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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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 2022, 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.
The conversations behind the care
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