Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

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 prescriptions for people—and the medical licensing board pushback that followed. Don’t miss this candid conversation about what this could mean for patients, providers, and a veterinary profession that may not be far behind.

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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. They also emphasize the importance and process of client communication for sudden, life-threatening problems.

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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.

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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 technology is bringing a new level of consistency and accuracy to in-clinic results.

Sponsored by IDEXX

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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. Beth react to a recent VIN News Service article on the trend, consider what the fine print can mean for career mobility, and reflect on the gap between feeling like an owner and actually being one.

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 therapeutic options—ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), spironolactone—are best put to use.

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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 flesh-eating parasite, which drugs are being used to protect pets, and how to counsel clients who are asking questions.

Brought to you by Zoetis

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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, and how she navigates anti-inflammatory options in her senior patients.

Sponsored by Elanco

Indication
Galliprant controls pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.

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For use in dogs...

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 anesthetic cases. You will want to keep your notebook close to take notes on everything from drug selection to dosing to even fluid dosing.

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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 environmental and behavioral modifications and when medication should get involved.

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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 Ingelheim

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Seizures are one of the most emotionally challenging presentations in small animal practice, often leaving veterinarians navigating both urgent medical decisions and distressed owners. In this episode, Dr. Simon Platt joins Dr. Beth to discuss how to approach first-time seizure cases, differentiate idiopathic epilepsy from cases requiring advanced diagnostics, and better support the client experience. Plus, discover where once-daily potassium bromide can fit into long-term seizure control and treatment adherence.

This podcast is RACE-approved for 0.5 hours of CE credit. Earn your CE credit here .

Sponsored by PRN Pharmacal

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Regenerative medicine is no longer just for specialty centers, but knowing when and how to bring these therapies into general practice can be a different challenge entirely. In this episode of the Clinician's Brief Partner Podcast, Dr. Rohit Malhotra joins Dr. Beth to break down what regenerative medicine actually comprises, which patients stand to benefit most, and what it really takes for a clinic to adopt these therapies successfully.

Sponsored by Hilltop Bio

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes back Kate Boatright, VMD, to talk about her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Developing Confidence in Surgical Skills.” Dr. Boatright discusses surgical confidence in general veterinary practice, exploring skill development, client communication, equipment access, and the importance of mentorship. She also shares her insights on maintaining surgical skills, navigating economic and emotional challenges, and fostering collaboration among veterinarians.

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Diabetic dogs and cats are among the most time-intensive patients to manage in small animal practice—and the owners of these patients often feel that weight, too. Dr. Jocelyn Mott joins this episode of the Clinician's Brief Partner Podcast to share her real-world approach to managing diabetic patients, from navigating that first overwhelming conversation at diagnosis to interpreting continuous glucose monitor data, adjusting insulin doses, and knowing when to refer to a specialist.

Sponsored by Adapet

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss a case out of Australia—where an owner helped drive development of an mRNA vaccine for their dog’s mast cell disease—that has sparked big questions in the exam room. In this episode, they unpack the implications for clinical practice, client expectations, and how veterinarians can navigate conversations around emerging, highly personalized therapies.

Brought to you by Zoetis

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Margret Lenfest, VMD, DACVSMR, CVA, to discuss a recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Canine Therapeutic Joint Injections.” Dr. Lenfest dives into the upside, downside, inside, and outside of injecting joints. She also details the most commonly used products for intra-articular therapy: triamcinolone, hyaluronic acid, and platelet-rich plasma.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they swap stories about one of the most relatable experiences in veterinary medicine: being the vet in everyone's contact list. In this episode, they reflect on the calls, texts, and photo-in-a-group-chat moments that every vet knows all too well, from the truly head-scratching questions to the ones that genuinely keep you up at night. They discuss why diagnosing a pet from a blurry photo or a secondhand description is harder than it sounds, what friends and family can do to actually help their vet get...

In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Jennifer L. Davis, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LA), DACVCP, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Pharmacokinetics 101 for Veterinarians.” Dr. Davis’ practical explanations will give you the right understanding about what happens to drugs once they’re given to patients—and what you should do about it. This is like your conceptual intro class about all the stuff you skip over in drug monographs: Cmax, AUC, volume of distribution, etc.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. In this episode, Dr. Alyssa, an ISU CVM graduate, and Dr. Beth examine Iowa House File 2209, explore whether residency quotas influence where veterinarians ultimately practice, and discuss alternative strategies to strengthen the rural veterinary workforce. Tune in for the full discussion.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Sarah Musulin, DVM, DACVECC, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “How to Perform Autotransfusion in Veterinary Medicine.” Dr. Musulin details how and when—or when not—to autotransfuse, including several expert tips and a few pitfalls to avoid.

This episode is brought to you by Zoetis.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and special guests Gigi Davidson, BSPharm, DICVP, FACVP, FSVHP, and Erica Wassack, PharmD, DICVP, FSVHP, as they discuss an exciting development in veterinary pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recently received a petition to formally recognize veterinary pharmacy as a specialty. Learn how pharmacy specialization works, why veterinary pharmacists are advocating for this recognition, and how this could strengthen collaboration and medication expertise in veterinary medicine. Veterinarians can also make their voices heard by participating in the public comment period, which is open until April 1, 2026.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes back Harry Cridge, MVB, MS, PG Cert Vet Ed, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA, FHEA, MRCVS, to discuss his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Chronic Pancreatitis in Dogs.” Dr. Cridge provides clarity on recognizing pancreatitis in its chronic state, contrasting it with acute disease. He then applies the same tenants of diagnosis and treatment, but tailored to this underrecognized subset of patients.

