Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast

There’s drama and then there’s DRAMA!! This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT discuss when, how, and why you should share your feelings with your veterinary work family. Dr. Ward reveals why he believes the legacy of Baby Boomers “Suck it up buttercup” attitude may have led to today’s burnout and mental stress. Beckie shares a recent personal tragedy and how she dealt with it. Both emphasize the importance of a supportive clinic culture and leader that staff members feel comfortable sharing their feelings (and how Dr. Ward and Laura Ward did this!). And the duo discuss how REAL Drama Kings and Queens make it more challenging for real nurturing to occur (and what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation). This is another good “real real” talk about the tough topics faced in everyday veterinary practice. Viewfinders, please share this episode with a colleague who needs to hear it. Together we can help create more supportive, nurturing work environments.

Do you struggle with money? Are you worried about your financial future? Is retirement a fictional concept? This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor are joined by Denise Tumblin, a certified public accountant with years of experience helping veterinary professionals pay themselves and secure their financial future. This is a practical conversation about why you should be paying attention to your savings, debt, and why Dr. Ward says, “Pay your future self!” Viewfinders, this November completes our THIRD YEAR OF PODCASTING! Thank you for your loyal listening and support! If you haven’t tell a friend about the podcast. And don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes!

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. Viewfinders, we think this is a good one! Share with us on social media what you think! And don't forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! THANK YOU!

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! Viewfinders, what do you think about the DCM-BEG controversy? We want to hear from you! And thank you for your continued support! If you haven’t already, please go to iTunes and leave us a review. It helps us get guests such as this to share all sides of these often complicated controversies! We want to help keep you informed and expose you to as many sides of these issues as possible - and those 5-star reviews help! THANK YOU VIEWFINDERS!

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! If you like conversations like this, please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a review on iTunes. Thank you Viewfinders for being the BEST PODCAST FAMILY IN THE UNIVERSE!

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. Viewfinders, how do YOU stay positive and searching for solutions instead of commiserating in negativity? Share your tips! And don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes!

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. Viewfinders, let us know your favorite self-care hacks, how you deal with guilt, what are your favorite dietary habits? We want to hear from you, the BEST PODCAST FAMILY IN THE PODCASTER UNIVERSE!

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. Viewfinders, what do you think? What are you seeing in your clinic? How are you handling these challenging cases? Share your thoughts on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter feed. Thank you for listening!

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. Thank you Viewfinders for your loyal listening! Please share this episode with a colleague who needs a lift and leave us a review on iTunes!

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! Thank you, Dr. Kratt, for spending time with our Viewfinders!

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 Thank you loyal Viewfinders for another great episode! If you like this, please leave us a review on iTunes! Thank you!!

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. Important Safety Information Do not use APOQUEL® (oclacitinib tablet) in dogs less than 12 months of age or those with serious infections. APOQUEL may increase the chances of developing serious infections, and may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or preexisting cancers to get worse. APOQUEL has not been tested in dogs receiving some medications including some commonly used to treat skin conditions such as corticosteroids and cyclosporine. Do not use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea. APOQUEL has been used safely with many common medications including parasiticides, antibiotics and vaccines. For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at apoquel.com. CYTOPOINT has been shown to be effective for the treatment of dogs against allergic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. Zoetis is dedicated to changing the way we approach canine pruritus to protect the bonds that matter most. Visit ScienceofStrongerBonds.com for more.

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! Viewfinders, you’re the best! We thank you for your loyal listening. Please take the time to share this podcast with a friend or colleagues you think would enjoy it. If you haven’t, please leave us a review on iTunes. You’re the greatest listeners and colleagues in the world!

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 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. We’d really appreciate if you subscribe to this podcast and give us a review on iTunes. Thank you again, Viewfinders, for your loyal listening!

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. Viewfinders, don’t forget to head over to iTunes to subscribe and leave us a review! Every 5-star you give us helps Apple and other podcast players realize that the Viewfinder Family is strong and interested in these topics! Thank you for your loyal listening!