The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

I’m never excited when I diagnose a cat with anaemia: vague signs, confusing diagnostics, and what feels like a not-so-great prognoses. But are they really that hopeless? In this episode, feline medicine specialist Dr Rachel Korman [https://www.catspecialists.com.au/rachel-korman/] joins us demystify the anaemic cat and offer a clear, practical diagnostic framework that will give you more confidence and better outcomes the next time you see a cat with a low PCV. Some highlights from this conversation: * A step-by-step approach to categorising anaemia. * Regenerative vs. non-regenerative: what it actually means in cats, and how to interpret the data. * Why IMHA in cats doesn’t look like IMHA in dogs — and how to recognise it. * Haemoplasma infections (like Mycoplasma):  When to treat, how to treat, PCR testing, and what the results really tell you. * Age-specific differentials: what to prioritise in young vs. older cats. * Supportive care: what works, what’s myth. * Prognosis pitfalls: why PCV alone doesn’t predict survival. This episode will help you approach feline anaemia with more clarity, structure, and - dare we say - optimism. 💡 Proudly supported by Vetnostics Pathology [https://vetnostics.com.au/]: Australia's largest network of veterinary pathologists and internal medicine consultants. Learn how Vetnostics can support your work-up of complex anaemia cases with comprehensive PCR panels and diagnostic expertise. 🎧 Want more clinical deep dives? Subscribe at vvn.supercast.com [https://vvn.supercast.com/] for 600+ episodes covering small animal medicine, surgery and ECC.  Upcoming conferences that I’m excited to attend: * Vets On Tour snow conferences (https://vetsontour.com [https://vetsontour.com]) in Wānaka, NZ (August ’250), and Nozawa Onsen, Japan (Feb ’26) * ANZCVS Science Week, 24-25 July 2025. https://vetscienceweek.com.au [https://vetscienceweek.com.au/] * ⁠IVECCS 2025⁠ [https://iveccs.org/], San Diego, September 4-8 Get help with your tricky cases in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://the-vet-vault.mn.co/spaces/11631272/discovery] V⁠⁠isit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠ [https://thevetvault.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for show notes and resources related to this episode. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://thevetvault.substack.com/?r=2v2kg5&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Episode Topics and Timestamps05:14 – Categorising anaemia06:00 – Regenerative vs. non-regenerative07:42 – Haemolytic anaemias in cats17:17 – Clinical signs and first tests18:43 – PCV/TP interpretation27:48 – Common causes by age31:38 – Mycoplasma diagnosis and treatment35:04 – Recognising haemolysis39:38 – PCR and anaemia panels48:53 – Bone marrow biopsy tips54:52 – Supportive treatments

🎙️ Introducing the Veterinary Business Accelerator [https://swiy.co/VVThrivelink], our new podcast for veterinary practice owners who want more than just survival - they want to own the practice they dreamed of when they first decided to start a practice - a place that gives them joy and freedom, and where other vets like to work.  In this brand-new series, vet business coach, author, and former Vet Vault guest Dr. Sam Bowden shares the mindset, strategies, and systems he’s used to help hundreds of practice owners transform their clinics into what he calls “abundant practices” - workplaces that are profitable, sustainable, and deeply rewarding. In Episode 1: Why Even Start a Vet Practice?, we ask the question: Wouldn’t it be easier to just get a job?  When you’re in the thick of it all, it feels that way, doesn’t it? Especially when you’re knee-deep in payroll, staff issues, client complaints, and wondering if you’ll ever take a proper holiday again. In this kickoff episode we start with the question every practice owner should revisit regularly: Why are you in business? Dr Sam Bowden breaks down why most owners start with good intentions: better medicine, a better team, better money - but end up overworked, underpaid, and out of joy. And why the fix begins with something deceptively simple: clarity on that why. Sam outlines his framework for what he calls an “abundant practice” - the five pillars that any vet business needs to get right if it’s going to support the life you want. And yes, that includes permission to take a holiday. What You’ll Learn: * The real reasons vets start practices (hint: it’s not just the money) * Why good intentions often lead to overwhelm * The 5 pillars of Sam’s Abundant Practice Model: time, team, clients, finances, fulfillment * How a low financial drive hurts the profession—and your personal life * Common mindset traps (and how to replace guilt with growth) * The power of shifting from “either/or” to “yes/and” thinking * Why clarity is the foundation for fun, freedom, and financial success If this episode was made just for you, and you’d like to hear more, you can find our other episodes here [https://swiy.co/VVThrivelink].

