Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, have co-hosted their award-winning weekly veterinary podcast since 2016.
Each week, they “tackle the toughest topics in veterinary medicine,” highlighting controversial issues and trending news, introducing veterinary key opinion leaders and provocateurs, and offering solutions to the myriad challenges facing the veterinary profession.
Latest Podcast
Latest Podcast Episodes - Click to Listen
Veterinary Teletriage, Telemedicine, VCPR, and More with John Dillon from GuardianVets
Veterinary telemedicine has been a professional hot button topic for the past five or six years. This week we’re thrilled to share the podcast with John Dillon, CEO of veterinary teletriage service, GuardianVets. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore the current regulatory and legal boundaries of veterinary telemedicine, why Dr. Ward calls teletriage “a pager service on steroids,” and what the next three to five years hold for the VCPR. This is an informative conversation with one of the innovators in veterinary virtual and online services. To find out more about GuardianVets, visit them online at https://www.guardianvets.com
Treating Allergic Itch: Improving the Quality of Life for Dogs and their Owners with Veterinary Dermatologist Dr. Dana Liska
Itching dogs update with Veterinary Dermatologist Dr. Dana Liska! Once again we're thrilled to share the podcast with veterinary dermatologist Dr. Liska from Zoetis. This time we review why so many dogs develop allergic dermatitis, the latest news and strategies in diagnosis and treatment, and how allergies may negatively impact a pet's (and pet parent's) quality of life. This is an excellent episode for all team members to review as we enter another "allergy season!"
This podcast is sponsored by Zoetis, the makers of treatments including APOQUEL and CYTOPOINT.
Pink Poodles, Pierced Pekes & Cats with Tats - What Should Veterinary Professionals Do?
There is a growing global trend of body modification in pets. Exotic hair styles, dye jobs, piercings, studs, and tattoos are beginning to cross over from humans to their pets. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the welfare and ethical issues of these “visual entertainment” trends and the roles and responsibilities of the veterinary profession to ensure animal safety and wellbeing. If you’re unfamiliar with these procedures, you definitely want to listen. Share your thoughts about this on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
The Power of Performance Reviews for Veterinary Professionals
Performance evaluations are incredibly powerful tools for veterinary staff training, team morale, and job satisfaction. This type of feedback is also essential for providing the highest standards of patient care and client service. The fact is that performance evaluations (“job reviews”) are are an integral component of the DNA of successful veterinary clinics. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the mechanics of employee evaluations, what an ideal review schedule looks like (or doesn’t), and how any veterinary clinic can get started. We think you’re going to love this nuts-and-bolts guide to employee performance reviews.
How to Help Pet Owners Panicked by Viral Internet Stories
The Internet has the potential to educate pet owners about better healthcare, but it also can scare the heck out of them! This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor RVT discuss some of the real and not-so-real internet news clients are worried about, simple strategies to help the veterinary team communicate the truth in a polite and effective manner, and why veterinarians need to pay attention to the myths, truths, and questions being raised and spread on social media. This is a timely tough topic that every veterinary team needs to hear and discuss.
New York State Bans Declawing with Feline Expert Dr. Margie Scherk
New York just became the first state in the U.S. to totally ban feline declawing. This week we’re delighted to be joined again by feline expert Dr. Margie Scherk to discuss what the new law means for veterinary professionals, how these measures have been received in her home country Canada, and why she believes veterinarians need to take a more active role in the declaw debate. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT take a deep dive with Dr. Scherk into the complex ethical and moral challenges of elective surgical procedures, the impact declawing has on the entire staff, and how public perception toward declawing has shifted over the past 20 years. This is an important topic for your entire veterinary team.
Dr. Andy Roark - 4 Eyes Save Lives Suicide Prevention Program
This week we're joined by our dear friend and colleague (and Dr. Ward’s extern back in the day!), Dr. Andy Roark, to discuss his suicide prevention program, 4 Eyes Save Lives. Dr. Roark joins hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT to discuss why discussing suicide and depression in the veterinary profession is important, how Andy addresses some of the questions and controversies surrounding this program, and Ernie shares why being any healthcare provider is especially stressful.
