The Cone of Shame Veterinary Podcast

Hypogylcemia trips veterinarians up in a number of ways. It has a variety of causes and some can be more challenging to pinpoint than others. In this episode, Veterinary Medical Internist Dr. Andrew Woolcock joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the case of a young hypoglycemic yorkie, before expanding the conversation to discuss hypoglycemia in general. This discussion covers causes of hypoglycemia, ap...

Dr. Mary Gardner is on the podcast to discuss the ethics of behavioral and economic euthanasia. We talk about what makes some euthanasia cases more ethically difficult than others, and the 4 types of euthanasia generally seen in practice: 1) Imminent Euthanasia 2) Non-Imminent Euthanasia 3) Non-Medical Euthanasia 4) Convenience Euthanasia Dr. Gardner walks us through a series of challenging decisi...

Veterinary cardiologist Dr. Mac is back on the podcast! We are talking about an 8 year-old Maine Coon Cat named Jerry who came in for limping... and who happens to have a very large heart on radiographs. How concerned should we be? How much deeper should we investigate? What do we tell the owners? This and more coming up in this episode of the Cone of Shame! LINKS: Purdue University College of Vet...

Dr. Andi Flory, an accomplished veterinary medical oncologist, joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss the OncoK9 multi-cancer early detection test, a “liquid biopsy” capable of detecting 30 different types of canine cancer. She explains why this test is so different from traditional aspirate and biopsy approaches, what scenarios it might be used in, and how its utilization may increase longevity and qual...

Dr. Natalie Marks joins the podcast to discuss how invoice bundling (the bundling together of diagnostics, specifically) can help inexperienced doctors develop, leverage technicians more effectively, increase profitability, make cases simpler for practitioners, and speed up our treatment of sick pets. She and Dr. Andy Roark also discuss advice for getting veterinarians on board with diagnostic bun...

Veterinary Internist Dr. Andrew Woolcock joins the podcast to discuss a 6 year-old Cocker Spaniel with an acute onset of lethargy, inappetance and depression. She also had a single collapsing episode that might or might not have been a seizure. Could this actually be IMHA? Dr. Woolcock talks through his diagnostic workup of choice and a variety of treatment options. LINKS ACVIM consensus statement...

Dr. Doug Mader joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about his new book, The Vet at Noah's Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital. They discuss Dr. Mader's career in inner-city LA during and immediately after the Rodney King trial in the early 1990s, Dr. Mader's evolution as both writer and veterinarian, and Dr. Mader's view of where veterinary medicine is going in the future. From the...

Dr. Peter Weinstein and his daughter Brooke Weinstein, a current veterinary student at Oregon State's College of Veterinary Medicine, join Dr. Andy Roark to talk about how veterinary medicine has changed over the last 20-30 years, and how it's going to change in the future. Our guests talk about how the education of veterinarians today differs from the past, and what these changes will mean for ho...

What's it like to have your clinic torn apart online? When thousands of phone calls roll in telling you that you're awful, what impact does that have on the staff and how do you handle it? Do you respond? What if that just makes things worse? This week, Dr. Andy Roark is joined by Dr. Meghan Vaught and Sarah Mills from the Maine Veterinary Medical Center. Last month, their clinic found itself on n...

Dr. Doug Mader joins the podcast to discuss treatment of a wounded tortoise that won't come out of his shell. This 10 year-old Sulcata was attacked by a dog and needs care, but has pulled back tightly into his shell making treatment difficult. In this episode, we discuss tortoise sedation and analgesia, antibiotic therapy and feeding tube placement. LINKS: Dr. Mader's New Book: https://www.amazon....

Have you started home delivery of therapeutic diets yet? In this episode, Dr. Matt Duemler tells the story of how and why Burnt Hills Veterinary Hospital took up home delivery. He talks about how he discussed it with the staff to get them on-board, and what his experience has been like so far. ** This episode is made possible ad-free by Purina Pro Plan Vet Direct LINKS Purina ProPlan VetDirect: ht...

Dr. Bob Lester believes owning pets shouldn't be a luxury that few people can afford. The veterinary profession needs to think creatively about how to keep medicine accessible to pet owners across socioeconomic groups. In this episode, Dr. Lester joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss his recent article which outlines 15 new business models our profession might approach to help pets get the care they nee...

Dr. Adam Little joins us to discuss what veterinary practices need to start doing and stop doing to adapt to a changing world. He and Dr. Andy Roark discuss everything from remote work to the challenges of recruiting and hiring in a super-tight labor market. If you like big ideas and inspiration for a bright future, this is the episode for you! LINKS: GoFetch: https://www.gofetch.ca ABOUT OUR GUES...

