This episode is a collab with fellow podcaster, Marissa Martino of the Paws & Reward Podcast. I was grateful to chat with Marissa about the Fear Free movement, and the benefits and importance of assessing and scoring body language. We discuss why keeping data about our animals and the animal’s we work with emotional experience is important for their well-being and how we can do it accurately. I also share how keeping data helped me address and improve my mental health.  Marissa Martino...

In this episode, I chat with Stephen NiÑO Cital (RVT, SRA, RLAT, CVPP, VTS-LAM) and lead editor for Cannabis Therapy in Veterinary Medicine: A Complete Guide. Stephen is an expert in the field of veterinary cannabinoid usage and in this episode, we go over product differences, legal implications, as well as the basics of what you need to know about cannabis in Vet-Med. Spoiler alert: Anxiety is not currently included in first line applications of CBD use in animal care! Stephen NiÑO Cital...

On this week's episode, Tabitha talks to “The Trap King”, Sterling Davis, about, how randomly volunteering at a shelter to kill some time while he was on tour resulted into him leaving his rap career to follow his new passion of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and cats. We talk about what led him to starting his own non-profit, Trapking Humane Cat Solutions, some of the challenges he has faced including the lack of diversity in animal welfare, and how he uses his entertainment background to spread...

Humane Education is a field of study and teaching approach that connects human rights, animal protection, and environmental sustainability with the goal of preparing people to be compassionate, dedicated solutionaries, able to identify unjust, inhumane, and unsustainable systems and create solutions that enable people, animals, and nature to thrive. This week, Tabitha talks to passionate advocate for positive animal welfare, Emily Tronetti, about the importance of humane education and why it...

This week, Tabitha is joined by the Behavior and Training Manager at Friends For Life Animal Shelter, Melissa Taylor.  Melissa and I discuss the division between animal care and medical staff often seen in shelters, the importance of volunteers and community, and how our past experiences have helped us grow. She shares her wisdom of how her shelter has built relationships with the community, the benefits of volunteers, volunteer retention, and success stories of volunteer-based programs in...

**Trigger warning**: This episode may contain subject matter that some listeners might find distrurbing. There is brief discussion of suicide and spousal abuse. Listener disgression is advised. https://988lifeline.org/ This week, Mikkel Becker joins Tabitha. She begins by sharing one of the most interesting stories I have heard of what led her to leave her initial career and begin to work with animals. We get real and share experiences of how we can sometimes not advocate for ourselves like...

This week, Tabitha is joined by RVT, practice manager, and business leader, Theresa Cooper-Roberts. Theresa shares how she found and followed her passion for education and practice management. She shares her wisdom from years of working as a Surgical Training Center Manager at a respected school of veterinary medicine including how you can support and motivate your veterinary team and how to introduce new services into your practice. Theresa Cosper-Roberts Theresa Cosper-Roberts is a...

Behavior Nerds Unite! If you are interested in learning more about behavior and/or upping your behavior game, this is an episode you can’t miss! This week we welcome VTS’s in behavior Jessica Benoit and Kristen Klebba to discuss bringing behavior services into your vet practice.     We discuss benefits and examples of behavior services while sharing experiences starting and implementing them to general practice. All 3 of us share tips we've learned along the way while chatting about...

 Content Warning: This episode does include a discussion of mental illness, depression, and suicide. Disclaimer: Discussions about mental health are personal and unique. In this podcast, Meghan is not acting as a therapist or providing therapy in any capacity. This podcast covers broad discussions of topics related to mental health and is not intended to serve as therapy or a replacement for therapy. Views and experiences expressed by Meghan are her own and do not represent the field of...

A comprehensive behavior program, along with quality animal care standards, can increase adoptions and profoundly impact the well-being of the animals at your shelter and the humans caring for them.  This week we welcome Amanda Kowalski, the vice president of behavior programs for the San Diego Humane Society, to discuss addressing the mental health needs of animals in our care. We discuss the importance of these programs, tips to get started, challenges she has encountered, and more!  Amanda...

This week we talk with Crystal Vaquera about her career with the Viticus Group who offer some really wonderful Veterniary Symposiums. In addition we spend some time discussing her work with the newly non-profit Veterinary Giving Tree. Tune in to hear all about the work they do and how you can get involved in a charity that is near and dear to Tails from a Vet Tech. Crystal Vaquera currently paves the way for licensed veterinary technicians by developing cutting edge courses for...

Join us as we celebrate Vet Tech Week with two of our favorites, Liz Hughston and Tasha McNerney! Liz Hughston, MEd., RVT, CVT, LVT, LVMT, VTS (SAIM)(ECC) Liz practices as a relief veterinary technician, trainer, and consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since her graduation from Foothill College’s Veterinary Technology program in 2006, Liz went on to become certified as a VTS in both Small Animal Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care in 2012. She has authored articles and...

