The Vet Vault
By The Vet Vault
The Vet VaultMar 17, 2020
108: Married To The Vet Profession: Advice From (And For) Our Significant Others. With Regina Carey
Regina Carey is a coach, public speaker and special educator who works to help drive change within the veterinary and human healthcare professions. But in this interview we focus on another aspect of her life: she’s married to a veterinarian, and therefore, by default, married to the veterinary profession.
In this episode we explore what’s that like to be the significant other in the life of a vet, what it takes to support a vet career, and what our partners want us to know. Regina gives us the solution to making space in a relationship for two careers, especially when one of the careers can be particularly time and commitment hungry!
We also pick Regina’s coach brain with topics like invisible disabilities, the not-so obvious things that get in the way of becoming the best version of ourselves, like excessive competitiveness, the consequences of the language we use with ourselves, and how to draw a hard line with aggressive clients. But first, we start with a veterinary love story…
You can find Regina at her website, Queen Of Action and on LinkedIn.
Topic List:
04:22 Regina's experience being married to a vet.
12:53 You don't need to sacrifice everything to be a vet.
16:31 Making space for two careers in a relationship.
24:09 Regina's career before she delved into vet stuff.
28:15 Coaching people with invisible disabilities.
35:24 The link between competitiveness and a lack of self esteem.
40:08 Why are supportive relationships vital in the vet industry?
46:18 Holding space for a relationship or your partner as a vet.
48:15 How do you find the support systems?
51:48 How to disallow disrespect without being rude.
58:46 Regina's advice for the significant others of a vet.
62:25 Things that makes the vet industry uniquely challenging to a coach.
65:18 "How do you solve the gap between vets wanting more money for less work?"
70:27 Regina's favourite podcasts.
71:38 Regina's advice to new grad vets.
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Regina's podcast recommendations.
We can do hard things with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach
The Hidden Brain an NPR podcast
Burnout by the Nagoski Sisters
#107: Why Can't We Do It This Way? New Ideas On How To Bring More Joy To Veterinary Practice. With Dr Russel Welsh.
What would you say are the biggest stumbling blocks to a joyful career in veterinary science?
The unfortunate reality is that there are many people in the veterinary profession who would not readily use 'joy' and 'work' in the same sentence. But Dr Russel Welsh wants to change that.
Dr Russel Welsh is a veterinarian with over 23 years of experience and a passion for the vet profession and the role it plays in the lives of people and animals. He’s worked in multiple sectors of the veterinary industry, including clinically, operationally and in senior executive leadership positions. Some of his previous roles include first an employee and later a co-owner of Village Vet, a 33-site primary and referral care veterinary group in the London and Cambridge area. Russel facilitated the sale of this group first to private equity in 2017 and subsequently to the MARS group, where he stayed on first as Managing Director, then as COO and eventually in the role as Business Development Director at Linnaeus Veterinary Group.
This adventure has given him invaluable high-level insights into how our profession works (or sometimes DOESN'T work), so Russel recently resigned his position and took on a new challenge as Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder of Creature Comforts, a new VC funded veterinary start-up that aims to revolutionise the veterinary experience to make it seamless, joyful, fair and transparent by combining bespoke-built tech and world-class designer clinics.
In this conversation we cover how to step outside of your comfort zone to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to take on BIG challenges, and Russel shares some fascinating insights into the world of Big Veterinary Business. We talk about what’s good about corporate, what’s bad, and how Russel and his team are planning to take the best of it to create a model of veterinary practice that breaks the mould that says you can’t use 'joy' and 'work' in the same sentence.
Topics covered:
07:12 The Journey from Student to CEO
08:38 The Role of Technology in Modern Veterinary Practice
12:18 The Impact of Corporate Structures on Veterinary Practice
15:53 The Launch of Creature Comforts: A New Approach to Veterinary Practice
18:31 The Vision for Creature Comforts: Reinventing the Veterinary Experience
20:53 The Challenges and Opportunities of Corporate Veterinary Practice
24:13 The Future of Creature Comforts: A Vision for Growth and Innovation
38:14 Changing Access to Veterinary Care
39:34 Focus On Client Relationships
40:33 The Role of Technology in Veterinary Practice
44:18 Is The Staffing Crisis Over?
