Vet Candy – Veterinary Lifestyle, News & Learning

Fangs out, laughs in! Caitlin and Clay Palmer sink their teeth into vampire legends in this hilariously spooky episode. From ancient myths to modern-day twists (and maybe a few pet-related surprises), this vet-world-savvy duo serves up scares, laughs, and just enough bite to keep you hooked. Tune in… before the sun comes up.  Part of Vet Candy's 2025 Halloween Marathon!

Moonlight, mystery, and mayhem! In this fang-tastic episode, the Palmers explore the legend of the Wolfman with their signature humor and veterinary-world twist. From wild transformations to unexpected pet parallels, Caitlin and Clay pack laughs, lore, and a little bite into every story. Tune in for a howling good time—you might even check your own backyard twice tonight!  Part of Vet Candy's 2025 Halloween Marathon!

Brains… and bark? In this hilarious and slightly horrifying episode, the Palmers dive into everything zombies. Our hosts, who live and breathe the vet world, explore zombie lore, share survival tips (for pets and humans), and deliver laughs that are to die for. Perfect for horror fans, vet enthusiasts, and anyone who secretly hopes they’d survive a zombie outbreak. Don’t miss this undead chaos!

Get ready to dive into one of our all-time favorite episodes! In this Halloween marathon special, we explore the chilling legend of Baba Yaga, uncover spooky family secrets, and share laughs that only the Palmers can deliver. Whether you’re a horror fanatic or just love a good story, this episode will keep you on the edge of your seat… and maybe leave you double-checking your closet at night. Tune in if you dare! Spooky level 10!

Ever wondered what happens when two comedians with a sharp sense of humor dive into the world of witches? Caitlin and Clay Palmer, your favorite comedian duo, mix laughs, lore, and a little bit of mischief in this spellbinding episode. From ancient curses to modern witchy surprises, this episode is guaranteed to enchant, entertain, and maybe even hex your funny bone. Tune in—you won’t want to miss this magical chaos!  Part of Vet Candy's Halloween Marathon, 24 scary podcasts in 24 hours in Halloween 2025!

It’s another episode of Pet Candy's Cat Daddy, where the competition is as fierce as a cat protecting its favorite toy! Caitlin Palmer, is back, hosting a hilarious episode with a guest who is ready to prove they know everything about feline facts. This week our guest is Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine vet student and mom of 8 cats, "Millie" Mildred Mullings, aka The Diva Vet! Who will take the cat trivia crown? Don’t miss this purrfectly hilarious showdown! 💉 Brought to you by Zoetis, maker of Solensia. 🔗 SolensiaVetTeam.com Listen now on Pet Candy on Apple or a podcast platform of your choice! https://lnkd.in/e5y5jeqG hashtag#petcandy hashtag#pets hashtag#CatTrivia hashtag#PetCandy hashtag#CatDaddyPodcast hashtag#CatLovers

In this episode of Cat Daddy, comedian cat lovers Clay & Caitlin Palmer are joined by a VERY special guest, former vet tech, and current vet student and mom of three, Micala Henson, who thinks she know everything about cats. Spoiler: She might have underestimated the fun... 😏 Get ready for some serious cat trivia laughs and maybe a few shocking revelations. Can Micala Henson outsmart the hosts? Tune in to find out!

The Pet Health Challenges Study, conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Chewy Health, surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. dog and cat owners in February 2025. The results show that 97% consider their pet a family member, and 90% say their pets have improved their mental or physical health. However, caring for pets isn’t always easy—74% of owners reported at least one major challenge. The biggest struggles included leaving pets alone, affording veterinary care, and managing behavior or health issues. Pet owners with stronger human-animal bonds were also more likely to embrace technology. Those in the “strongest bond” group were twice as likely to use digital tools such as telehealth, mobile apps, or smart devices to manage care. Gen Z owners led the way, using an average of 3.6 pet health tools and showing strong interest in wearables, smart feeders, and virtual vet services. The findings highlight a growing trend: as pets become more deeply integrated into families, technology is becoming an essential bridge for connection, convenience, and better care. For more veterinary updates, tune into Vet Candy’s All Creatures podcast—available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Meet Jeremiah Pouncy, the Cornell vet student who makes the rest of us look like underachievers. He checks lion blood pressures, delivers clean water to communities, and somehow still has time to survive exams without spontaneously combusting. 🦁  Brain Smart's Caitlin & Clay Palmer keep up the chaos with ridiculous trivia, snarky commentary, and general chaos you didn’t know you needed in your life. Expect laughs, jaw drops, and maybe a tiny existential crisis about your own productivity. Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, makers of Felicyn-CA1 for cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—because even super-vets need some heart support. 🎧 Tune in now and see how one vet student is doing the impossible… while you’re still trying to remember the difference between your BCS scales.   #veterinarymedicine #vetmed #animalhealth 

