Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

Cats aren't just small dogs, especially when it comes to anesthesia—and treating them as such can mean missing red flags that put patients at real risk. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, veterinary anesthesiologist Dr. Khursheed Mama joins Dr. Beth to highlight key feline-specific anesthesia considerations, from preoperative screening for occult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to species-specifi...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, sits down with fellow general practitioner and Instinct team member Katie Moynihan, DVM, to walk through 4 recent studies on repurposed drugs: oclacitinib in cats, oral bezafibrate for canine hypertriglyceridemia, fosmidomycin for bacterial otitis externa in dogs, and intranasal levetiracetam for emergency seizure management in dogs. Together they dig into...

Veterinarians do not have a crystal ball, but they do have access to the next best thing: wellness diagnostics. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth sits down with Dr. Christopher Lea to discuss the often-overlooked value of diagnostic screening during annual preventive care visits—even in younger patients. They explore why routine testing matters and share practical tips to help the e...

Helping patients maintain lifelong mobility starts before they become painful. In this Partner Podcast episode, sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Meghan Ramos shares her approach to supporting joint health in young dogs, including how to identify at-risk patients and when and how to incorporate joint supplements into a long-term management plan. Sponsored by Dechra Contact us: Podc...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Rachel Halpin, DVM, DACVECC, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Radiotherapy & Lorazepam for Recurrent Urethral Obstruction.” Dr. Halpin reviews the recent evidence for these novel therapies. She explains the proposed mechanism and application of low-dose radiation therapy, as well as utilizing a benzodiazepine that can be dosed...

Forty years ago, trying to make a diagnosis in veterinary medicine could mean a trip to the darkroom and playing a guessing game; today, it can mean diagnostics that flag disease before clinical signs even appear. In this milestone Partner Podcast episode marking VCA's 40th anniversary, Dr. Beth sits down with VCA’s chief medical officer Dr. Julia Georgesen to chronicle the most groundbreaking adv...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. What happens when an animal is caught in a car crash, disaster, or other emergency? In this episode, they explore a new effort to put trained veterinarians alongside first responders and whether this is a role the profession is ready to embrace....

Sometimes hyperthyroidism is straightforward, and other times… management takes the long and winding road. In this Partner Podcast episode, Dr. Audrey Cook joins Dr. Beth to discuss the unmasking of chronic kidney disease following treatment of feline hyperthyroidism and review strategies for the monitoring and long-term management of cats with both conditions. Tune in for a practical framework fo...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Amelia G. White, DVM, MS, DACVD to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Lick Granulomas.” Dr. White uses a case-based approach to explain how identifying and controlling the underlying trigger, rather than just managing the lesion itself, is central to lasting resolution. Topics include culture and biopsy methodology, antimicrobia...

A newly ausculted heart murmur is a common encounter in general practice, but navigating what comes next isn’t always straightforward. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Lance Visser, board-certified veterinary cardiologist, breaks down the essentials of myxomatous mitral valve disease, including staging and diagnostic criteria, the landmark EPIC trial data, and what the recent approval o...

What does the world look like from a cat’s perspective? Listen in to this episode of the Partner Podcast as veterinary behaviorist Christopher Pachel joins to share his practical insights into feline environmental stress, the 5 pillars of a healthy environment, and what general practitioners can do to help cats thrive at home. Sponsored Fan of felines? What about prizes? Compete against other clin...

The headlines have moved on from H5N1, but the virus hasn't, and small animal veterinarians have good reason to stay informed. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Scott Weese, one of veterinary medicine's most trusted voices in infectious disease, covers the current clinical realities of H5N1, including which patients should raise your index of suspicion, what personal protective equipment...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In this episode, Alyssa Watson, DVM, sits down with special guest Ashley Smith-Miller, DVM, to share the how and why behind her decision to make her Pennsylvania clinic the first veterinary practice in the United States to earn the certified autism center designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Tune...

How many of your vomiting cat cases warrant a full diagnostic investigation? In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth sits down with Adam Rudinsky, board-certified veterinary internist, to discuss a practical approach to the vomiting cat, including when symptomatic management is appropriate, how to prioritize diagnostics when budgets are limited, and how to navigate referral conversations...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. Would you want an AI agent renewing your personal prescription? How about your patient's? In this episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth react to a recent JAMA article on Utah's first-of-its-kind pilot program allowing an autonomous AI agent to renew...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Claire Tucker, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVECC, and Kelly Hall, DVM, MS, DACVECC, to discuss their recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Projectile Injury in Dogs.”  Like with all trauma cases, Dr. Tucker and Dr. Hall lay out the systematic approach that is ideal for these injured pets and share some particulars for recognizing and handling projectile wounds....

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes back Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Maximizing Air Flow Through Stenotic Nares via Ala Vestibuloplasty.” While many find the nasal anatomy confusing and this surgical procedure intimidating, Dr. Tobias guides us through this highly practical approach, demystifying the surgery along the way. Resou...

Ear cytology gives us information that a visual examination—or even sniff test—simply cannot, yet we too often forgo this essential diagnostic step. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth talks with Liz Layne, DVM, DACVD, and Christi Belew, DVM, about the role of cytology in otitis externa management. They share practical tips for interpreting samples and explore how emerging analyzer te...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. Corporate consolidators are offering associates equity in veterinary practices at an increasing rate, and the pitch can sound pretty compelling. But, is a minority stake actually the partnership it's made out to be? Tune in as Dr. Alyssa and Dr....

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Linda E. Luther, DVM, MVSc, DACVIM (SAIM), to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Manipulation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.” Dr. Luther delves into proteinuria, hypertension, heart disease, and the often overlooked hyperaldosteronism as conditions that feature chronic RAAS activation. She explains how each of our the...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. New World Screwworm is back in the headlines, and it may be closer to home than you realize. In this episode, we sit down with special guest Dr. Jim Budde, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Instinct, to break down what clinicians need to know about this...

As our understanding of canine osteoarthritis deepens and treatment options continue to expand, there's never been a better opportunity to refine how we approach this disease in practice. In this episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth invites Dr. Monica Tarantino to explore what's actually happening in the arthritic joint, why inflammation deserves its own place in the treatment conversation, an...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Thomas K. Day, DVM, MS, DACVAA (Emeritus), DACVECC (Emeritus), CVA, Cert. IVUSS, to discuss his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Anesthesia for Dental Surgery in a Dog With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease.”  With his broad background in anesthesia and critical care, Dr. Day shares a wealth of useful information for handling these challenging ane...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes back Ellen M. Lindell, VMD, DACVB, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Beyond Fluoxetine: A Multimodal Approach to Anxiety, Aggression, & Fear in Cats.” Dr. Lindell uses real-life cases to explore why things like house soiling and anxious behaviors occur in our cats. She shares advice on how to ask the right questions to plan environ...

For a virus this well-known, FeLV still generates a surprising number of questions in daily practice. In this episode of the Clinician’s Brief Partner Podcast, Dr. Richard Ford joins host Dr. Beth to cut through the noise on FeLV and addresses diagnostic missteps, vaccination gaps, and prevention conversations that can still trip up even the most experienced clinicians.  Sponsored by Boehringer In...