53:40 Joy Killers in Veterinary Practice
01:10:09 Russel’s One Bit of Advice for New Veterinary Graduates
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
Get help with your cases in our Specialist Support Space.
Visit thevetvault.com for show notes and resources related to this episode.
Connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network for episode highlights, clinical resources, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.
#106: Dr Crocker: Intentional Career Moves, Mastering Change Without Fear, And The Pros Of Vulnerability and Virality.
Have you ever found yourself in a moment in your career where you knew: ‘This is definitely not it. Something has to change!’
Dr Tannetje Crocker’s career is as multifaceted as a diamond, and just as brilliant, and in this episode she’ll show us that if you approach your career with intention and heart that the grass CAN be greener. This episode of the Vet Vault is for every veterinarian who's ever felt the tug of 'what if’. Dr. Crocker's story is a masterclass in crafting a veterinary life you love, and in this conversation we unpack pivotal career decisions, learn about cultivating confidence, resilience, and optimism in the field of veterinary medicine while fiercely advocating for self-care and vulnerability, the intricacies of balancing family life with multiple roles, and we get a peek into Tannetje’s social media career.
Dr Tannetje Crocker is a speaker, social media personality and a practicing ER veterinarian for Veterinary Emergency Group in Dallas, TX, as well as the practice owner of Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Fort Worth, TX who finds her joy in supporting her fellow veterinary professionals, both virtually and in person, through her various endeavours.
Topic List:
10:28 Why Tannetje's content resonates with so many people.
11:37 Doing things that scare you often leads to good opportunities.
17:34 Is the grass sometimes a little greener on the other side?
24:04 Dr Crocker’s different hats.
27:40 Doing things out of love.
30:25 Learning to escape the tall poppy syndrome.
32:55 The fear associated with change.
34:56 Working in an Open Concept Veterinary Hospital.
37:10 Work life integration rather than work life balance.
42:45 What would Dr Crocker do if she wasn’t a vet?
44:53 Dr Crocker’s most popular social posts/podcasts.
50:04 Why does Dr Crocker keep her social presence positive?
52:50 Self care and vulnerability.
58:27 What would be the title of the movie of Tannetje’s life?
Tannetje's resources:
Podcast - Six Minutes
Podcast - Terrible Thanks For Asking
Podcast - The Derm Vet
Podcast - The Cone of Shame
Conference - Unchartered Veterinary Conference
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
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#105: Work hard, play hard, be kind. (And think twice before you prescribe antibiotics!) With Dr Jane Heller.
Dr Jane Heller is the epitome of a mutlti-faceted vet career: she’s a Veterinary Epidemiologist with an interest is in infectious disease epidemiology, with particular reference to antimicrobial resistance and the potential for zoonotic transfer of pathogens between animals and humans. Her career has included a stint in private practice and at the University of Sydney, specialist training in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health through a PhD and a residency at the University of Glasgow, and a faculty position at Charles Sturt University as an Associate Professor in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health. In addition to her teaching, writing and research Jane also implemented a wellness program for the undergraduate veterinary students and has a deep interest in supporting student and veterinary mental health. Outside of her role at the university she is also the founder and director of Heller Consulting - her private consulting business where she gets to utilise her wide range of skills for the benefit of animals and humans.
In this conversation we cover what a career as an epidemiologist could look like (not as boring as you might think!), and Jane tells us about the work of the AMR Vet Collective - a non-for profit that informs and educates around responsible antibiotic usage, including sharing resources to help you achieve better antimicrobial stewardship without making your work life harder or compromising outcomes for your patients. We discuss how to affect behaviour change, whether its around how vets use antibiotics, or getting vet students and veterinary teams to care about their wellbeing. Jane also shares openly about how her work in the student wellness space challenged her personally, and what she learned from those challenges. (Oh, and we unpack the deeper lessons from Ted Lasso, which we could do an entire podcast series on!)
