCAA college football national championship this week by defeating rival University of Alabama!

There's been a surge in the number of veterinary professional certifications over the past few years. But are those extra initials behind your degree worth it in 2022?

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT start the new year off with a conversation about the what's, when's, why's, and (probably most important to employers) worth of professional certifications. It gets complicated.

Viewfinders, our hosts have a number of professional certifications to their credit, yet they encourage caution before adding one (or some) to your signature these days.

Beckie asks whether or not imposter syndrome is behind the need to add professional clout and Dr. Ward ponders how much profit motive is at play. Both companies may be taking advantage of some veterinary professionals by leveraging the "need to be seen" by colleagues as capable and competent by adding certifications. Did we mention it's complicated?

Beckie argues that title protection should (once again) be our profession's top priority and that we need better clarification on the difference between "credentials" and "certifications."

Both hosts agree that VTS and Board-certification are true "professional credentials" but are concerned that some groups may be promoting a "certification" as a "credential," leading to confusion by the pet-owning public and and dilution of value by our colleagues. Told you it was complicated.

Dr. Ward challenges the notion that every certification (or credential) must carry a profit motive or "return on investment" and encourages Viewfinders to better themselves through education, and, yes, certification when appropriate.

Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation that tackles a tough topic we believe needs to be talked about more in the veterinary profession.

Happy New Year and staff safe! And keep it simple! ;-)

For the past year, controversies surrounding COVID-19 vaccination have dominated the news. Vaccine skepticism and hesitation is being reported at all time highs. Will COVID-19 vaccine skepticism cause an increase in pet parents refusing veterinary vaccines. We share our thoughts in this week’s episode.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the tough topic of vaccine hesitancy faced by veterinary professionals. The pair reveal several conversations they’ve had with colleagues concerned about an increase in clients questioning pet vaccines. They also discuss the growing threat of online attacks on veterinary clinics recommending certain vaccine protocols.

The duo offer simple tips on helping clients better understand vaccines and preventive care. Dr. Ward offers his time-tested “no debate, everyone wins” attitude toward hot topics such as vaccinations and other preventive care topics. And once again, our hosts implore managers and owners to provide better support and resources for their staff.

Viewfinders, the key message for this topic is “Prepare now!” This episode stresses how your veterinary practice team can prepare now for the future challenges quickly approaching.

Viewfinders, are you seeing more clients refusing pet vaccines? Do you think clients are more volatile and prone to outbursts over seemingly innocent recommendations than ever before? Share your experiences with us!

Burnout. Debt. Suicide. These are some of the topics closely associated with the veterinary profession in 2021. But are these negative narratives hurting our appeal to the next generation of veterinary professionals? This week we discuss the current public perceptions of veterinary medicine and how we can change them for the better.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of how an onslaught of negative news about veterinary professionals may be influencing - and perhaps curtailing - the future of our profession.

The pair discuss burnout, student debt, suicide and depression, title protection, (dis)organized veterinary medicine, and a whole lot more during this episode.

Viewfinders, this is another wide-ranging conversation about a topic we think deserves more attention and action from our colleagues. Share your thoughts with us online or email us at veterinaryviewfinder@gmail.com

Has your veterinary clinic been ping-ponging between curbside, hybrid, masked service, and now something else? This week we discuss the real challenge of “change fatigue” in veterinary clinics and some creative ways to help.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT spend some quality time together on Memorial Day starting with talking about the nationwide shortage of the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital. Dr. Ward examines whether or not veterinary clinics should reevaluate inventory management of critical-use supplies and if “just in time inventory” should be reserved for less essential drugs. They also offer advice on how you can stay updated on drug shortages and supply issues.

Beckie tackles COVID vaccination in veterinary clinics and Dr. Ward reveals a recent Facebook discussion in which a veterinarian was challenged over a controversial COVID-19 vaccination opinion. Dr. Ward shares what every vet clinic should do today to prepare their teams for this increasingly frequent, and potentially client-losing, question.

Beckie also explores some of the challenges veterinary professionals are facing as they “re-open.” She explains why “It must be nice…” should never be said in a veterinary practice.

The pair explore the importance of offering time off for self-care and morale boosting, especially during overwhelming workloads. Dr. Ward retells a recent colleagues question about closing down for a few days and how they made it work.

Viewfinders, thanks again for listening! We hope you had a restful and restorative Memorial Day and took time to thank those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms we cherish.

How far is too far for veterinary professionals to offer pet care advice? Should veterinary professionals offer unsolicited advice? If so, what are the best tactics? What are the risks? This week we discuss this and a WHOLE LOT MORE!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle the topic of if or when should we stick our “professional noses” into pet parents’ business? When is it appropriate or not? This episode is as painful as a prong collar on a Shih tzu… and, yes, we go there, too!

Beckie kicks things off by retelling a recent trip to a pet store in which she couldn’t help but offer unsolicited (and free!) advice on a chew bone purchase. You’ll have to listen to find out how it ended. (Hint: Dr. Ward describes it as “tossing a hand grenade behind your back as you leave the pet store!”)

Dr. Ward shares the colorful names he was called when he intervened after witnessing rather rough treatment of a dog during a run an dBeckie reminds us of a past episode in which we discussed questionable care on an airplane. So much business to stick our noses into!

