This week the entire gang gets together - for the first time in person! - to record a special podcast from the floor of the 2018 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor go deep on CHANGE! What, how fast, should, could, and WHY change is essential for veterinary professionals. The trio talk about the recent AVMA debarking controversy, CBD usage, the v...
Jul 25, 2018•31 min
Where are all the registered veterinary technicians and veterinarians? More and more veterinary clinics are reporting significant challenges hiring - and keeping - qualified veterinary team members. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward an Cyndie Courtney with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor review the current veterinary job market woes an doffer suggestion on finding the best employees. Dr. Ward revives his “DVM-lite” limited licensure model from 15 years ago and reviews why he believes ...
Jul 18, 2018•30 min
Mandatory spay and neuter regulations, breed bans, microchip laws, and doggie DNA testing for renters - we’re seeing a wave of new animal regulations sweep the world. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor engage in a spirited discussion on whether or not animal regulations have gone too far (or not far enough), and what veterinary professionals should do to encourage better pet care. The trio tackle the recent Fort Worth, Texas pet m...
Jul 11, 2018•30 min
This week we wrestle once again with the topic of money-guilt harbored by many veterinary professionals. This time, we explore issues around homeless people with pets, standards of pet care, pet care shaming, and more. This is an excellent roundtable on a topic most veterinary professionals must confront nearly daily. We need your support to reach more of our veterinary colleagues! Please subscribe, share, and leave us a review -- especially on iTunes! Thank you for listening!
Jul 04, 2018•31 min
One of the most controversial pet travel topics these days is the designation of "emotional support animal" and "service animal." This week our trio, Drs. Ernie Ward & Cyndie Courtney, along with Beckie Mossor RVT, take to the skies, trains, and restaurants as they confront the perils of emotional support animals. What is the difference between "service animal" and "emotional support dog?" Can you really buy "fake" service dog vests on Amazon? Who’s in charge of regulating and verifying “ser...
Jun 27, 2018•33 min
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... We need your support to reach more of our veterinary colleagues! Please s...
Jun 20, 2018•30 min
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 p...
Jun 13, 2018•29 min
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. IF YOU ENJOY TH...
Jun 06, 2018•34 min
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 ownershi...
May 31, 2018•36 min
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 c...
May 23, 2018•34 min
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 ...
May 16, 2018•44 min
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 r...
May 09, 2018•40 min
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 a...
May 02, 2018•42 min
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 anim...
Apr 25, 2018•30 min
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 educati...
Apr 18, 2018•41 min
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...
Apr 11, 2018•33 min
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?) ...
Apr 04, 2018•27 min
This week we’re delighted to share the microphone with registered veterinary technician specialist, Liz Hughston, MEd., RVT, CVT, VTS (SAIM, ECC). Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor embark on a wide-ranging discussion about veterinary staff unionization and collective bargaining, Liz offers her perspective on the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI), and the quartet discuss pet medical marijuana / CBD / cannabis usage. This podcast i...
Mar 28, 2018•44 min
Cooperative Veterinary Care is the latest concept to help make veterinary patients more comfortable during examinations, testing, and treatments. This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by Monique Feyrecilde, LVT, VTS (Behavior). Monique is co-author of a new book debuting this week, Cooperative Veterinary Care with Alicea Howell. Monique writes, "Learning to teach, train and handle animals requires meaningful 2-w...
Mar 21, 2018•27 min
Imagination, curiosity, and creativity are essential traits, attributes, and skills for successful veterinary professionals (and people). This week host veterinarians Ernie Ward an Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor explore the creative side of veterinary medicine. The trio traverse Thoreau’s take on inspiration and creativity, share tales of imaginative solutions discovered in exam rooms, surgical suites, and strapped onto turtle shells, and simple steps t...
Mar 14, 2018•33 min
MONEY! What do veterinary professionals do when a client can’t afford the cost of pet care? Are we providing the best veterinary medical care at an affordable price? How do we deal with situations when a client can’t - or won’t - pay for “gold standard care?” Do payment plans work? Should veterinary technicians discuss billing and pricing with clients? Those are a few of the topics our trio tackle this week. Host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with registered veterinary techn...