She’s opened a brewery. She’s worked in HR. She co-founded CodaPet, helping families with compassionate in-home euthanasia. But can Dr. Bethany Hsia survive the ultimate challenge—trivia questions about turkey sneezes, cancer-fighting cats, and flu-proof seals? In this month’s episode of Brain Smarts with Vet Candy, hosts Caitlin and Clay Palmer put Dr. Hsia to the test in the only veterinary podcast where the science is real, the answers are ridiculous, and the scorekeeping is questionable at best. From dramatic boy cats with weak hearts to a lightning round written entirely in limericks, Dr. Hsia proves she can handle just about anything. (Though let’s be honest—running a nationwide company might actually be easier.) Presented by PRN Pharmacal, makers of Felycin (sirolimus delayed-release tablets). 🎧 Listen now and find out if Bethany makes it out officially “Brain Smart”… or just slightly traumatized. PS. Learn more about CodaPet here: https://www.codapet.com/

On Vet Candy News, a groundbreaking new study has revealed the extent of animal use in veterinary education across the U.S. and Canada. Researchers reviewed 120 animal use protocols from 26 public vet schools and found widespread reliance on cadavers and terminal teaching exercises—despite ethical guidelines urging alternatives. Key findings: nearly all schools used horses, cows, or small ruminants; poultry were used in the highest numbers, mainly for euthanasia training; and dogs, cats, and rodents were also included. While donation programs supply many cadavers, sourcing remains inconsistent and sometimes vague. Most protocols admitted alternatives exist but argued they weren’t equal for teaching. Alarmingly, some schools gave no consideration to alternatives at all—despite guidelines discouraging euthanasia for training purposes. The authors say this is likely an undercount, since cadavers used in anatomy and pathology aren’t always tracked. Overall, the study highlights a gap between ethical standards and actual practices, urging vet schools to embrace proven alternatives like simulators and clinical cases to train future veterinarians with both skill and compassion.     #veterinarynews #veterinary #vetmed #vetschool.

In March 2025, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) quietly rolled back a major accreditation requirement: veterinary schools are no longer required to report on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In a letter sent to veterinary school deans, the COE said it will “not require programs to report on, or comply with, current aspects of the Standards of Accreditation that relate to DEI…in a manner that conflicts with applicable law or other institutional directives.” In effect, what was once mandatory is now optional. The council emphasized that schools may still pursue and share DEI initiatives, but critics warn that removing accountability has serious consequences for the profession: Loss of Transparency: Without required reporting, schools may sideline DEI work, making it difficult to measure progress. Student & Faculty Impact: Data on recruitment, retention, and support of underrepresented groups could disappear, allowing disparities to persist unnoticed. Equity Setbacks: Mandatory reporting has been one of the few tools to push the overwhelmingly white profession toward change. Making it optional risks slowing that momentum. Veterinary medicine already faces deep representation gaps. According to AVMA data, as of 2021 the profession was 91.9% white, with Black veterinarians making up less than 1%. Without structured reporting, inequities may remain invisible—robbing underrepresented students and faculty of the support they need. The COE frames the change as protecting institutions from legal conflicts, but many veterinarians, students, and educators see it as a step backward. During the public comment period, dozens urged the council to preserve DEI reporting. Their concerns went unanswered. For those who believe accountability is essential, action is still possible: contact AVMA representatives, engage with the House of Delegates, and advocate within veterinary schools. Without continued pressure, the profession risks losing one of its few mechanisms for tracking—and tackling—its diversity problem.   #veterinary #veterinarymedicine #animalhealth #deireporting #AVMA #AVMACOE #veterinaryschool  

