Dr. Josh Gehrke, head of Veterinary Services at the AVMA Trust, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a conversation that might make every veterinarian sit up a little straighter. A recent New York court case awarded emotional damages after a dog was struck by a car, declaring the pet an immediate family member. If this precedent stands, what could it mean for veterinary liability insurance, client lawsuits, and the future of our profession? Andy and Josh unpack the case, explore how proximity and emotional distress factored into the ruling, and consider what ripple effects could land in veterinary medicine. From rising insurance costs to changes in how we deliver care, this episode tackles both the what-ifs and the practical pearls that vets need to keep in mind. If you’ve ever wondered how the evolving legal view of pets as family might impact your career, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

Joshua Gehrke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-gehrke-400211218

AVMALife: https://avmalife.org/

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Dr. Joshua E. Gehrke serves as Head of Veterinary Services for the AVMA Trust, where he works alongside the CEO, Lead Trust Veterinarian, and the Trust Team to provide support and resources for veterinary professionals. A graduate of Michigan State University with both his BS and DVM, he went on to complete a small animal internship in Los Angeles, followed by a Neurology and Neurosurgery residency at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York.

His career includes roles with BluePearl and MedVet, as well as serving as an award-winning Assistant Professor and leader of the Neurology Service at Michigan State University. Later, as Chief Veterinary Officer for Veterinary United, Dr. Gehrke combined leadership, clinical practice, mentorship, and coaching to guide veterinary teams and strengthen medical care in the community. Today, he continues to champion the profession and support colleagues through his work with the AVMA Trust.

Dr. James Oldeschulte joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about a topic you probably didn’t think you’d hear on your commute today: fecal transplants. Yep, we’re diving into poop and how it is changing the way we treat veterinary patients. If you’ve always thought fecal microbiota transplants were only for chronic diarrhea or parvo puppies, think again. Dr. Oldschulte breaks down why acute diarrhea cases are now a prime place to reach for this tool, how screening donor dogs works, and why capsules are making this treatment easier and more accessible than ever. You’ll learn how fecal transplants can help restore the gut microbiome quickly, why pet owners are often more open to it than you’d expect, and how this approach fits into the larger movement toward antibiotic stewardship in veterinary medicine.

This episode is brought to you by Amend Pet. Poop donor to dose: FMT made easy.

Consortium guidelines on FMT (Open Access): https://www.advancesinsmallanimalcare.com/article/S2666-450X(24)00006-3/fulltext

ENOVAT guidelines on the efficacy of antimicrobial and nutraceutical treatment for canine acute diarrhoea (Open Access):

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023323001053?via%3Dihub

https://www.amendpet.com/ Amend Pet has helped make fecal transplant easy and accessible for my patients.

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I'm an emergency veterinarian in Austin, Texas, and one of the directors of new ER doctor education at Veterinary Emergency Group. I'm passionate about evidence-based medicine, technology, and empowering others through education. I have a background in healthcare technology and have spent the first 5 years of my career collecting and sharing knowledge by creating web-based applications for veterinary professionals—such as DogsCatsMedicine.com. In my free time, I enjoy exploring my cross-industry interest in resilience engineering, mountain biking, and playing music.

Beckie Mossor, RVT, joins Dr. Andy Roark to dig into the surprising results of NAVTA’s 2024 demographic survey of veterinary technicians. Salaries are climbing, yet job satisfaction is dropping fast. How do we make sense of this? Beckie unpacks the data, from the overwhelming push for title protection and standardized credentialing, to the growing frustrations around underutilization in practice. This episode takes on tough but essential questions: Why do so many techs still need multiple jobs to get by, even with pay increases? What role does proper utilization play in career satisfaction? And how can practices do better at recognizing the full scope of a credentialed technician’s skills? If you’ve ever wondered what the future looks like for veterinary technicians, or how to keep your team engaged and fulfilled, this conversation is full of insights you can take back to your clinic. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

Article Referenced: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/personal-professional-development/navta-2024-demographic-survey-results/

Beckie Mossor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckie-mossor-bis-mpa-rvt-37a55527/

NAVTA: https://navta.net/

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Beckie is the current President of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, where she has contributed to 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 regularly presents on the intersections of veterinary medicine, leadership, and advocacy.

She is the founder of the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterinary professionals in need during the winter holidays. She is a co-host of the Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast, where she has demonstrated nearly a decade of bringing controversial conversations and fierce advocacy to the profession.

Dr. Chelsie Estey, Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill’s US, joins Dr. Andy Roark to unpack the brand-new 2025 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report. If you think shelter trends are all about “too many pets, not enough adopters,” think again. This massive study digs into the real barriers behind pet adoption and relinquishment, from the rising costs of care and housing challenges to surprising generational differences in how people make adoption decisions.

In this episode, Dr. Andy Roark and Dr. Chelsie Estey talk through what keeps pets in shelters longer, why affordability is shaping adoption choices, and how shelters are innovating with foster programs and community support. You’ll hear success stories from shelters tackling adoption hurdles in creative ways and learn how veterinary teams can play a critical role in keeping pets and families together. If you work in shelter medicine, general practice, or just want to understand where pet adoption trends are headed, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right away.