This podcast discusses suicide, depression, and burnout, so if you'd prefer to skip this episode, we totally understand. If you or someone you know would like to talk to someone about burnout, depression, or suicide, call 1-800-273- 8255 (TALK) or text HOME to 741741 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
California Budgets $5 million for Veterinary Care for Homeless People's Pets!
On July 1, 2019, California made history when it allocated $5 million dollars for veterinary care for homeless people. This week, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss what this budget means for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, why this is SO IMPORTANT, and ways to extend and amplify our message. This is an important conversation that touches on many aspects or our profession’s future, including student debt and societal awareness.
Making Veterinary Clients with Special Needs Feel Welcome
Episode 137 (2 2/3 YEARS of weekly podcasts!) This week, podcast hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT tackle a topic often overlooked in veterinary practice: How to make our clients with special needs feel welcome. Beckie shares her recent Chicago VMA experiences after giving a presentation on this topic, Dr. Ward shares stories of some good (and not so good) client interactions, and both share a multitude of tips and tactics for veterinary professionals. This is a podcast we recommend sharing with your entire clinic team and then creating your own staff training materials and policies.
Anesthesia Nerd Tasha McNerney CVT
This week we're delighted to share with the Viewfinders a special friend, Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, VTS (anesthesia and analgesia). Tasha shares her stories of being a college student seeking her passion, pursuing a career as a veterinary technician, being a single mom, and helping other veterinary professionals with anesthesia and pain management. This is a delightful conversation with a truly special colleague.
Squad 51 Emergency Pet Responders & Animal Transport Services
This week we meet Yalanda Medina, founder of Cleveland-Based Squad 51, a pet emergency transport service and pet emergency first responders. Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT learn the story behind Squad 51, what types of veterinary emergency medical services they can (and can’t) perform, and their new relationship with pet insurance. This is a fascinating conversation that you and your team will be talking about!
The Complications and Controversies of Convenience Euthanasia
Recent news reports convenience euthanasias have rocked the pet world and caused intense scrutiny of the veterinary profession’s role in this practice. This week Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss the recent Richmond, Virginia euthanasia case, their own experiences with convenience euthanasia requests, and why talking openly about this topic is needed more now than ever. In addition, our hosts connect euthanasia with burnout, Dr. Ward explains why the veterinary profession is increasingly confused by the extreme types of pet owners, and Beckie shares the most heartbreaking moment she’s witnessed in veterinary practice. Plus, there are guns, how much should we charge for euthanasia and coccidia! This is one to share with your veterinary colleagues and friends!
It’s the time of year when veterinary clinics revisit their staff policies, but how do you implement them without creating chaos or resentment? In this week’s episode of “The Veterinary Viewfinder,” Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mosser, MPA, RVT, dive into the challenges of rolling out new rules, such as sick leave policies, PTO usage, and vacation time, in a way that ensures fairness and team cohesion.
The co-hosts explore common pitfalls in policy implementation, such as reactionary rule-making after isolated incidents such as “sick-outs” and chronic absenteeism, and explain why sudden, poorly communicated policy changes can erode trust. They also discuss the importance of balancing structure with empathy and emphasize collaborative approaches to decision-making that involve the entire team.
The episode also unpacks why policies requiring sick employees to provide doctor’s notes can send a harmful message of distrust and why flexible, inclusive guidelines create a healthier workplace culture. Dr. Ward and Beckie share real-world stories of successful—and unsuccessful—policy rollouts, offering actionable tips to help veterinary managers make thoughtful, equitable decisions.
If you’re a practice owner, manager, or team member, tune in to learn how to create policies that support your team while keeping your clinic running smoothly. Let’s make 2024 the year of fair, effective policies in veterinary medicine!