Current Vet

In this episode, Dr. Lottie chats with Dr. Jane Shaw, a former professor at Colorado State University’s vet school who has spent her career researching communication in veterinary medicine (and literally co-wrote the book on it!).Jane talks about her path from private practice into communication research, and why the profession has moved away from “the vet knows best” towards a partnership with clients. She shares practical techniques for every stage of the consult: making a great first impression, agenda setting, giving information without overwhelming clients, reading non-verbal cues and closing the consult well.We also cover what to do when a consult goes wrong, how to handle angry or emotional clients, and why good communication with colleagues matters just as much. To every student and new grad who dreads communication class, this episode is for you!Find us on TikTok & Instagram: @veterinaryvista Resources MentionedAgenda Setting – JAVMA Technical Tutorial Video – Jane’s open-access video tutorial on the agenda-setting processDeveloping Communication Skills for Veterinary Practice – Jane Shaw and Jason Coe’s textbook on veterinary communicationTimeline: 00:00 Intro00:53 Jane’s Journey into Communication10:07 Expert or Partner?19:00 Building the Perfect Consult30:47 It’s not what you say…37:35 Wrapping up the consult41:15 So what if it all goes wrong?52:31 Communicating with Colleagues01:05:08 Final Qus01:12:59 OutroCurrent Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine. All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time.

In this episode of Current Vet, Dr. Lottie talks about canine hip dysplasia, how genetics and growth combine to increase the risk of disease, the key clinical signs to recognise in young and older dogs, the main hip screening schemes, and the medical and surgical options available for treatment.CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE!Find us on TikTok & Instagram: @veterinaryvista Timeline:
00:00 Intro00:31 Case02:22 Aetiology & Pathogenesis06:13 Clinical Signs08:09 Diagnosis14:55 Treatment21:25 Prevention22:29 Key Points24:34 OutroReferencesBrass, W. (1989) ‘Hip dysplasia in dogs’, Journal of Small Animal Practice, 30(3), pp. 166–170. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.1989.tb01525.x.Fries, C.L. and Remedios, A.M. (1995) ‘The pathogenesis and diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia: a review.’, The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 36(8), pp. 494–502. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1687006/ (Accessed: 2 October 2026).King, M.D. (2017) ‘Etiopathogenesis of Canine Hip Dysplasia, Prevalence, and Genetics’, Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 47(4), pp. 753–767. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.03.001.Ginja, M.M.D. et al. (2010) ‘Diagnosis, genetic control and preventive management of canine hip dysplasia: A review’, The Veterinary Journal, 184(3), pp. 269–276. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.04.009.Schachner, E.R. and Lopez, M.J. (2015) ‘Diagnosis, prevention, and management of canine hip dysplasia: a review’, Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 6, pp. 181–192. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2147/VMRR.S53266.Kirkby, K.A. and Lewis, D.D. (2012) ‘Canine Hip Dysplasia: Reviewing the Evidence for Nonsurgical Management’, Veterinary Surgery, 41(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2011.00928.x.Fossum, T.W. (2019) ‘Chapter 34 – Diseases of the Joints’, Small Animal Surgery. 5th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby, pp. 1209–1220.Current Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine.All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals.While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time.

