Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Nina R. Kieves, DVM, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR, CCRT, to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Osteoarthritis Pain in a Cat.” Dr. Kieves reminds us that osteoarthritis is often a primary problem in cats, and it has to be managed long-term with a multimodal approach. She discusses practical ways to approach feline orthopedic examinations an...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In this episode of the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, sit down with Peggy Burris, DVM, to hear about her recent trip to Tanzania with Mission Rabies, a United Kingdom-based charity group with the goal of eliminating human rabies by the year 2030. Dr. Peggy's involvement, as well as that of 6 other volunteers, was made possible by Merck A...

Does anyone else begin to sweat when a pet owner starts pulling bottles out of their purse, ready to dive into a conversation about veterinary supplements? In this episode, sponsored podcast host Dr. Beth Molleson asks internist Dr. Faith Buckley all your burning questions about navigating the world of veterinary supplements. They discuss tips for client communication surrounding supplements, how...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Rebecca Reader, DVM, DACVAA, to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Uses for Gabapentin in Dogs & Cats.” Dr. Reader sorts through the evidence to help us differentiate between all the ways gabapentin can be used and all the ways it should be used, which are far fewer. She also shares useful dosing details. Finally, Dr. Read...

In this special episode, our Chief Scientific Officer Indu Mani, DVM, DSc, has an impactful conversation about our profession with Ruby Perry, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVR, dean of Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Perry experienced desegregation in the southern United States as a child, and those uncomfortable lessons served her as she entered and advanced in veterinary medicine—the...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. In this week’s episode, they discuss how different practices operate when it comes to doctor preference and doctor loyalty. Is it ideal for a patient to have a primary doctor? Do the patients themselves care? Tune in as Dr. Beth an...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes back Heidi Barnes Heller, DVM, DACVIM, to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Ways to Differentiate Syncope & Seizures.” Dr. Barnes offers an in-depth neurologic perspective on how to differentiate a fainting episode (syncope) from a proper seizure. She reviews relevant observations and examination findings. Dr. Barnes emphasiz...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. Noncompete provisions have long been considered part of the package when it comes to veterinary employment contracts. But recently the Federal Trade Commission has proposed banning nearly all of these types of clauses in the United...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, talks with Britt Thevelein, DVM, DACVECC, about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Therapy Protocols for Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome in a Dog.” Dr. Thevelein covers typical presentations, expected hematologic changes, and why calling it “HGE” is a thing of the past. She also emphasizes that fluid therapy is the most important aspect of treatmen...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. It’s natural to have a favorite (or not-so-favorite) dog breed. But how do those stereotypes affect interactions in the examination room? Join us in the breakroom as Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth discuss a recent study that suggested a d...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Julia Albright, DVM, MA, DACVB, to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Tips for Managing Nocturnal Anxiety in Geriatric Dogs.” Dr. Albright reminds us that older dogs can have multiple concurrent factors that can cause interruption to their sleep, but establishing good daytime activity and a predictable nighttime routine ca...

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: cats are not small dogs. In this episode, nutritionist Dr. Donna Raditic sits down with host Dr. Beth Molleson to discuss the unique nutritional needs of our feline friends. They also dig into how to support cats with unintended weight loss throughout the process of a diagnostic investigation, as well as how to keep the scales tipping in their favor wh...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. If it seems like suddenly the timing of spaying and neutering has become a hot topic, you’re not wrong. What used to follow mostly universal recommendations has recently come into the spotlight as we continue to learn more about th...

Every small animal veterinarian finds themselves managing patients with Cushing’s or Addison’s disease during their career. And let’s face it—it’s not always a smooth road. In this episode, host Dr. Beth Molleson sits down with endocrinologist Dr. Audrey Cook to discuss the most common management roadblocks that general practitioners face, including the tips that Dr. Cook wishes she could shout fr...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, talks with Michael H. Brown, DVM, MS, DACVO, about his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Ocular Consequences of Systemic Hypertension.” Ocular lesions are often the first clinical sign of hypertension. Dr. Brown shares what you should look for—and how to look for it—in these cases. He highlights some of the biggest differences between cats and dogs...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. In today’s episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth break down the stereotype we’ve all heard before: with how much a visit to the vet office can cost, vets must be in it for the money! They’ll speculate on where this perception comes from...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Heather Kvitko-White, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Chronic Enteropathy in Cats.” Dr. White explains why viewing the condition as chronic enteropathy is gaining favor. She discusses the most practical diagnostic options, the realistic value of biopsy when it comes to diagnosing underlying causes like...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. What happens when an ENFJ and an ISTP get together and host a podcast? Tune in and find out as Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth explore how Myers-Briggs personality types affect relationships in the veterinary workplace. Contact us: Podcast...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Armi Pigott, DVM, DACVECC, to talk about his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Drugs & Blood Products Used to Manage Bleeding Disorders.” Hemostasis can be complicated, but Dr. Pigott helps to break it down into its 3 phases, then uses those to organize diseases and treatments. He also discusses practical details about blood products and tran...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. The field of veterinary medicine is ever-evolving, and it seems like that progression has only accelerated since the pandemic. As 2022 draws to a close, Dr. Beth and Dr. Alyssa reflect on a few lessons they learned over the past ye...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, talks with Haley J. Leeper, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Preventive Care Tips for Dogs & Cats with Cancer.” Dr. Leeper highlights the significant role veterinary general practitioners play in managing pets with chronic illnesses, covering everything from vaccines to blood work to supplements. She also shares di...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. It’s easy to say “don’t get a pet if you can’t afford one.” But what does that really mean? What if you can afford to feed the stray cat, but can’t help when he breaks his leg? One thing’s for sure, it’s a topic that could be discu...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Carly Patterson, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Limb Swelling in an Intact Boerboel.” Dr. Patterson reviews her suspicions when initially taking on this case of highly localized symptoms only affecting the left hind leg and paw with a history of multiple failed treatments and walks us through where the...

Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! In the breakroom, Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, discuss the important, relevant topics affecting veterinarians today. When Dr. Alyssa’s beloved Dogue de Bordeaux, Luna, needed a digit amputation for a tumor, she had to decide if she was going to be Luna’s mom or Luna’s doctor. While a common practice in veterinary medicine, treating our personal p...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Stan Veytsman, DVM, to talk about his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Colonic Volvulus & Entrapment in a Labrador Retriever.” Dr. Veytsman explains the common presenting signs that this very uncommon problem shares with other acute abdominal conditions. He also reviews the difference between torsion and volvulus. Later, he discusses pneumoc...