On today's Vet Candy News under 5, we hear updates on H5N1. The detection of H5N1 in a Texas dairy herd and the unresolved source of the California child’s infection highlight the evolving challenges posed by avian influenza. Collaboration between animal and human health sectors—guided by a One Health framework—is essential to mitigate risks. Vigilance, biosecurity, and continued research are key to safeguarding both animal and human health.   #veterinarymedicine #vetmed #veterinarynew  

Listen to Vet Candy News to keep up with the latest vet med trends and research.     A new study from the University of Nottingham shows that in the U.K., no commercially available dog foods—plant-based, meat-based, or veterinary—fully meet all adult dog nutritional guidelines. Published in PLOS One on September 3, 2025, researchers analyzed 31 dry dog foods labeled “complete,” including 19 meat-based, 6 plant-based, and 6 veterinary diets designed for dogs with kidney concerns. While dogs are omnivores capable of thriving on a variety of diets, the study revealed gaps across all types of dog foods. All products met vitamin D requirements, but compliance dropped significantly for amino acids (17/31), minerals (5/31), and B-vitamins (4/31). Plant-based diets were particularly prone to deficiencies in iodine and B-vitamins, but supplementation can help cover these gaps. Veterinary diets, despite being specially formulated for renal support, often lacked essential amino acids. Lead researcher Rebecca Brociek emphasized: “Dogs don’t need meat—they need the right nutrients. Our study shows that plant-based diets can be viable with supplementation, but every type of dog food has nutritional gaps that veterinarians and owners should be aware of.” These findings underscore the importance of evaluating nutrient intake, especially for dogs on plant-based or therapeutic diets, and may guide veterinarians in recommending supplements or dietary adjustments.

Summer just got a whole lot hotter—because the latest issue of Vet Candy Magazine is officially live! Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, this month’s edition is bursting with energy, real talk, and the kind of inspiration that makes you want to high-five the nearest vet mom you know. Gracing our cover is none other than Dr. Elān Armstrong, the unstoppable Connecticut veterinarian who juggles a thriving career, co-hosts our brand-new talk show Pop with Dr. Shannon Gregoire, and somehow still finds time to raise four (yes, four!) amazing kids. She's smart, she's fierce, and she’s redefining what it means to be a modern vet—and we are so here for it. Listen to the deepdive and stay up to date!

Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, maker of Reconcile for separation anxiety in dogs.  Check out reconcile.com for more!   In this wildly entertaining episode of All Creatures, fictional Connecticut veterinarians Dr. Greathouse (Caitlin Palmer) and Dr. Smalls (Clay Palmer) trade clinic life for the rodeo scene at the Goshen Stampede Fair—only to find themselves wrapped in a cryptid mystery that’s more science than superstition. What starts as a fun weekend filled with bull riding and deep-fried Oreos quickly turns into a veterinary whodunit when prize cattle are found dead—bloodless, woundless, and raising serious Chupacabra alarm bells. But with the help of real veterinary pathologists and parasitologists (yes, tick experts!), the duo uncovers a shocking culprit: the self-cloning, bloodsucking Asian longhorned tick. As rumors swirl and cows vanish, our vet heroes team up with fan-favorites like Dr. Aleksandra Żuraw, Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, and Dr. Risa Pesapane, while shady roadside hustler Joaquin stirs up Chupacabra hype to sell his fried "Chupacabra Balls." Just when things couldn’t get weirder, a runaway cow, a wrecked Airstream, and a secret rodeo star (we see you, Quisha!) bring the episode to a hilarious, action-packed climax. 💡 Fangs on the Farm is everything you love about All Creatures—mystery, myth-busting, real vet science, and unforgettable characters—all wrapped up in deep-fried chaos. Catch the episode now! Rated: 🐮🐛🍗 5/5 Chupacabra Balls         #veterinary #vetmed #mystery #comedypodcast #funny    