Topic List:
10:00 Epidemiology is essential in healthcare.
14:50 Communication is always key.
21:34 Importance of antibiotic stewardship.
32:41 Awareness of responsible antibiotic use.
35:37 Change is difficult but necessary.
39:10 Changing antibiotic prescribing.
44:21 Behaviour change requires tailored messaging.
52:43 Supporting student wellness is crucial.
60:00 Facilitating and empowering employee engagement.
63:00 Prioritise work-life balance and fun.
70:09 Importance of promoting kindness in education.
74:24 Empathy fosters understanding and support.
79:30 Importance of setting boundaries.
84:30 Normalise seeking counselling and support.
Jane's resources:
Antimicrobial sterwardship CPD
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
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#104: A Dedication To Difficult Dogs: How Getting Better At Behaviour Medicine Can Make You Happier. With Dr Dennis Wormald.
Join us as we chat with the incredible Dr Dennis Wormald, and discover why he wants us to take another look at the word - difficult - when it comes to our patients.
Dennis is not your run-of-the-mill vet; he's a bona fide canine behaviour enthusiast and his fascination with understanding and addressing the quirks of our four-legged friends began long before he donned his vet hat. Back in the day, he was knee-deep in biomedical science with a major in neuroscience, and he even dabbled in the world of addiction neuroscience. As a general practice vet, Dennis found himself increasingly drawn to the world of behaviour, so fast forward to 2017, he earned himself a PhD in canine anxiety and he's also now proudly a member of the ANZCVS behaviour chapter. Since 2021, he's been focusing solely on behaviour referral practice, and Dennis didn't stop there. He's also the mastermind behind ABADog.com—a platform he originally created to supercharge his own behaviour consultations. Think of it as your one-stop shop for gathering every essential nugget of behaviour history and turning it into a tailor-made action plan for each patient. In 2023, Dennis decided to add the title of "author" to his bio, with the release of "A Dedication to Difficult Dogs: A Heartwarming Tale Shedding Light on Canine Mental Health." In this podcast episode, we'll dive deep into the world of veterinary behaviour with Dennis and chat about what makes the field of behaviour science seem daunting to many, why some of us aren't quite experts (yet), and how boosting our knowledge and empathy can not only make us better vets, but also safer ones. Dennis also shares some game-changing strategies, tips, and tools up his sleeve that'll instantly up your game in your next behaviour consultation and transform your interactions with dogs across the board. Behavioural stress? It's on its way out the door!
Topic list:
14:51 Anthropomorphizing can be beneficial. 15:01 Empathy is essential for animal welfare. 24:29 Mental health issues in dogs. 25:35 Emotionally driven behaviours are difficult to change. 30:23 Dogs chew and bark for relief. 35:21 Fear and anxiety drive aggression. 40:05 Prioritise patient welfare and comfort. 46:06 Understanding animal behaviour is a science. 50:20 Read multiple papers for consensus. 55:39 Customised behaviour mod and environmental mod. 61:30 Streamline behaviour consultations with ABAdog. 64:46 Improve by focusing on solutions. 68:00 Take care of your mental health.
ABAdog signup with 2 bonus coupons for Vet Vault listeners
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
Visit thevetvault.com for show notes and resources related to this episode.
Connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network for episode highlights, clinical resources, discussions, questions and support.
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#103: 'The More You Tell People, The Less They’ll Remember': Learning To Teach. With Dr Toby Trimble
How much time have you committed over the course of your veterinary career to get better at teaching? I'm betting that for most of you, the answer is: not much. Why? Because we're not teachers, right? But maybe we need to think again. Most of us in the veterinary profession spend much of our working lives trying to transfer and translate information. Isn't that, in essence, teaching?