What’s your least favourite part of being a vet? Is it talking about money? In this episode, we take on one of the most emotionally charged parts of veterinary life: discussing high-cost treatments with clients. Our guest is Dr. Bing Zhu [https://sashvets.com/our-team/dr-bing-yun-zhu/], a Small Animal Medicine Specialist from SASH, who’s had these conversations more times than she can count, and she shares her hard-earned wisdom on how to approach these conversations with empathy, clarity, and confidence. Here’s what we unpack: * The emotional and ethical weight vets carry when finances and medicine collide * Dr. Zhu’s step-by-step approach to setting expectations and guiding tough decisions * Why separating your ego from the medical outcome can save your sanity * The cultural mindset shift the profession needs around money conversations * How to anchor your boundaries in your core values Dr. Zhu shares transformative personal stories, communication strategies, and mindset shifts that will help you communicate more clearly, protect your mental health, and better serve your clients and their pets. Whether you’re still at uni, starting out, or have been in practice for decades, this episode will change the way you handle financial conversations—forever. Ready to rethink “the money talk”? Hit play now. Upcoming conferences that I’m excited to attend: * Vets On Tour snow conferences in Wānaka, NZ (August ’250), and Nozawa Onsen, Japan (Feb ’26) * ANZCVS Science Week, 24-25 July 2025 * IVECCS 2025 [https://iveccs.org], San Diego, September 4-8 Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠ [https://vvn.supercast.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get help with your tricky cases in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://the-vet-vault.mn.co/spaces/11631272/discovery] V⁠⁠isit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠ [https://thevetvault.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for show notes and resources related to this episode. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://thevetvault.substack.com/?r=2v2kg5&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Episode Topics and Timestamps 01:45 Presenting the Large Estimate: How Does it Make You Feel? 06:04 The Turning Point: It's Not Your Fault 10:46 Practical Advice For Handling High Cost Estimates 31:04 Stop Avoiding Referral Because You Think You're Saving Your Client Money 36:25 Why Competence Makes Talking Money Easier 38:16 The Cultural Shift Vets Should Make 44:55 Setting Boundaries and Work-Life Balance 55:39 Dr Bing's Podcast Recommendations 56:19 The Pass Along Question

Telemedicine. What’s your gut reaction when you hear that term?Maybe you think it was just a clever COVID workaround, or second-rate substitute for a “real” vet visit. Or maybe you’re a bit curious about what it’s like to work in telemedicine— but you’re worried it’ll be boring. Or worse: that you’ll spend your days diagnosing lizards over Zoom. Whatever you think— chances are, you’re wrong.  But don’t worry. This episode will change that. We go deep on the real-world pros and cons of telemedicine, from two key angles:  For curious vets: * What’s it really like to work in telemedicine? * Is it fulfilling? * How will I cope with all the tricky questions (and species?!) * Is the pay good? * Can you get into trouble for giving remote advice? For clinic owners: * How do you integrate telemedicine into your practice? * What are the practical hurdles? * What’s worked (and what hasn’t) from someone who’s built a global platform from scratch?   Our guest is Dr. Shadi Ireifej [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadi-ireifej-2a43561b4], a board-certified surgeon, tech entrepreneur, and co-founder of VetTriage, [https://vettriage.com] a global teletriage platform. This one made me rethink what “good vet work” really means. I think it’ll do the same for you. Join us on the slopes of New Zealand for our winter CPD adventure with Vets On Tour Wānaka 25 [https://www.eventcreate.com/e/vetsontour].   Lift your clinical game with our RACE approved clinical podcasts at ⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠ [https://vvn.supercast.com/]  for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, or check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠ [http://cutabove.supercast.com/].  Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠ [https://the-vet-vault.mn.co/share/pWYTrfLxiUnCVDHu?utm_source=manual%E2%81%A0].⁠ Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://thevetvault.substack.com/?r=2v2kg5&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Topics and Time Stamps 01:43 So you think you want to work in telemedicine? 04:20 Common concerns about telehealth work 06:11 Will I get sued for giving the wrong advice? 10:37  Vets on Tour: Upcoming Events 15:55  Income and Work Hours in Telemedicine 18:35 Will I have to give advice for all sorts of weird animals?21:29 Unexpected Joys of Telehealth 23:44  Future of Telehealth and Technology 29:21  Challenges and Lessons in Telehealth for Practice Owners 36:33 What about the technology? We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via our contact form at ⁠thevetvault.com⁠ [http://thevetvault.com/], or catch up with us on ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thevetvault/]. And if you like what you hear, please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.

In this solo episode Hugh tackles a bold idea: if you're not currently using AI in your clinical veterinary work, you may be falling behind. And if/when artificial intelligence gets to the point where it reliably has access to all the most up to date information for managing your patients, will you be negligent if you DON’T use it?  Hubert shares how artificial intelligence is quietly but powerfully reshaping veterinary practice. He paints a vivid picture of an AI-powered clinic, shows you practical tools you can start using immediately, and challenges you to rethink the future of your role as a vet. What you'll discover: * A demo showing how to use ChatGPT for clinical reasoning, how to build your own custom AI assistants, and how to set up a personal knowledge library with free tools like Google's NotebookLM. * How to spot and handle AI hallucinations — and why your human skills like empathy and ethical judgment are still your unique superpowers. * The business opportunities of AI for your practice, and why clinics that embrace AI may thrive while others struggle. * How AI could reshape veterinary education and open doors to a more sustainable, fulfilling career. Hubert doesn’t just speculate — he shows you how AI can work in clinics today, and how you can lead instead of lagging behind. Tune in if you're ready to future-proof your practice, sharpen your skills, and unlock a better way to be a vet. Try out our AI Blood Gas Assistant [https://www.thevetvault.com/p/blood-gas-ai/] Join us at Vets on Tour Wānaka [https://www.eventcreate.com/e/vetsontour], NZ, for the most fun CE event you’ll attend this year.  Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠ [https://vvn.supercast.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get help with your tricky cases in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://the-vet-vault.mn.co/spaces/11631272/discovery] V⁠⁠isit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠ [https://thevetvault.com/]⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for show notes and resources related to this episode. ⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://thevetvault.substack.com/?r=2v2kg5&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week. Topics and time stamps 03:08 What could the future of clinical practice look like with AI? 12:48 Can I trust it? What does the data say? 18:22 Where does Ai get its information from? 25:20 How I use it: Using 'general' models for clinical decision making 33:29 Building your own Ai tools 34:06 Google Notebook LM 40:58 MyGPT - your own assistant 54:49 What might the role of the future veterinarian look like?