Ready to get your brain buzzing and your sides hurting? On the newest episode of Vet Candy’s hit game show, Brain Smarts, your favorite vet pro comedians Clay and Caitlin Palmer, are joined by none other than Ashli Selke — the unstoppable force shaking up veterinary medicine. She’s not just a veterinary technician powerhouse. Ashli is a legal strategist rewriting the rules, a former NAVTA President, a board member, and the ultimate champion for rising leaders. She’s not just breaking glass ceilings — she’s tearing down the whole roof so the right people can rise. Expect spicy hot takes, jaw-dropping insider stories, and laughs you won’t find anywhere else. Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, maker of Reconcile for separation anxiety in dogs. Learn more at reconcile.com!  

This week on Vet Candy's Brain Smarts,  Clay and Caitlin Palmer welcome a vet who’s got the medical chops and the hot glue gun to prove it—Dr. Hannah Jordan! She treats exotic animals by day, crafts earrings by night, and channels her inner Steve Irwin 24/7. Join us as we dive into vet med trivia that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and question everything you know about parrots with potty mouths. Dr. Jordan shares how she balances saving lives with sparkle, why empathy is her superpower, and what happens when a hedgehog needs therapy. It’s brains, jokes, animal facts you didn’t ask for—and yes, emotional support bearded dragons. Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, makers of Reconcile® for dogs. 🐶 Learn more at reconcile.com.   🐍🦜🎨🦔 Don’t miss this wildly educational episode—it’s like vet school, but funny and zero tuition.     #veterinarymedicine #vetmed #funny #comedypodcast  

Dr. Smalls & Dr. Greathouse (played by hilarious comedians Caitlin & Clay Palmer) are back—and this time, they're diving headfirst into a small-town nightmare where deadly avian flu meets small-town legend! 📍 Point Pleasant, West Virginia is under siege—not just by a highly contagious bird virus, but by whispers of the winged, red-eyed terror himself… MOTHMAN! 🦇👀 As the vets race to contain the outbreak, they’ll have to: ✔️ Battle a fast-spreading flu (worse than clinic gossip!) ✔️ Decode eerie town myths (is Mothman patient zero?!) ✔️ Outwit panicked locals (and maybe a cryptid or two…) Suspense, science, and supernatural chaos collide in this edge-of-your-seat episode—packed with laughs, chills, and feathers flying everywhere! 💊 Brought to you by Boehringer Ingelheim, maker of NexGard® PLUS—because even cryptids need parasite protection! 🐾 Learn more: bit.ly/3WOJTcQ 🎧 Want FREE RACE-approved CE credit while you hunt Mothman? Tune in here: 👉 https://www.myvetcandy.com/all-creatures 👈 Don’t miss the episode that’s got the whole vet world squawking! 🦜🔥 #VetMed #MothmanMystery #BirdFluBattles

Brought to you by PRN Pharmacal, makers of KBroVet CA-1.  Learn more at Kbrovet.com   🎉 Get Ready for Another Wild Round of Brain Smarts! 🎉 Welcome to Brain Smarts by Vet Candy – the veterinary game show where knowledge collides with comedy, and the competition is fiercer than a cat at the vet! 🐱💡 Hosted by the hilarious Clay & Caitlin Palmer, this fast-paced showdown puts veterinary pros to the ultimate test with brain-busting trivia, current events, and unexpected twists. This episode features the incredible Dr. Christina Kaye, a feline-loving, adventure-seeking veterinarian who’s as passionate about ophthalmology as she is about conquering Tough Mudders! 🏆🐍 With experience in emergency medicine, multiple specialty internships, and a dedication to making vet visits stress-free for cats, Dr. Kaye is bringing her smarts (and maybe some of her homemade desserts? 🍰) to the Brain Smarts stage. Will she rise to the challenge and claim the Brain Smarts Champion title? Or will the trivia questions leave her scratching her head like a puzzled housecat? Tune in to find out—because in this game, the only thing certain is fun, facts, and fierce competition!