Tackling the toughest topics in veterinary medicine
The Veterinary
Viewfinder
Candid conversations on the issues shaping veterinary medicine.
Hosted by Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM & Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT
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The player always opens on the newest episode. Full show notes for each episode are below.
Two perspectives, one profession
Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM
Dr. Ernie Ward is a veterinarian, author, and longtime advocate for pets and the veterinary profession. Based in coastal North Carolina, he founded the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention in 2005 and the World Pet Obesity Association in 2023, pairing public education for pet owners with clinical standards for veterinary teams. He is Chief Veterinary Officer of VetFamily US.
An author and a familiar voice across national media, Ernie is known for putting the profession’s hardest conversations front and center. Since 2016, he and Beckie have co-hosted the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, a weekly show that digs into the toughest and most controversial topics in veterinary medicine, features leading voices in the field, and looks for practical answers to the challenges veterinary teams face.
Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT
Beckie is a Credentialed Veterinary Technician from Southport, NC, and founding director of the American Association of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, where she has shaped national conversations on technician utilization, representation on veterinary medical boards, and equity in veterinary organizational structures.
Her work has been published in professional outlets, and she presents internationally on the intersections of veterinary medicine, leadership, and advocacy. She is proud to be the first credentialed veterinary technician to serve on the WSAVA Professional Wellness Committee.
Beckie also co-founded the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterinary professionals through financial hardship, and has co-hosted the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast for nearly a decade — bringing candid, often provocative conversations and fierce advocacy to the profession.
WORLD PET OBESITY MONTH: WHAT YOUR VETERINARY TEAM CAN DO
October is World Pet Obesity Month, and this episode covers what veterinary teams can do to help patients and clients better understand, prevent, and treat pet obesity.
Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor break down APOP’s 2026 Veterinary Clinic Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey, including how clinics can participate, which patients to include, and why asking owners how they perceive their pet’s body condition is such an important part of the data.
Qualifying licensed U.S. practices can receive a $50 staff-time stipend after submitting at least 15 complete, eligible records that pass APOP’s data review.
APOP has also created extensive support materials to make participation easier, including clinic instructions, BCS charts, printable resources, ready-to-share social media graphics and captions, email and newsletter copy, and other outreach materials.
Ernie and Beckie also explore the updated 2026 Pet Obesity Communication Guidelines and APOP’s growing collection of free clinical tools designed to help veterinary teams assess body condition, plan weight management, and have clearer, more respectful conversations with clients.
Every score counts. Your clinic can help build the next snapshot of pet obesity in veterinary practice.
Neurodivergence in Vet Med: What Actually Helps
Recognizing neurodivergence in veterinary medicine is one thing. Knowing what actually helps is another.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, welcome Ron Sosa, CVPM, CCFP, back to the Veterinary Viewfinder for a practical conversation about neurodivergence at work and the supports that can make a real difference.
They talk about executive function, masking, the inner critic, imposter syndrome, and the exhaustion that can come from constantly adapting to expectations that don’t fit the way your brain works. Ron also shares practical tools he’s building for veterinary professionals, including body doubling, structured peer support, coaching, and his C.O.S.T. framework for understanding chronic self-monitoring, over-adaptation, self-criticism, and tension.
The conversation also looks beyond the individual. What can veterinary leaders and workplaces do differently to support a wider range of people?
If you’ve ever wondered why certain parts of veterinary work feel harder than they “should,” this episode offers a useful place to start.
Same Pet, Different Calorie Needs: Feeding After Spay or Neuter to Prevent Pet Obesity with Veterinary Nutritionist Dr. Yuki Okada
October is World Pet Obesity Month! We need your help in collecting pet obesity prevalence data - and you can earn $50 for your team! Visit https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2026-veterinary-clinic-pet-obesity-prevalence-survey
Speaking of obesity in dogs and cats: spaying and neutering may be routine surgical procedures for most veterinary professionals and pet parents, but the nutritional shift afterward is anything but. This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Dr. Yuki Okada, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and Virbac’s Veterinary Medicine and Nutrition Manager, about one of veterinary medicine’s most useful obesity-prevention windows: What should we feed growing dogs and cats in the period surrounding spay or neuter?
Dr. Yuki explains why appetite may rise while energy needs and activity fall, and why the feeding conversation should begin before surgery rather than get buried in discharge instructions. The team covers moving away from free-feeding, accounting for treat and supplement calories, measuring food with a gram scale, and giving families clear directions everyone can follow. They also unpack the clinical thinking behind Virbac VETERINARY HPM® Spayed & Neutered diets, including higher protein of animal origin to help support lean muscle, coupled with fiber for satiety.