Dr. Tina Wismer, Senior Director of ASPCA Pet Poison Control Center joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about a scary case. Vomiting, fever, muscle tremors, and a stiff gait.... what could be the cause?? Chlorfenapyr is a chemical used in some pest control sprays, and it can be a fatal toxin for pets. Dr. Wismer discusses the risks and how to treat these cases if/when we see them. LINKS: ASPCA Animal Poi...

Dr. Lance Roasa is on the podcast to discuss the soaring salaries of new veterinary graduates, the legend of the $100k signing bonus, and all the strings that can be attached. Lance and Dr. Andy Roark discuss how corporate consolidation and private equity money are pushing these trends and where it might all be going. LINKS: The Uncharted Veterinary Podcast https://unchartedvet.com/uncharted-veter...

Dr. Mary Gardner's new book, It's Never Long Enough: A practical guide to caring for your geriatric dog, is a wonderful collection of stories, lessons learned, and practical approaches from a career serving pets at the ends of their lives. Dr. Gardner discusses the writing of the book, her next book on cats, the chapters she's most proud of, and some of the stories that she shares in her texts. Wh...

A new survey from Synchrony (Parent Company of CareCredit & Pets Best Pet Insurance) indicates that the lifetime cost of care ranges from $20K-$55K for dogs and $15K-$45K for cats! Also, most pet owners have no idea that this is the case. 4 our of 5 pet owners will face unexpected veterinary bills. What does this mean for veterinary professionals, who often bear the brunt of pet owner anger wh...

Dental procedures are expensive, and pain control is non-negotiable. How do we do right by our patients while working within the budgets of pet owners? The original anesthesia nerd Tasha McNerney is on the podcast today with FANTASTIC advice on how to do exceptional pain control without breaking the client bank! Let's get into this episode! LINKS: International Veterinary Academy of Pain Managemen...

Dr. Anna McManamey joins the podcast to discuss heart murmurs in cats. Alabaster is a 4 year old MN domestic shorthair who is in for his first dental cleaning. On physical examination, Alabaster has a grade 2-3/6 systolic murmur. Dr. Mac breaks down what her concerns are, the risk factors and next steps to take. Let's get into it! ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. McManamey (aka Dr. Mac) is a veterinary cardio...

Dr. Sheila Robertson is board certified in anesthesia and in animal welfare in the USA and Europe and serves as the senior medical director at Lap of Love Pet Hospice. Today, she joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss a recent research publication on which she is an author: the 2022 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Management of Acute Pain in Cats. This is a great episode for anyone interested in getting...

Charlie, the 2 year-old labrador has crept from 76 lbs to 84 lbs over the last 6 months. We need to do something about this, and Charlie’s owners don’t seem super motivated to intervene. They’re good people, and they will listen if we can just communicate the right message in the right way. Dr. Shelly Adrian, US Ambassador for the Purina Institute, joins Dr. Andy Roark to discuss this oh-so-common...

What does it feel like to sell the veterinary practice that you love and poured your heart into for so many years? What decisions and considerations get made along the way? Dr. Saye Clement joins Dr. Andy Roark on this episode to tell her story of selling the practice she called home for 18 years. LINKS: Retain Your Team - Speak the Languages of Appreciation in Your Workplace: https://unchartedvet...

A 6 month-old bearded dragon presents for shaking and not eating. Dr. Doug Mader walks us through the best way to approach this case and discusses why Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a term we should think twice about using. LINKS: Dr. Mader's Website: https://www.dougmader.com/ Follow Dr. Mader on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170060086888423/user/1416949546 Retain Your Team - Speak t...

Tasha McNerney CTV VTS CVPP joins us to discuss the case of Hercules Mulligan. a 4 yo MN Domestic Shorthair who cannot urinate. That's right... This poor guy has a urethral obstruction and will need anesthesia and pain control STAT! What are the top tips and tricks for handling these cases? What mistakes do doctors and technicians want to make sure to avoid? Let's find out! LINKS: Sacrococcygeal B...

Dr. Jason Gagné, a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist and Purina’s Director of Veterinary Technical Communications, is on to help Dr. Andy Roark sort out a tough case. Budrow is a 3 year-old mix breed dog with waxing-and-waning bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, and year-round allergies. His owners have tried all sorts of drugs and diets on this poor dog, and now we’re right back where we starte...