Dr Toby Trimble spends a most of his time coming up with better ways to teach. Toby is the founder of Trimble Group, a film production company reinventing education for animal health, making it less like PowerPoint and more like Netflix. He focuses on making education engaging, visual, and memorable. With his team, Toby has created over 800 CPD videos and live broadcasts in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia. He's also a specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia and an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia at the University of Nottingham.
In this conversation, Toby delves into why we should — and how we could — all be better teachers and communicators. He reflects on the lessons dyslexia taught him about teaching and about our perceptions regarding our own limitations. He discusses why a lot of online teaching falls short and how it can be so much better, the concept of using marginal gains to secure an edge in exam prep and in life, and so much more.
Topic list:
01:18 Better communication through visual storytelling. 09:46 Preparation and practice reduce anxiety. 10:41 Verbal fillers can detract from communication. 19:17 Overcoming dyslexia through personalised education. 24:07 Hard work leads to breakthroughs. 27:48 Engaging, visual, experiential learning. 35:49 Education online will shift. 41:48 AI can provide information, but understanding is the key. 48:24 Simulation enhances veterinary skills training. 53:58 Marginal gains improve exam preparation. 58:47 Small things make a huge difference. 65:19 Clarify your message for memorability.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
Visit thevetvault.com for show notes and resources related to this episode.
Connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network for episode highlights, clinical resources, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings.
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#102: Resilience by Design: Mentors, Modelling, And Why Context is King. With Assoc. Prof. Sarah Guess.
How do we make 'resilience' more than just another buzzword and resilience training not just a box to tick for the HR department?
Assoc. Prof. Sarah Guess is a specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Associate Professor at Washington State University where she teaches internal medicine. Outside of her clinical work her interests and research are in educational psychology, resilience and wellbeing, and elements of clinical supervision and resident training. Sarah has presented her research on resilience at the national level and is known for her mixed-methods approach to research, and she was the recipient of the 2021 Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award and the 2020 Wescott Award for clinical teaching.
In this episode she shares what she is learning and teaching around fostering resilience in a way that does not just rely on shifting the responsibility onto the individual to 'be more resilient', but rather focuses on the context that our resilience will challenged in. We talk collaborative relationships, workplace culture, model behaviour and we detour into the things that can improve personal resilience.
This one is essential listening in particular for anyone who is in a leadership, support, mentoring or teaching role.
Topic list:
12:08 Importance of non-punitive error culture.
16:25 Mistakes are expected and respected.
23:49 Resilience in education psychology.
26:33 Focus on faculty well-being first.
33:01 Importance of collaborative mentorship.
39:39 Resilience - it's trained, learned and necessary.
49:59 Embrace growth from negative experiences.
53:20 Exercise is an incredible tool.
56:10 Personal resources that foster resilience.
70:48 Keep showing up, even when it's hard.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
The Drive Podcast with Peter Attia.
Funny Cuz It's True Podcast with Elise Myers.
#101: The Antidote To Fear-Based Practice. With Dr Warwick Vale
Here's a little nugget of wisdom for you: 'Do what you can with what you have where you are.' I stumbled upon it a while back, and it's like a bite-sized version of stoic philosophy. It's a solid life motto, especially in the world of veterinary work, and it neatly sums up what you're about to hear.
Meet Dr Warwick Vale – a name you've probably heard in the Aussie veterinary scene. He's not just the ex-President of the Australian Veterinary Association; he's also a rockstar in equine medicine, a business-savvy company director, and a go-to consultant in the veterinary world. Oh, and did I mention he's a total jack-of-all-trades when it comes to hobbies? Dr Warwick played a key role in kickstarting the AVA's Thrive program, a fantastic initiative focused on keeping vet pros in tip-top shape with industry guidelines. But let me spill the beans on why we're talking to him today. It all started with a listener who said, 'You gotta talk to Warwick.' I don't take those recommendations lightly. The reason isn't the thousands of animals he's helped or the boards he's served on; it's the deep impact he's had on one incredibly grateful person. Just one.
