No matter where you are or what you're doing, someone is watching you. By definition, that makes you a LEADER. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT offer advice to help you overcome the challenges of daily veterinary practice and life. From awareness of your influence on others around you, to techniques to clearly communicate with colleagues and family (and Dr. Ward's two most powerful phrases you need to say more often), to strategies to stay inspired and positive, the duo gets real with tips on how you can find happiness, success, and positivity in your daily grind. 

By now you’ve probably heard about the controversy between certain dog foods and potential DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). But is DCM really caused by dog food? Many specialists and veterinarians are beginning to raise serious questions about the alleged link between diet and heart disease. This week we’re joined by animal nutritionist Dr. Ryan Yamka for a deeper dive behind the headlines into what’s really going on - or not! Dr. Yamka shares his expertise and experience with this issue, what veterinary professionals need to know in order to answer our clients’ questions, and what we do to do moving forward to resolve the controversy. Dr. Yamka also shares some of his concerns about how the data has presented to the veterinary profession and dog-owning public, and what he thinks may be behind the dilemma. This is an incredibly educational episode that EVERY veterinary professional (and pet parent) needs to hear! 

We've discussed the importance and value of mentoring here on the podcast multiple times over the past three years. This week we're joined by Dr. Aaron Smiley, the founder of an online veterinary mentoring app called DVM Mentor (DVMMentor.com). Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT ask the tough questions about whether or not online mentoring can help, the challenges of "virtual coaching," why everyone is in agreement that we need a better mentoring system, and Dr. Ward shares his experiences with earlier attempts at "virtual mentorship."  This is an exciting conversation that digs in on many of our profession's underlying issues and why we believe this needs to be more openly addressed. This is a good one, Viewfinders! 

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Problems, problems, problems! These days there’s no shortage of challenges and issues within the veterinary profession. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT are joined by Catherine Haskins (Chicago-based Haskins Consulting) to discuss how to switch from problem-focused to solution-oriented in your veterinary clinic. This is a candid conversation that focuses on why a healthy mindset is essential to maintain team morale, retain enthusiasm, and avoid burnout. 

Self-care is essential in resisting burnout, remaining positive, and restoring passion. This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT share their favorite personal self-care habits and hacks, how they deal with “self-care guilt,” and Dr. Ward reveals his favorite technology to help him optimize restorative sleep (and why he no longer calls it “recovery!”). The duo also dives into intermittent fasting (Dr. Ward “Yes,” Beckie “Maybe”), when is the best time to workout, and simple gratitude practices each use to, as Dr. Ward puts it, “Tilt toward optimism!” This is a fun conversation about a topic many recommend and advise, but few get real about. 

The anti-vax movement has been slowly infecting the pet-owning public the past few years. Recent surveys indicate many dog and cat owners are skipping or avoiding core vaccinations for their pets., including puppy and kitten vaccines. Many pet owners claim these vaccines are unnecessary or may somehow cause harm, including outrageous claims including “canine autism.” This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT take a candid look at this controversial topic. 

Do you have an “Employee of the Month” award? Do you give out “gold stars” or have a “Reward Wall” in your clinic? What about holiday pay bonuses? If you do, do these tactics actually encourage positive workplace behaviors and actions? This week co-hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT explore what veterinary staff incentives get results and create a more positive clinic environment. Find out what Dr. Ward calls the “Perfectionist Trap,” what happens when an incentive program fails, and why sometimes a paid-day-off beats more money. This is a conversation rich in management nuggets, real-world examples, and lots of practical advice for any veterinary team. 

This week we’re honored to be joined by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) President-elect, Dr. Douglas Kratt. Dr. Kratt joined Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT for a candid, provocative, and inspiring discussion about the veterinary profession and his plans for his Presidency. Dr. Kratt shares how and why he became a veterinarian, what it’s like to practice with his veterinarian wife, student debt, telemedicine, VCPR, generational shifts, the rise in power and scale of corporate veterinary practices, and so much more!

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

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.

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! 

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.