NVA Pet Peeves

Exposure Culture

In this episode we explore the critical role diagnostic imaging standards play in protecting both veterinary teams and patients. NVA GP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sandra Faeh discusses why consistency in imaging protocols, positioning, PPE use, and radiation safety is foundational to quality medicine and better patient outcomes. Then, Dr. Doug Wojcik, Managing Doctor of Liverpool Village Animal Hospital in New York, joins the conversation to unpack the realities of hands free radiology, the barriers preventing wider adoption, and the culture shifts needed to improve safety in practice. Together, they discuss how small workflow changes, training, and intentional systems can provide teams what Dr. Wojcik calls “the gift of assurance” by reducing unnecessary radiation exposure and building safer hospitals for the future.

Data Without Direction

In this episode we dig into a familiar challenge in veterinary medicine: when diagnostics give us information, but not always clarity. NVA GP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sandra Faeh shares insight into the critical role diagnostics play in patient care and the importance of setting expectations early, especially when results don’t provide immediate answers. Then, Dr. Elizabeth Hetler of IDEXX and Dr. Sarah Longfield explore where communication often breaks down, from unclear timelines to overwhelming clients with technical details. Together, they share practical strategies to simplify complex information, tell a clear clinical story, and consistently guide pet parents toward next steps. From reframing normal results as meaningful progress to turning lab conversations into trust-building moments, this episode focuses on moving beyond reporting data to delivering direction that clients can understand and act on.

Silent Suffering

In this episode, we take on one of the most urgent responsibilities in veterinary medicine: recognizing and relieving pain that patients cannot voice. NVA GP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sandra Faeh reflects on how pain management has evolved from outdated restraint-based thinking to today’s team-centered, patient-first approach grounded in compassion and science.  Jerrod Johnson, DVM, DABVP, Managing Doctor of Animal House Veterinary Clinic in Tennessee, shares hard-earned lessons from his surgical and mentorship journey, offering a practical lens on chronic versus acute pain, where general practice commonly undertreats how subtle behavioral changes often reveal what pets cannot say. He also discusses the power of shifting client conversations from “lameness” to “pain” to build understanding and trust.  Lindsay Heath, DVM, MS, Managing Doctor of Brentwood Family Pet Care in California and Field Medical Partner, brings a proactive perspective on multimodal pain management, outlining how strong hospital culture, consistent pain scoring, staff empowerment, and client education help prevent suffering before it escalates. Together, the conversation highlights the cultural, clinical, and communication shifts required to ensure comfort is never optional. Because when suffering is silent, leadership, teamwork, and vigilance must speak louder.

Stopping at the Gumline

In this episode of NVA Pet Peeves, “Stopping at the Gumline,” Ken sits down with NVA GP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sandra Faeh and Managing Veterinarian Dr. Emily Yan to examine what happens when dentistry focuses only on what we can see. With most periodontal disease hiding below the gumline, skipping radiographs and consistent standards can mean missed pain, retained roots, and even undetected cancer. The conversation explores common client objections, the risks of inconsistency, and why training and technician utilization are key to making dentistry a reliable standard—not an exception. Because when we stop at the gumline, pets pay the price.

Standards without Consistency

In the Season 3 premiere of NVA Pet Peeves, host Ken Flamer tackles a familiar frustration in veterinary medicine: standards without consistency. Joined by NVA GP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sandra Faeh, the conversation opens with why standards of care matter not only for patients and clients, but for team trust, alignment, and confidence. Two experienced managing doctors, Dr. Jenni Mitchell and Dr. Jamie Sulliban, then share practical insights from the field on what causes standards to break down and how leaders can bring them to life. Together, they explore common rollout mistakes, the importance of staff involvement, and how to embed standards into daily workflow without undermining clinical judgment. This episode reframes standards as living tools that strengthen culture, reduce decision fatigue, and elevate care when they are clearly communicated, consistently revisited, and meaningfully applied.