This week, we discuss the current global wave of corporatization and consolidation of the veterinary profession. Host veterinarians  Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor review the pros and cons of working in a corporate practice, whether or not consolidation is (or ever was) inevitable, and what does this mean for the future of veterinary professionals? It's a good one...

It's summer! Yaaay! Oh, noooo! Along with sunshine, long days, and chillin' by the pool comes unexpected stress in veterinary practice. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor take a beachside/lakeside/online stroll down some of the profession's most treacherous June through September trails. Tourists, drop-in non-client emergencies, the Monday flu, and fighting for time off are tackled in this "for reals" conversation. And Dr. Ward ponders, "Where did all the summer high school and college helpers go?" This is one hot and sticky podcast...

This week, we've got a master class in entrepreneurship with Dr. Liz Bales, inventor of the Indoor Feeder (formerly the NoBowl Feeder) for cats. Dr. Bales joins Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney to discuss how she evolved from equine practice to feline (see what I did there?), how she went from good idea to an actual product, and her best advice for anyone who has a good idea. This is an AMAZING conversation that will benefit any veterinary professional in their job and career.  

Owning a veterinary practice can be a rewarding -- and challenging -- prospect. This week host veterinarians Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by New Jersey practice owner Dr. Michael Tokiwa to discuss the positives and pitfalls of practice ownership. From equity, to leadership, to vision, to staff training and interactions, this is a wide-ranging conversation that will benefit any veterinary professional, regardless of whether or not ownership is an interest or option.   

This week we're honored to interview the President-Elect of the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) Dr. Cheryl Good from Dearborn, Michigan. Dr. Good shares the story of how she became a veterinarian, what it was like to have three kids in a five-year span while working full-time and starting her own practice. We discuss the changes she's seen in veterinary medicine during her career, the changes at NAVC and VMX, and what she hopes to accomplish as NAVC President. This is a wide-ranging conversation that touches on so many aspects of real, daily veterinary practice life. 

British Columbia/Vancouver joined a host of other large municipalities May 8, 2018 when it banned feline declawing by veterinarians. This week we're joined by Dr. Margie Scherk, a feline veterinary specialist and one of the true pioneers and champions of the anti-declaw movement. Veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor talk with Dr. Scherk about her story, why she's so passionate about cats, and the debates surrounding feline declawing. You'll want to play this episode again and again!   

Online and digital marketing is essential for any business to succeed in today's marketplace. This week we're joined by a digital marketing expert, InTouchVet's Bill Schroeder. Bill has been helping veterinary clinics succeed for over 20 years and shares his best advice for busy veterinary practices to optimize their social media and online marketing. Host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and Dr. Cyndie Courtney talk with Bill about how he and his wife started helping veterinarians in Chicago, what recent changes at Facebook mean for veterinary professionals, what social media and online platforms he recommends, and the technologies Bill thinks veterinarians should be looking at during the next 1 to 3 years. This is a great lesson in online marketing and strategy for any veterinary professional!    

This week host veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor welcome veterinary nutritionist and University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine professor, Dr. Julie Churchill. The three review the latest Association for Pet Obesity Prevention Survey results, explore the reasons behind some of the survey responses, dispel many nutritional, diet, and exercise myths, and offer pet food advice for every veterinary team member. This is an episode full of pet food facts and fictions, communication tips and tripwires, and a whole lot of fun! 

There are approximately 900-2,000 cases of animal hoarding in the U.S. each year, affecting over 250,000 animals. Dr. Jill Kirk is on the front lines of the war against animal abuse, neglect, and hoarding. Host Dr. Ernie Ward along with Dr. Cyndie Courtney and Beckie Mossor, RVT, talk with Dr. Kirk about animal hoarding, how to recognize the common signs of abuse and neglect, and steps any veterinary professional can take. This is an important conversation for any veterinary team member and animal advocate.

This week we meet an OG veterinary entrepreneur and innovator, Dr. Philippe Moreau from France. Dr. Moreau is double-boarded in Neurology and Internal Medicine, published author and award-winning speaker, serial entrepreneur, and has pioneered much of the technology, telemedicine, and apps that claim to be “new” today. Veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney discuss Philippe’s story, his vision for telemedicine, and this latest innovation, My Buddy Pet App, an incredibly rich client education, appointment scheduler, and telemedicine app. This conversation covers Philippe’s 40-year career, and gives incredible insight into the mind of a true innovator and entrepreneur. 

Cancer. Amputation. Two words that strike fear in many pet owners' hearts. This week we're joined by the founders of Tripawds.com, a website community dedicated to helping pet owners facing limb amputation and other ambulatory challenges in dogs and cats. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor, talk with Jim Nelson and René Agredano about why they started Tripawds.com, how they made it a sustainable business, and future trends in pet care, especially pet cancer treatments. They discuss the rising cost of cancer care, the importance of pet health insurance, and potential pet owner guilt when it comes to confronting cancer. You don't want to miss their inspiring story!    

With the recent Facebook/Cambridge Analytica controversy, many veterinary professionals have been concerned and confused about their online safety and the privacy of their client communications. This week veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, and veterinary technician Beckie Mossor explore Facebook usage by veterinary clinics, whether or not Facebook Messenger and other social media interactions are potentially violating veterinarian-client confidentiality, how safe and secure (or not?) are Facebook Secret Groups, and debate the question of should veterinary staff members and clients be Facebook friends.