Join us in this conversation as Warwick tells us how to live and practice veterinary medicine with heart and camaraderie, smashing through the fear barriers around our comfort zones. We chat about everything from overthinking to embracing your quirks for a happier career, and how trust and connection can be the cure for fear-based practice.
Topic list:
03:14 The art of rolling with the punches.
07:34 What's so different about veterinary medicine now?
14:21 A day in the life of Warwick's Vale.
16:48 The importance of customer service in a veterinary clinic.
26:01 Stopping to smell the roses.
31:27 Warwick's impact on mental health in the vet industry.
36:36 Prevent, promote, protect and workplace culture.
46:44 The responsibility as a vet: impacting others on an individual and industry level.
55:57 Walk the journey with others.
60:17 Choosing love over fear.
62:19 Is part-time vetting the new normal?
63:55 Warwick's favourite podcasts.
66:02 Warwick's one piece of advice for new grads.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
#100: Feline Upper Respiratory Disease: Fundamentals, Pro Tips and a Review of What's New. With Dr Kath Briscoe and Dr Megan Braunstein.
I don’t know about you, but one of my least favourite things to see on my consult list is a cat with a snotty nose. The idea that my patient’s problem can be anything from a self-limiting mild disease to a serious and frustrating impossible-to-treat condition, and the decision-making around this, fills me with uncertainty and dread. This episode aims to replace that uncertainty with confidence, or at least a solid plan based on sound knowledge!
Dr Kath Briscoe is a Specialist in Feline Medicine who has worked in academic and specialist referral centres and as a referral clinician in a GP setting, and her experience gives her a great insight into the frontline work that we deal with in a non-referral setting. Dr Megan Braunstein is a practice owner and practicing clinician with a Masters in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and many years of experience. Her practice in Perth, Western Australia, submitted the most feline respiratory PCR panels of any practice on Australia last year, and she helps us unpack what they’re learning about these tests.
Between them, they’ll refresh your foundational knowledge about infectious causes of feline upper respiratory disease and help with decision-making around diagnostics and treatment. We delve into what’s new in the world of diagnostics with a review of feline respiratory disease PCR panels, including learning what it’s great for, when to use it, and how to do it.
This episode is supported by our friends at the SVS Pathology Network, which our Australian listeners will know better as Vetnostics, QML Vetnostics, ASAP Laboratory and Vetpath Laboratory Services. The SVS Pathology Network provides a wide range of infectious disease PCR tests, including a comprehensive panel for feline respiratory pathogens. Their PCR panels are designed for detecting Australian pathogens, and they have recently introduced additional pathogens on several of their PCR panels. Our guests provide a detailed guide on how to take samples for PCR in this conversation, but your state-based SVS Pathology Network laboratory customer care team are always happy to answer any questions.
Topic list:
1. Feline upper respiratory diagnostics: who needs what? [00:00:00-00:05:00]
2. Discussion of different types of feline upper respiratory diseases [00:05:00-00:06:00]
3. Importance of husbandry and stress management in preventing feline upper respiratory diseases [00:16:00-00:31:00]
4. Hygiene practices for cat households and catteries [00:31:00-00:33:00]
5. Overview of infectious causes of feline upper respiratory diseases [00:02:00-00:08:00]
6. Discussion of feline herpesvirus and its symptoms [00:08:00-00:12:00]
7. Discussion of feline calicivirus and its symptoms [00:12:00-00:14:00]
8. Discussion of other infectious causes of feline upper respiratory diseases [00:14:00-00:16:00]
9. Vaccines for preventing feline upper respiratory diseases [00:16:00-00:18:00]
10. Overview of diagnostic tests for feline upper respiratory diseases [00:18:00-00:20:00]
11. Discussion of PCR panels and their usefulness in diagnosing feline upper respiratory diseases [00:20:00-00:22:00]
12. Discussion of treatment options for feline upper respiratory diseases [1, 00:24:00-00:28:00]
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
#99: Betterinary. With Dr Heidi Hulon.