In this episode of Current Vet, Dr. Lottie talks about egg binding (avian dystocia) in chickens and pet birds, why it can become serious so quickly, the key clinical signs to recognise and how to stabilise and treat these birds when they present.CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE!Find us on TikTok & Instagram: @veterinaryvista Timeline: 00:00 Intro00:42 Case02:31 Aetiology & Pathogenesis09:26 Clinical Signs11:14 Diagnosis15:39 Treatment23:17 Prevention24:35 Key Points26:25 OutroReferencesAbou-Zahr, T. (2022) ‘Avian reproductive disorders’, Companion Animal, 27(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2021.0056.Clayton, L.A. and Ritzman, T.K. (2006) ‘Egg Binding in a Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)’, Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 9(3), pp. 511–518. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2006.05.004.Harcourt-Brown, N.H. (1996) ‘Torsion and Displacement of the Oviduct as a Cause of Egg-Binding in Four Psittacine Birds’, Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 10(4), pp. 262–267. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/30134507 (Accessed: 8 September 2026).Vavlas, A. et al. (2025) ‘Resolution of egg binding is possible in most client-owned parrots when multiple treatment strategies are considered’. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.11.0749.Jenkins, J.R. (2000) ‘Surgery of the Avian Reproductive and Gastrointestinal Systems’, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 3(3), pp. 673–692. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30069-5.Abou-Zahr, T. et al. (2019) ‘Percloacal Ovocentesis in the Treatment of Avian Egg Binding: Review of 20 Cases’, Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 33(3), pp. 251–257. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1647/2018-376.Current Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine.All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals.While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time.

In this episode of Current Vet, Dr. Lottie talks about equine atypical myopathy, how sycamore toxins disrupt muscle energy metabolism, why the condition is an EMERGENCY, the key clinical signs to recognise and how to manage affected horses and their co-grazers.CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE!Find us on TikTok & Instagram: @veterinaryvista Timeline:00:00 Intro00:45 Case02:32 Aetiology & Pathogenesis05:29 Clinical Signs09:40 Diagnosis15:11 Treatment20:15 Prevention22:02 Key Points23:45 OutroReferencesŻuraw, A. et al. (2016) ‘Equine atypical myopathy caused by hypoglycin A intoxication associated with ingestion of sycamore maple tree seeds’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 48(4), pp. 418–421. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12460.Votion, D.M. et al. (2019) ‘Potential new sources of hypoglycin A poisoning for equids kept at pasture in spring: a field pilot study’, Veterinary Record, 184(24), pp. 740–740. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104424.van GALEN, G. et al. (2012) ‘European outbreaks of atypical myopathy in grazing horses (2006–2009): Determination of indicators for risk and prognostic factors’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 44(5), pp. 621–625. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00555.x.Sander, J. et al. (2016) ‘Rapid diagnosis of hypoglycin A intoxication in atypical myopathy of horses’, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 28(2), pp. 98–104. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638715624736.Fabius, L.S. and Westermann, C.M. (2018) ‘Evidence-based therapy for atypical myopathy in horses’, Equine Veterinary Education, 30(11), pp. 616–622. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12734.Current Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine.All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals.While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time.

In this episode, Dr. Lottie chats with Ashley Farmer, LVT. Ashley is a licensed veterinary technician, hospital manager and currently works in an emergency clinic.She shares her journey from being an aspiring zookeeper to getting into vet tech, what the role involves and the skills that make a great vet tech (or nurse)! We also dive into how anyone interested can get into the field, as well as the more negative aspects of the job so you know exactly what to expect. To our aspiring vet techs / nurse, this episode is for you!Ashley’s Instagram and TikTok: @ashleythevetnurseFind us on TikTok & Instagram: @veterinaryvista Timeline:00:00 Intro01:07 Ashley the Zookeeper12:57 What Do Vet Techs Do?!21:46 Qualifications vs Learning on the Job26:41 What Makes a Great Tech?32:46 The Vet / Vet Tech Relationship44:56 Sooo… What Are The Downsides?51:00 How Can I Become a Vet Tech?58:08 Final Qus01:02:19 OutroResources MentionedExotic Veterinary Academy – exotic-animal education by Dr Zoltan SzaboVetAhead – online exotic-animal training for vet professionalsPenn Foster Veterinary Technician programme – an online veterinary technology programmeCurrent Vet is an educational podcast intended for veterinary students, veterinary professionals, and individuals with an interest in veterinary medicine.All content provided in this podcast and its associated materials is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and must not be considered a substitute for, professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Any clinical cases discussed in this podcast are fictional, and are designed to reflect typical or likely clinical scenarios for educational purposes. They do not represent specific real-life cases, clients, or animals.While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence at the time of publication, veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving field, and recommendations may change over time.