The Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast
Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, have co-hosted their award-winning weekly veterinary podcast since 2016. Each week, they “tackle the toughest topics in veterinary medicine,” highlighting controversial issues and trending news, introducing veterinary key opinion leaders and provocateurs, and offering solutions to the myriad challenges facing the veterinary profession.
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Are We Taking Pet's Temperature Wrong? Rethinking Home Diagnostics with Mella Pet Care
Arguably one of the most challenging exam parameters for veterinary patients is body temperature. We have traditionally performed this rectally. So there’s that.
But how accurate is a rectal temperature anyway? And how were those “normal temperature ranges” determined? Have we been taking pet’s temperatures wrong?
This week hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor are joined by two of Mella Pet Care’s co-founders Yale Chang and Anya Babbitt to discuss “all things temperature” - and a whole lot more! (Mella.ai)
The quartet muse on the current limitations and challenges of rectal temperature in animals, why the “standard” thermometer may not be as good as we’d like to believe, and Mell’s approach to in-home diagnostics.
Dr. Ward and Yale postulate on the future of in-home diagnostics, how this will impact telemedicine, and what this means for veterinary clinics.
Beckie challenges the notion that in-home testing performed by pet parents will threaten the veterinary profession and makes an astute observation on pediatricians, babies, and, well, body temperatures and veterinary businesses. You have to listen to find out more! Brilliant!
This is an important discussion because it speaks to the accelerating trend of what Dr. Ward calls, “The democratization of diagnostics.” We think you’re going to love this conversation!
Many veterinary teams have one: the colleague who runs to management about every minor mistake or late trash bag. But when does necessary reporting turn into destructive tattling?
This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack one of the profession’s most frustrating dynamics: coworkers who undermine team culture by excessive fault-finding.
Hosts Dr. Ward and vet tech Beckie Mossor examine how tattletale behavior often stems from insecurity, perfectionism, or even underlying issues like OCD, yet still chips away at psychological safety and trust. They discuss the difference between legitimate reporting and gossip, and why managers must address patterns early before morale collapses. Ignoring the issue doesn’t make it go away; it drives good employees out while problem behavior festers.
Listeners will learn practical strategies, such as anonymous “concern boxes,” structured feedback models (SBI: Situation, Behavior, Impact), and defining gossip as “talking to someone who can’t solve the problem.” The hosts also share real-life examples where unchecked tattling escalated into fractured teams, cover-ups, and even departures of top performers.
Whether you’re a manager navigating a chronic complainer or a technician tired of walking on eggshells, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tools to help you reclaim a healthier clinic culture. Because in veterinary medicine, trust isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of patient care.