The discussion then moves beyond body weight to body condition score, muscle condition score, mobility, activity, and subtle “micro-pauses” that may signal discomfort. The takeaway: preventing unhealthy weight gain requires an early, practical plan that the entire veterinary team can reinforce.
Learn more about Virbac nutrition at iVet.com, find the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) pet-owner tools at petobesityprevention.org, and explore the World Pet Obesity Association (WPOA) clinical resources at worldpetobesity.org.
We Help Clients Grieve. Who Helps the Vet Team?
The sympathy card goes out. The next appointment comes in. But when a patient dies, who checks on the people who cared for them?
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, turn the conversation about euthanasia toward the veterinary team. They explore why some losses hit harder, from saying goodbye to a longtime patient to losing an animal everyone worked to save, and why being experienced doesn’t mean being unaffected.
Ernie shares how making room for memories during staff meetings helped his team acknowledge those losses. Beckie discusses when support needs to happen sooner, how a shared journal can give people somewhere to put their feelings, and where veterinary social workers can help. They also consider how to share difficult news, plan around emotionally demanding appointments, and support a colleague facing the loss of their own pet.
For anyone working in a veterinary clinic, this episode offers practical ways to start the conversation before a difficult goodbye. The goal isn’t to make everyone grieve the same way. It’s to give the people supporting your clients some support of their own.
What Vet Teams Need to Know About Compounding with Wedgewood Pharmacy
Getting medications into pets sounds simple—until the patient refuses the tablet, the dose doesn’t fit, the flavor is a disaster, or the client physically can’t make the plan work.
This week, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk with Dr. Rae Hutchins and Dr. Jennifer Merlo from Wedgewood Pharmacy about how veterinary compounding can support better patient care when commercially available medications are not the right fit.
The conversation covers where compounding helps most, where it should not replace FDA-approved commercial products, and why quality matters more than convenience or cost.
The group also digs into common legal and regulatory confusion, including GFI 256, patient-specific prescriptions, office stock, and why veterinarians should understand their state’s rules. Dr. Hutchins also discusses how Wedgewood Pharmacy has transformed the treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) by providing compounded GS-441524 and Molnupiravir.
Credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) get a seat at the table, too, as we discuss how technician insight can improve ordering, education, and real-world medication outcomes, along with how Wedgewood Pharmacy is recognizing CrVTs both internally and externally.
Practical, grounded, and clinic-relevant, this episode helps veterinary teams feel more confident using compounding medications as part of thoughtful medical care.
When Clients Ask AI Before They Ask You
More pet owners are asking an AI agent before they call the clinic.
They’re walking into the exam room with AI-generated ideas, possible causes, treatment questions, and sometimes a pretty strong opinion about what should happen next.
So how should veterinary teams respond?
In this 501st weekly episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, talk about what happens when AI becomes part of the client conversation. Not as a replacement for veterinary care, but as a new starting point for questions, concerns, and expectations.
The goal isn’t to shut clients down. It’s to keep them engaged, acknowledge their curiosity, and bring the conversation back to the pet in front of you, the physical exam, and trusted clinical judgment. Our hosts walk through the various responses many vet teams give and explain what may be the best communication approach to this potentially prickly situation in today’s clinics.
While AI can provide clients with information, it’s up to veterinary teams to put that information in context.
As Dr. Ward advises, “Be what an AI never can: be present, conduct a hands-on examination, and remain accountable to this patient in this room at this time. Let the client keep her curiosity. Just make sure she leaves knowing the difference between a search result and a diagnosis.”
Does Veterinary Medicine Have an Identity Crisis?
What does it mean to be a veterinarian, a credentialed veterinary technician, an assistant, or a new role entering the clinical space?
In this episode, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, dig into veterinary medicine’s identity problem: how comparisons to human medicine, unclear titles, internal hierarchies, and emerging roles like Colorado’s veterinary professional associate (VPA) can shape how teams see themselves and each other.
They talk candidly about why “more than” or “less than” language can create competition rather than confidence, how that trickles down through the clinic, and why role clarity matters for morale, collaboration, and long-term career satisfaction.
This conversation is especially relevant for veterinarians, vet techs, assistants, practice managers, and anyone navigating scope-of-practice debates or changing team structures.
Ernie and Beckie make the case for being proud of your role without needing to compare it to someone else’s, and for building clinic cultures where every team member understands their value.