Dr. Ward shares his top communication tactic he always employs whenever offering advice, so be sure to let us know if you’ve tried his advice with your clients or pet parents.

Viewfinders, this is another tough topic with no easy (or clear) answers, but we share loads of practical tips and assistance.

And a huge thank you to everyone who leaves us 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts! We read them all and you make all the time and effort to make this podcast for the past 4.5 years worthwhile. If you haven’t yet, please do us a favor and leave us a review! It means the world to us!

What happens when your personal social media blows up in your veterinary clinic? Can you post controversial content on your personal pages without professional consequences? Viewfinders, this is one tough topic we tackle this week!

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT address people being fired, reprimanded, or causing conflict in their workplace because of something they posted or shared on their personal TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter feeds. Where are the online boundaries between work and private life, if there are any?

The duo divulge times they’ve stepped out of bounds online, stories from colleagues who have experienced consequences of their content, and strategies for everyone scrolling and posting these days.

Viewfinders, have you witnessed workplace tension because of online messages? How do you navigate these potentially stormy waters? Share your stories!

Thank you again for listening! Talk to you next Wednesday!

It’s been quite the year for being short-staffed due to sickness in veterinary clinics. COVID-19, seasonal flu, curbside practice and the enormous emotional toll veterinary professionals are paying have led to workplace shortages. And even shorter tempers.

Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss how to deal with unexpected staff shortages in veterinary practice. Whether due to physical illness or emotional depletion, how can your team prepare for last-minute “call-in sick?”

Our hosts share personal stories, experiences, and solutions that every team needs to hear. Whether you work with 150 or 5 co-workers, there’s at least one tip you can apply to your personal life and professional environment in this week’s episode.

As Beckie says, “If you’re struggling, rewind this podcast and play it for your manager or owner!”

Stay safe and sane out there, Viewfinders! Let us know how you deal with being short-staffed due to sickness in your clinic!

Happy New Year! 2021 is here… now what?

This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their lessons from 2020 and how they each set - and accomplish - goals for the new year.

The duo reflect on the wins and losses for the veterinary profession in 2020 and what they’re looking forward to in 2021. Dr. Ward expresses his hope for a better post-pandemic world and Beckie offers practical advice for anyone who wants to level up their lives in 2021.

We think you’ll find simple ways to set goals and find inspiration in the lessons learned from 2020.

Stay safe, Viewfinders, and we’ll talk to you in 2021!

Happy Holidays, Viewfinders! This week we’re sharing your holiday shoutouts to your colleagues, friends, and family. While 2020 has certainly challenged the veterinary profession in unprecedented ways, in this episode we take a few minutes to celebrate the power of our resilience and recognize listeners who were nominated by their peers.

Viewfinders, we hope you enjoy this holiday season safely. Take time to care for yourself and remember the positive things that you’re grateful for this year.

Thanks again to everyone who commented and messaged us on social media. If you have a special someone you’d like to shoutout and give praise to, drop us a note or comment!

We’ll see you next week for a special year-end episode you don’t want to miss!

Arguably one of the most challenging exam parameters for veterinary patients is body temperature. We have traditionally performed this rectally. So there’s that.

But how accurate is a rectal temperature anyway? And how were those “normal temperature ranges” determined? Have we been taking pet’s temperatures wrong?

This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor are joined by two of Mella Pet Care’s co-founders Yale Chang and Anya Babbitt to discuss “all things temperature” - and a whole lot more! (Mella.ai)

The quartet muse on the current limitations and challenges of rectal temperature in animals, why the “standard” thermometer may not be as good as we’d like to believe, and Mell’s approach to in-home diagnostics.

Dr. Ward and Yale postulate on the future of in-home diagnostics, how this will impact telemedicine, and what this means for veterinary clinics.

Beckie challenges the notion that in-home testing performed by pet parents will threaten the veterinary profession and makes an astute observation on pediatricians, babies, and, well, body temperatures and veterinary businesses. You have to listen to find out more! Brilliant!

This is an important discussion because it speaks to the accelerating trend of what Dr. Ward calls, “The democratization of diagnostics.” We think you’re going to love this conversation!

Happy National Veterinary Technician Week!

Okay, now that we've got that out of the way, our hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT get real about the present challenges the veterinary technician/nurse (that's one of them!) profession faces today.

This conversation is timely and essential if the veterinary profession (DVM's, RVT's, CVPM's) are to thrive over the next decade. It’s also unapologetically raw, unfiltered, and will probably upset a few of our colleagues. Evolution and progress ain't necessarily easy sometimes.

While our hosts certainly celebrate the innumerable contributions veterinary technicians make in the pet and vet worlds, they also highlight areas for much needed improvement.

Improving diversity, increasing pay and benefits, standardizing credentials and nomenclature, and what rewards REALLY make an impact on your staff are just a few of the topics covered in this important podcast.

Viewfinders, how are you celebrating National Veterinary Technician Week? What did you think about some of these red-hot topics? Did we get it right, wrong, or somewhere in-between? We want to hear from you!

And, THANK YOU, you bunch of awesome animal-loving, science-loving, caffeine-craving fellow nerds out there!