Confession: sometimes I get tired of wellness discussions, with the constant barrage of advice on resilience and burnout prevention. Not because it's not important, but because it often feels like these conversations boil down to "here are ways how you should be better so that you can better cope with this challenging career." Which is why I loved this conversation with Dr Heidi Hulon, which isn't so much about adapting to challenging circumstances, but rather about revolutionising the whole veterinary experience.
Dr Heidi Hulon has been involved in multiple roles across the profession, from practising clinician, practice owner and industry roles, vet boards leadership roles and even a board member at the Louisville Zoo. She currently serves as a Wellbeing Consulting Veterinarian at Elanco Animal Health. We were introduced to Dr Heidi by our friends at Elanco Australia, who are hosting a series of live, in-person sessions with Dr Heidi called "The Betterinary Series", and in this episode we unpack some of the topics from this series with Heidi, like why culture is key to resilience and how you can use neuroplasticity to reduce negativity bias and experience the positives.
Register here to secure your free spot at the one of the Australian sessions of the Betterinary Series. September 4 in Sydney, 5th in Melbourne, Adelaide on the 6th, Perth on the 7th and Brisbane on the 8th of September.
Topic List:
09:30 Taking care of your wellness before it's obvious that you need to.
14:30 Rekindling your why.
22:17 The stumbling blocks to creating a thrive instead of survive environment.
31:00 The connection between culture and spotting more yellow cars.
35:44 Positivity and it's impact on neuroplasticity.
43:38 Practical ways to put neuroplasticity into practice.
52:27 Details about the Betterinary Series.
53:42 What is right with veterinary medicine?
54:56 What is one change Dr Heidi would make to veterinary medicine?
57:31 Dr Heidi's favourite books.
60:58 Dr Heidi's advice to new grads.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
Podcast: Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell.
Book: Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Book: West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge.
#98: Spirocerca Lupi: Unmasking The New Hidden Challenge for Australian Vets. With Professor Peter Irwin and Dr Gillian Tenni.
Vets of Australia, meet Spirocerca lupi, a parasite that's been flying under the radar for a while now in Northwest Queensland. But as you'll learn in this episode, is well worth adding to your DD list. To make the introductions we're joined by Professor Peter Irwin, an Emeritus Professor from Murdoch University with a career that spans several continents and almost four-decades. He's a registered specialist in canine medicine with a particular passion and extensive knowledge on anything and everything vector-borne disease.
Our second guest is Dr Gillian Tenni, a passionate GP vet and practice owner from Mount Isa, Australia. Dr Gillian holds an Honours in Parasitology and has a knack for spotting unusual infections in her patients, and with a track record of more than 300 diagnosed cases of Spirocerca lupi, she's our 'boots on the ground'. She's also teamed up with the University of Queensland for a research project on Spirocerca lupi.
Join us for the full Spirocerca story, from what it is (creepy), how it spreads (gross), what it does to our patients (scary!), what to look out for, diagnosis, some tips on treatment, and of course, prevention. Prof. Irwin's wisdom and Dr Tenni's hands-on stories provide us with some real insight on the fascinating parasite and the condition in causes.
This episode is supported by Elanco Australia. You can learn more about their range of products at elanco.com.au.
Topic list:
03:22 Spirocerca Lupi... yes, it's a thing in Australia.
06:52 How does Spirocerca Lupi spread?
09:41 What's the life cycle of the disease in a dog?
12:52 The clinical signs of a Spirocerca infected patient.
19:51 Dung beetles and where Spirocerca is most common in Australia.
22:14 More on the presentation of Spirocerca and the challenges of diagnosis.
34:20 Treatment.
38:10 Add-ons to the typical treatment plan.