Mar 07, 2018•35 min
This week we welcome third-year Missouri veterinary school student Seth Williams. Seth is host of the popular vet school podcast, “Vet School Unleashed,” and has quite an interesting story on how he became a veterinary school student. Seth joins host veterinarians Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney with Beckie Mossor, RVT to share his convoluted and circuitous route to veterinary school, and why he started a podcast aimed at veterinary school students. Seth shares that most of his classmates aren’t ...
Feb 28, 2018•34 min
Does National Pet Dental Month Matter Anymore? Since 1995, veterinarians have celebrated National Pet Dental Month each February. But has the "holiday" lost its luster? Veterinary dental specialist Dr. Heidi Lobprise weighs in with host Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT. The group discuss why veterinary dentistry still isn't being prominently featured in most veterinary school curricula, the role and future of veterinary technicians in pet dentistry, Dr. Lobprise'...
Feb 21, 2018•31 min
You know what we’re talking about because you deal with them, too. Angry, upset, threatening and irate veterinary clients can damage team morale, cause unbearable stress, and adversely affect patient care and client service (for our nice clients). This week, our hosts tackle how they deal with irate clients, how to spot a “secretly angry” client, and steps your team can take to help prevent conflict in the future. Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT share stories fr...
Feb 14, 2018•35 min
This week we are thrilled to be joined by the extraordinarily talented and accomplished registered veterinary technician, Stephen Cital, RVT. Stephen shares his journey from human medicine to laboratory animal medicine, how he got into veterinary anesthesia, and why he loves his job more than ever. We also discuss the issues faced by the LGBT community in the veterinary profession, solutions and suggestions to help make our profession more inclusive, and how to spot — and avoid — some of the com...
Feb 07, 2018•30 min
With the 2018 Super Bowl this weekend, we decided to take a deep dive into what makes the best veterinary teams successful. Hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT review some of the common characteristics of the best teams, how to integrate new employees into your clinic team, what are some of the pitfalls of overstepping professional or personal boundaries in the workplace, and more. Learn what "Book Clubs and Bars" have to do with establishing appropriate professional relationships in yo...
Jan 31, 2018•34 min
Finding good employees is a challenge for any clinic. Finding good veterinary technicians is even harder! This week Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney, along with registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor are joined by “MKA from Minnesota,” or Michelle Krasicki-Aune, MBA, BS, CVT, a credentialed veterinary technician who has a company dedicated to providing clinics with relief veterinary technicians, mentorship, and much more. Michelle tells how (and why) she became a veterinary technician...
Jan 24, 2018•30 min
Nearly 2 billion people, including veterinary professionals, are using Facebook in 2018. This week Drs. Ernie Ward and Cyndie Courtney along with Beckie Mossor, RVT talk with Dr. Caitlin DeWilde about social media and her business, The Social DVM. The group discuss Caitlin's story of becoming a veterinarian, the recent changes to the Facebook News Feed algorithm, and practical advice for managing a veterinary clinic's Facebook Page. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!! PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! Please leav...
Jan 17, 2018•30 min
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT talk with large animal veterinary nurse an equine nursing specialist Heather Hopkinson about the differences - and similarities - of large and small animal veterinary care. Heather shares her story of a young girl working at stables to earn horse riding lessons to becoming a pioneer and leader in the large animal veterinary technician world. Beckie and Heather recount their days together in veterinary technician school, how the veterinary nurse in...
Jan 10, 2018•28 min
The veterinary profession is now dominated by women. This week, the Veterinary Viewfinder tackles the topic of veterinary professionals having children, bringing our kids into the clinic, and handling clients’ children during veterinary appointments. Co-hosts Drs. Ernie Ward and registered veterinary technician Beckie Mossor share tales of crates used as cribs, a mother who demands Dr. Ward share EVERYTHING with their child during an appointment (and then dramatically changes her mind), Beckie t...
Jan 03, 2018•29 min