This episode is brought to you by Zoetis.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. In this episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth dive into the growing conversation around vaccine hesitancy in veterinary medicine, sharing what they’re seeing in the exam room, what the data tells us about why clients question vaccines, and how cultural shifts may be influencing pet owners today.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Jane E. Sykes, BVSc(Hons), PhD, MPH, MBA, FNAP, DACVIM (SAIM), to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Diagnosis & Management of Dogs With Lyme Borreliosis.” While still highly regional, Lyme is occurring in more places because the range of Ixodes ticks is expanding. Dr. Sykes explains what we should—and shouldn’t—do with a positive test including treatment, vaccination, and the severe circumstance of Lyme nephritis.

This episode is brought to you by Zoetis.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. As new federal student loan caps are set to take effect in 2026, the latest AVMA data show average veterinary student debt—and debt-to-income ratios—are rising once again. In this episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth explore what these financial trends could mean for long-term career sustainability, workforce access, and the future of the profession. Listen in as they take a closer look at the numbers.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Erin E. Runcan, DVM, DACT, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Prolapsed Penis in a French Bulldog.” Dr. Runcan uses a case of an intact male dog presenting with severe paraphimosis to highlight how damaging this problem can be. The good news? With prompt, straightforward treatment, most cases of paraphimosis can be resolved without much trouble.

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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 pets are treated as family members or legal dependents—rather than property—under the law? In this episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth unpack two recent lawsuits that on the surface have nothing to do with veterinary medicine, yet could have a huge impact on its future. From liability and insurance to Spectrum of Care and access to treatment, they explore the downstream effects every clinician should be paying attention to.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, is joined by Kate Boatright, VMD, to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 5 Tips for Managing Emergencies in General Practice.” These critical “surprises” can really throw a day off. Dr. Boatright shares her practical approach to handling emergency cases, even when you’ve got a smaller team and a fuller schedule.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. In this episode, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Beth discuss recent rabies cases, including a transplant-transmitted human fatality and Chicago’s first rabies-positive dog in decades. They explore what these events reveal about the veterinarian’s critical role in public health.

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Andrea C. Eriksson De Rezende, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), to discuss her recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Cat.” Dr. Eriksson De Rezende covers a variety of presentations, the full list of diagnostics including NT-proBNP, the virtues of sedation, and therapies ranging from the mainstays to that new sirolimus drug. Following this case-based exercise, they go well beyond the basics when it comes to HCM and thromboembolic disease in cats.

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Every osteoarthritis (OA) patient tends to have clinicians asking the same question: what should we add, adjust, or rethink to better control pain and inflammation? In this episode of the Clinician’s Brief Partner Podcast, host Dr. Beth is joined by pain management specialist Dr. Robin Downing to discuss her clinical approach to the OA patient, including how she evaluates inflammation, addresses chronic pain and sensitization, and integrates multiple therapeutic options into her management plan.

Sponsored by PRN

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. In this episode, they explore how veterinarians approach new medications and techniques—whether as early adopters eager to innovate or cautious clinicians who prefer to wait for more data. Drawing from personal experience and perspectives shared by colleagues online, they examine how risk tolerance, evidence, and patient care all influence clinical decision-making.

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Joint disease is one of the most common and debilitating problems veterinary patients face, often leaving practitioners searching for better strategies to improve mobility and quality of life. In this episode of the Clinician’s Brief Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth sits down with sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Matthew Brunke to discuss practical, multimodal strategies for improving mobility beyond medications alone.

Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, as she sits down with Dr. Caleb Frankel,  founder and CEO of Instinct, to talk about the launch of Instinct EMR for Primary Care. After years in the trenches of emergency medicine, where every second counts, Dr. Caleb Frankel grew determined to fix the software frustrations holding veterinary teams back. He reflects on insights gained from expanding into general practice, his take on responsible AI in the clinic, and his perspective on where veterinary software is headed in the next five years.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession, including why monoclonal antibody therapies are poised to become one of the most important drug classes in both human and veterinary medicine. In this episode, they explore the mAbs already available in practice, where the pipeline is heading, and why staying informed matters for busy clinicians who want to be prepared for the next wave of therapeutic innovation.

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Welcome to the Veterinary Breakroom! Join Alyssa Watson, DVM, and Beth Molleson, DVM, as they discuss pressing issues impacting the veterinary profession. A recent case involving a veterinarian intervening in a perceived neglect situation sparked a larger conversation about the moral and ethical dilemmas veterinarians face every day. Tune in for an exploration of the gray areas where compassion, professional duty, and the law intersect—asking tough questions about what it really means to “do the right thing” in veterinary medicine.

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NSAIDs have long been the cornerstone of pharmaceutical pain relief for dogs with OA. But with the arrival of an OA monoclonal antibody therapy, is it time to rethink our approach? In this episode of Clinician’s Brief Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth invites renowned orthopedic expert Dr. John Innes to discuss how he approaches OA management, drawing from >4 years of experience with bedinvetmab in the United Kingdom. They also dive into a head-to-head study comparing bedinvetmab with an NSAID and explore what the findings mean for today’s treatment strategies. 

Sponsored by Zoetis

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In this episode, host Alyssa Watson, DVM, welcomes Jake Wolf, DVM, DACVECC, to discuss his recent Clinician’s Brief article, “Top 7 Updates for Veterinary Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.” Dr. Wolf, one of the authors for the 2024 RECOVER guidelines update, reviews the important changes covered in the update, including compressions, capnography, epinephrine dosing. He also shares how we can all implement them in practice.

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When it comes to chronic kidney disease, early detection and whole-body support can make all the difference. In episode of the Partner Podcast, Dr. Beth talks with Dr. Nicole Sheehan about how nutrition, inflammation control, and cellular support tools like protomorphogens can fit into a multimodal plan for kidney patients. Tune in as they discuss how integrative medicine can transform the way we support renal health in our patients.

Sponsored by Standard Process

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