41:08 Cross-reactivity in heartworm antigen tests of Spirocerca.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
Visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
#97: The Compassion Conundrum: Is Empathy to Blame for Our Emotional Burnout, and Adjusting Your Experience Through Neuroplasticity. With Dr Olga Klimecki.
Join us as we explore the concept of compassion fatigue from a fresh perspective. We take a closer look at the underlying mechanisms behind the terms commonly used when we talk about sustainable careers. While empathy and compassion are often used interchangeably, they are actually distinct concepts, and it's not just a matter of semantics - it’s a matter of neurology, which has practical implications for you, your career, and your happiness.
Dr Olga Klimecki is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and certified mindfulness and meditation teacher. She holds a PhD from the University of Zurich in Switzerland and is currently a lecturer and senior researcher at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Germany. Her research focuses on advancing sustainable development goals related to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, socio-emotional education, and overall well-being. With over 70 publications to her name, Dr Klimecki's work on neural plasticity and conflict resolution has earned her prestigious international awards, grants, and fellowships. Additionally, she runs her own consulting, training, and research company to implement evidence-based strategies in various organisations, start-ups, and companies.
During this conversation, we explore the nuances of empathy and compassion, highlighting their differences and learning why empathy can sometimes have negative consequences, and the term "compassion fatigue" might be a misnomer. We also learn how we can practically apply of this knowledge, explaining how you can rewire your brain to experience the hard things we sometimes need to do as positive experiences, rather than something painful and draining.
Topic list:
6:02 Empathy and compassion. Are they the same thing?
13:52 The connection between empathy and prosocial behaviour.
17:39 Can we really change the way we empathise with others?
20:59 fMRI results from training compassionate and empathetic responses.
27:17 If compassion is good, then where does the term compassion fatigue come from?
29:13 Why empathy first, compassion next?
30:36 It’s not the compassion causing your fatigue... you are just fatigued.
32:16 How do we train compassion? Olga’s tips to train your brain.
39:03 The hardest part of meditation training.
41:39 Put out the welcome mat and notice your judgements.
44:34 Between a stimulus and a response, there is always a space.
47:03 Reflex responses and training ourselves out of them.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com.
Visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Join us at Vets on Tour in Wanaka, New Zealand on 13 - 18 August 2023 for great CE, live podcasting and snow... lots of snow!
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Get up and running (or working!) with a 10% discount for Tarkine shoes, the official shoe of the Vet Vault. (discount automatically applied at checkout using this link).
Olga's Research Article - Empathy and Compassion
#96: The Day You Didn't Die. With Dr Doug Mader
Dr Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for nearly four decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written three best-selling medical textbooks, and numerous scientific publications. He has had long-standing columns in multiple media outlets, and he is the recipient of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Conservation Award, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the Fred L. Frye Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Medicine. He's a seven-time winner of the North American Veterinary Community Speaker of the Year award and a four-time winner of the Western Veterinary Conference Educator of the Year award. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom and is Human Animal Bond Certified. He co-founded and ran highly successful practice in California for many years, then did it again in the Florida Keys, and can now add author to his list of achievements with the release of his recent book The Vet At Noah's Ark. Step aside James Herriot - the man has a few stories and more than just a few bits of wisdom to share.
In this episode, we discuss both planned and unplanned career changes, trauma (the big T and the small-t kinds), working as an exotics vet, creating your own luck, and following your own star. Dr Doug discusses the human-animal animal bond, specifically how to effectively deal with the 'human' part of that relationship, lessons he learned from years of building the best practice in the worst neighbourhood, what it was like to treat Michael Jackson's pets, and much more.
Topic list:
04:37 Dr Doug's triple board certifications.
13:04 The day Dr Doug didn't die, and how this lead to a career in exotic animals.
21:55 From exotic residency to buying a smallies clinic.
29:55 The role of the human-animal bond and money's place in it.
35:38 Dealing with the human aspect of the human-animal bond.
42:20 Dr Doug's experience treating celebrity pets.