Veterinary Receptionist Week: The Team That Keeps Your Day on Track
This week on Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, focus on Veterinary Receptionist Week (April 19–25, 2026) and the people who hold the entire clinic together from the front desk.
They break down what veterinary receptionists actually do day to day, from triaging calls and managing the schedule to handling emotional clients and keeping patient flow on track. It’s a role that’s often underestimated, but as they point out, even the best clinical team struggles if the front desk isn’t supported.
The conversation goes beyond recognition and into what real appreciation looks like.
They share simple, practical ways to make it meaningful, like handwritten notes, personal recognition, and taking pressure off the phones during the workday. They also touch on training, professional development, and why the human side of this role won’t be replaced anytime soon, even as technology evolves.
If you work in a clinic, this episode is a reminder to slow down, notice the work happening up front, and use this week as a chance to reset how your team shows appreciation.
Beckie Mossor, RVT: 24 Seconds That Changed Everything - In Her Own Words
This week’s episode is one of the most difficult and important conversations we’ve had. Beckie Mossor shares the reality of a devastating house fire that took a friend, three pets, and everything she owned, and what those 24 seconds revealed.
For veterinary professionals, this isn’t just a personal story. It’s a wake-up call. From how quickly fires actually spread to the gaps in what we think we know about safety, Beckie walks through what mattered, what didn’t, and what she wishes every clinic and pet owner understood.
You’ll hear practical takeaways you can apply immediately, including why attic heat sensors matter, how pets respond to alarms, and why most fire plans fall apart in real life. There’s also an honest look at decision-making under pressure and the limits of what’s possible when seconds count.
This episode will change how you think about preparedness, both at home and in practice.
Donate here:
GoFundMe #1: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-beckie-after-house-fire
GoFundMe #2: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-beckie-timmy-rebuild-after-house-fire
Online Complaints and Zero Tolerance: Have We Swung Too Far?
Bad online reviews aren’t new in veterinary medicine. What’s changing is how quickly we respond, and how quickly we sometimes end the relationship by “firing” the client who posted something critical.
In the 482nd episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore the real question behind legitimate negative reviews: when does a complaint justify firing a client, and when is it an opportunity to improve?
They unpack the difference between unsafe behavior and simple dissatisfaction, the emotional toll of public criticism, and how burnout may be shrinking our tolerance. The conversation also digs into power dynamics in medical professions, the shift from negotiation to zero tolerance, and what we lose when we default to dismissal instead of dialogue.
This episode offers practical reflection points for veterinarians, technicians, and practice leaders who want clear boundaries without sacrificing professionalism or growth.
If your clinic has wrestled with online complaints, or if your team feels emotionally drained by them, this is a thoughtful, grounded conversation worth having.
We Closed the Clinic and Took the Entire Team to VMX: Here’s What Happened
Continuing education is required for veterinary professionals’ licensure, but finding time for CE often feels impossible. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, speak with Dr. Andrea Freeman about a bold decision: closing her small animal practice and taking her entire team to VMX for continuing education.
Instead of sending one or two team members at a time, Dr. Freeman invited everyone. Doctors, technicians, CSRs, and part-time staff all attended. The result was more than CE credits. It strengthened communication, boosted morale, improved retention, and energized the entire practice.
Even more surprising? Dr. Freeman says her clients were supportive. With clear communication and advanced planning, she states her clinic did not lose business or trust.
If you have ever wondered whether shutting down for CE is realistic, this episode offers a practical, real-world example of how it can work and why it might be worth it.
Ask the Dog First: Why Most Dog Bites Are Preventable
Dog bites are more common than most people realize, and nearly all of them are preventable. This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, welcome back longtime friend and Certified Animal Behavior Consultant, Steve Dale, to talk about his new children’s book, Ask the Dog, and why it may be one of the most important dog bite prevention tools veterinarians can share.
Each year, an estimated 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs, with hundreds of thousands requiring medical care. Steve explains why focusing only on asking the owner misses the most critical step: asking the dog. From subtle body language to displacement behaviors we routinely ignore, dogs often tell us when they are uncomfortable long before a bite happens.
The conversation explores why hugging dogs, reaching hands toward faces, and forcing interactions can increase risk, even with familiar pets. The group also discusses the powerful role veterinary technicians and veterinarians play in translating dog behavior for clients, and how early education can reshape the next generation’s relationship with dogs.
This episode is a must-listen for veterinary teams, pet parents, and anyone who believes preventing dog bites starts with listening better.
The conversations behind the care
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