**Trigger warning**: This episode may contain subject matter that some listeners might find distrurbing. There is brief discussion of animal abuse, child abuse, and sexual violence while on the topic of veterniary forensics. Listener disgression is advised. This week, Tabitha talks to Dr. Michelle Gonzalez about her career path which led her to opening Rascal Charities, a non-profit created to help animals in need throughout the state of Ohio and her interest in veterinary forensics.  We...

On today’s episode, Tabitha talks to “The Cat LVT”, Ellen Carozza, about, you guessed it, cats! We chat about our love for cats, how they are often misunderstood, how you can advocate for the cats in your care, pediatric kitten care, and more! Ellen Carozza is a Licensed Veterinary Technician since 1996 who has worked exclusively with feline patients since 2002, Ellen (The CAT LVT)  currently resides at NOVA CAT CLINIC in Arlington, VA and is one of the founders of the Chris Griffey...

Happy Pain Awareness Month! On today’s episode, Tabitha talks to pain and rehab veterinary technician, Kirsty Oliver, about the importance of multimodal pain management, rehab, and what you can do in your practice or shelter to learn more, advocate for your patients, and be a multimodal animal pain warrior. Kirsty drops so much wisdom in this episode and announces an exciting new resource available to animal professionals to help our canine and feline friends with arthritis.   Kirsty Oliver...

We have all felt insecure at work; sometimes, these insecurities can hold us back. This week I talk to RVT Liz Waynick, about her experience with being insecure as a veterinary technician.  She shares how this insecurity resulted in her working at clinics where she was set up to fail and almost leaving the veterinary field altogether. She also shares her challenges in finding a veterinary practice that was a good fit for her, and more. Liz Waynick (RVT), grew up all over the Midwest but has...

This week, Tabitha is joined by RVT Robin Post, co-founder of Animal Fix Clinic. Animal Fix Clinic believes every animal and every family deserves the best veterinary care. They offer spay and neuter surgeries and other essential surgical care, all at sliding-scale pricing. They are also working to change the myth that low cost care means low quality care (ie not using pain medications, managing pain and anxiety, etc) and are one of the first low cost fear free certified practices!  Robin and...

We call it practicing veterinary medicine because we are always improving. The use of inhalant chambers has been around for a long time, and some believe that this technique is safer for the staff and the animal, however, we now know so much more about the physiological and psychological risks this technique poses to both animals and humans along with alternatives.   This week, Tabitha is joined by Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, VTS to discuss why we should ban the box.  We will discuss the risks...

Collaboration. It's a key part of being an ethical dog trainer, veterinary, shelter, or daycare worker. One of the best ways to uphold this standard is to seek help and advice from those who have more experience and education than us. This is where receiving criticism comes in. It can be difficult and this week, I will be discussing the importance of taking criticism and why it is a life skill with Yona Rapport.  “As a community growing each year, it’s important that we all uphold similar...

This week, I welcome Melody Martinez to discuss career paths for veterinary professionals. We talk about what being a veterinary technician has taught us and how we have used what we have learned to find and follow our passion to create opportunities and strengthen our field. We have unlimited opportunities as veterinary technicians. As Melody said “No one should feel the job that they have is the only thing that there is because it isn’t, our job trains us to do everything”  Melody Martínez...

This week we welcome Yvonne Brandenburg and Jordan Porter to discuss upping your Vet Tech game. Navigating through such a young field can sometimes feel like a lot, all three of us share tips and tricks to keep your tech game current. Tips in regards to advocating for yourself, how to ask for a raise, right on through resume and job interview suggestions. Sharing your knowledge is important to growing the field and that's how you can truly live your dream. Yvonne Brandenburg, RVT, VTS SAIM...

Many people experience the overwhelming feeling that they don’t deserve their success, they doubt their abilities, and may feel that overworking is the only way to meet expectations. It’s important for you to know that you are not alone in these feelings and to be kind to yourself.  In this episode, I talk to Dr. Breedlove about Imposter Syndrome (Imposter Phenomenon). We talk about what it is, who experiences it, symptoms, and how to overcome it. Meghan Breedlove Bio: Meghan Breedlove is a...

Content Warning: This episode does include a discussion of mental illness, depression, self harm, and suicide. Disclaimer: Discussions about mental health are personal and unique. In this podcast, Meghan is not acting as a therapist or providing therapy in any capacity. This podcast covers broad discussions of topics related to mental health and is not intended to serve as therapy or a replacement for therapy. Views and experiences expressed by Meghan are her own and do not represent the...

This week, Jessica Benoit joins Tabitha to discuss cooperative care.  Cooperative care involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. The animal either gives consent by performing a behavior or is easily distracted by food during a veterinary procedure.  Many animals feel fear, anxiety, and stress at their veterinary visits and with husbandry procedures. Cooperative care techniques provide...

This week, Mara Velez of Shelter Playgroup Alliance joins Tabitha to discuss enrichment for shelter dogs.  Enrichment is a need for all shelter animals. Animals have natural behaviors and needs, and they must have opportunities to express those behaviors. Enrichment provides needed mental and physical stimulation, improves quality of life, decreases stress, decreases unwanted behaviors, and length of stay. It helps to increase adoptions, provide choices, can manage, and prevent behavior...