43:53 More of Dr Doug's story and his book - The Vet At Noah's Ark.
46:47 Big traumas vs small traumas - the preparation for the hurricanes in life (literally and metaphoric!)
52:45 Why Dr Doug doesn't celebrate his birthday anymore.
55:04 Getting back up after you've been knocked down.
56:22 Dr Doug's next chapter - more books to come!
60:17 What advice does 85-year-old Doug give current Doug?
62:37 Dr Doug's favourite podcasts.
63:54 Dr Doug's piece of advice to new grads - a lesson on balance.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Join us at Vets on Tour in Wanaka, New Zealand on 13 - 18 August 2023 for great CE, live podcasting and snow... lots of snow!
Come help us create some live clinical content at IVECSS '23 in Denver, Colorado from 7-11 September.
Dr Doug's website.
Dr Doug's book: The Vet At Noah's Ark.
Dr Doug's Instagram.
#95: The True Value Of Your Time: Side Hustles, Investing, Mindfulness and Empathy for Vets and Entrepreneurs. With Dr Mike Bugg.
Introducing Dr Mike Bugg. Mike graduated from veterinary school in 2008 and started his career as a mixed animal veterinarian. However, he soon realised the importance of having multiple sources of income and saw other veterinarians struggle with retirement. With a passion for personal finance and investing, Mike started investing in real estate in 2012 with the goal of making veterinary work optional. He and his wife continued to build their real estate portfolio while working, eventually allowing Mike to reduce his veterinary hours, and in 2018, Mike stopped working as a clinical vet altogether. During his final years of practice, Mike felt overwhelmed and unhappy, which led him to explore personal development and seek a more fulfilling life. He discovered that many other veterinarians were experiencing the same struggles, which inspired him to create his podcast, The Veterinary Project. Dr Mike had a vision of a community of veterinarians who would share their experiences and collaborate to overcome the difficulties in the profession.
On this episode of The Vet Vault, Dr Mike joins us to discuss the true value of time for veterinarians and we cover topics such as mindfulness, investing and empathy. Mike shares his personal journey in veterinary medicine and real estate investing, including how he developed The Veterinary Project to support the industry. We delve into the financial challenges facing the veterinary industry and Mike offers practical advice on how to change your money mindset to focus on abundance instead of scarcity. Tune in to gain some insightful and different perspectives on personal development, investing, money and more!
Topic list:
05:35 When and why should you change the "do it yourself" mentality?
13:29 Why Mike openly talks about the "dirty" word, money.
15:47 Mike's career journey - from farm to veterinarian to entrepreneur.
25:56 The all too common money mindset in the vet profession.
34:09 Why being aware of your money mindset and having positive money conversations is so important.
35:43 Valuing yourself, growing your skills and being confident in your abilities.
37:00 Your time: everything is a trade-off.
43:38 More than just a vet - Mike's story.
46:57 How Mike became a real estate investor.
51:41 Mike's take on investing.
56:50 Mike's book - You're Gonna Get Peed On!
64:04 The truth about being a vet.
67:55 The emotional relationship between work and money.
70:50 Mike's view on "empathy exhaustion" rather than compassion fatigue.
78:31 Dr Mike's deep dives on mindfulness and more.
82:54 How would Mike's career look different if he had to restart it knowing what he does now?
89:14 Mike's one piece of advice - get intentional about what you truly want from your life.
Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up to date easy-to-consume clinical episodes at vvn.supercast.com, visit thevetvault.com for the show notes and resources for this episode, and connect with us through our online Vet Vault Network. for episode highlights, discussions, questions and support.
Join us at Vets on Tour in Wanaka, New Zealand on 13 - 18 August 2023 for great CE, live podcasting and snow... lots of snow!
Dr Mike's Podcast - The Veterinary Project
Dr Mike's Book - You're Gonna Get Peed On!: How Veterinarians Can Keep Their Dream Job from Becoming a Nightmare While Working Less and Earning More