This episode is brought to you ad-free by Hill's Pet Nutrition!

Hill's Pet Nutrition: https://www.hillspet.com/

Hill's Food, Shelter and Love Program: https://www.hillspet.com/food-shelter-love/my-shelter

2025 Hill’s Pet Nutrition State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report: https://www.hillspet.com/shelter-report?lightboxfired=true

Shelter Animals Count National Database: https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/

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Chelsie Estey, MSc, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) was appointed U.S. chief veterinary officer of Hill’s Pet Nutrition in March 2025. Dr. Estey, a veterinary neurologist, has contributed to the field through scientific publications and book chapters. She holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College and completed a neurology and neurosurgery residency at Cornell University. She also has a master of science degree from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Brunswick.

Dr. Nathan Peterson, DVM, DACVECC, MA Bioethics joins Dr. Andy Roark to dive into one of the hardest questions in veterinary medicine: what happens when treatments feel futile? As an emergency and critical care specialist at Cornell with a master’s in bioethics from Harvard, Dr. Peterson has studied how veterinary teams wrestle with cases where the outcome may not change and the burden often falls on technicians carrying out the plan.

In this conversation, Andy and Nathan unpack how veterinarians and technicians define medical futility, why perspectives often differ, and how the lack of agency can increase moral distress among support staff. They explore practical strategies to reduce burnout, strengthen team communication, and involve technicians in client discussions to create shared understanding. Gang, let’s get into this episode.

Nathan Peterson on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-peterson-DVM-DACVECC

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Nathan Peterson, DVM, MBE, DACVECC is an Associate Clinical Professor at Cornell University. He received his DVM from The Ohio State University and completed his internship and residency training in Emergency and Critical Care medicine at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. Following board certification, he spent 12 years as the head of the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at a tertiary referral hospital in Los Angeles before taking his current position at Cornell. He completed a Master of Bioethics through the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics in 2023 and has published works exploring the impact of providing futile treatments in veterinary medicine.

Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS (Behavior) joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle one of the most nerve-wracking clinic moments: the lunging, growling dog that makes everyone’s heart rate spike. What do you do when a giant breed charges into the exam room, the owner refuses muzzle training or pre-visit meds, and you’re left feeling like your only option is to “just get it done”? In this lively and practical conversation, Tabitha breaks down how to approach fearful and aggressive dogs with empathy and skill. She shares strategies to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) through considerate handling, communication with pet owners, and team-wide planning. From lobby management to sedation protocols, she helps reframe these tough cases as opportunities to improve animal welfare, client trust, and staff safety. If you’ve ever struggled with patient handling, client education, or burnout tied to aggressive dogs, this episode is packed with insight you can use right away. Gang, let’s get into this episode!

Chirrups and Chatter

Tabitha Kucera on Instagram

Tails From A Vet Tech Podcast

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Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician Specialist (Behavior), Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She owns Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training and is the animal behavior technician at The Gentle Vet in Ohio. Tabitha lectures at both regional and national levels, enjoying the opportunity to help people better understand and connect with animals. Additionally, Tabitha is a Fear Free certified speaker and coach, a Fear Free Practice Certification and Implemention Consultant, and the host of the podcast, Tails from a Vet Tech.

Tabitha offers organizational consulting and education for veterinary clinics and animal shelters, focusing on best practices that address both the emotional and physical needs of animals. She specializes in behavior and training programs and handling skills. Tabitha has contributed to the development of training and behavior programs for numerous veterinary hospitals and shelters and continues to provide ongoing support to these organizations through her consulting work.

Matt Salois, PhD, joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about why not every shiny new idea in veterinary medicine is a good idea. From the surge in new veterinary schools to the debate on mid-level practitioners and telemedicine, Matt raises the question: are we solving problems or just creating new ones? With his trademark humor and economist’s lens, he makes the case for smarter, not faster, change in vet med. In this episode, you’ll hear a fresh take on why retention may matter more than recruitment, how productivity really impacts our profession, and why veterinary medicine doesn’t have to copy the mistakes of human healthcare. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance innovation with caution, this conversation will get you thinking.

Article Referenced: https://todaysveterinarybusiness.com/veterinary-lessons-viewpoint-0625/

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Matthew Salois, PhD is currently the President of the Veterinary Study Groups, Inc. (VSG), where he is responsible for enhancing the economic and cultural success of more than 1,800 veterinary member practices.

Most recently, Matt was the chief economist and head of the veterinary economics division at the AVMA between 2018 and 2022, where he applied his skills in economics, business, and communication to support the daily lives of veterinarians.

From 2014 to 2018, he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy at Elanco Animal Health, supervising a team of scientists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, animal welfare, economics and sustainability. His group devised and executed scientific engagement strategy, and built collaborative partnerships with universities, non-profit associations and scientific societies.

Matt is also an adjunct professor of applied economics at the University of Florida, where he previously taught and advised graduate and undergraduate students. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Florida and holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida.