Fireworks. Travel. Noise. Every July 4th, veterinary teams face a predictable surge of panicked pets, frazzled clients, and last-minute sedation requests. So why are so many clinics still reacting instead of preparing?

This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack how veterinary clinics can turn this annual headache into an opportunity to deliver better care and boost revenue. From leveraging your PIMS to send targeted alerts about noise aversion and vaccine needs, to rethinking social media as part of a layered communication strategy, they outline the tools and tactics that practices already have but rarely use.

They also explore underutilized solutions, such as preemptive outreach to anxious pet owners, virtual care referrals, technician-led VCPR visits, and offering in-clinic support during peak noise periods. As Dr. Ward puts it, you’ll pay for it on the front end or the back. But you’ll pay if you don’t prepare and prevent.

Whether it’s the 4th of July, New Year’s Eve, or beach-season boarding, this episode is a playbook for staying ahead of preventable emergencies, protecting your staff’s sanity, and proving your clinic’s value before the fireworks start.

What happens when veterinary technicians are overworked, underpaid, and still fighting for recognition? The 2024 NAVTA Demographic Survey reveals the harsh reality, and this week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack what it all means for the future of veterinary medicine.

Despite their essential role, most vet techs still earn significantly less than comparable healthcare professionals. Worse, they’re burning out fast. Many are working second (or even third) jobs to make ends meet. Only 8% report being “extremely satisfied” with their current role, and more than half are actively considering leaving the profession within the next five years.

Dr. Ward and Beckie explore how low wages, chronic underutilization, and the continued lack of legal title protection are driving professionals out of the field. They break down the downstream impact on patient care, clinic morale, and team dynamics, and challenge veterinary leaders to stop ignoring the growing crisis.

This episode isn’t just about paychecks—it’s about purpose, protection, and survival. If we don’t act now to support our veterinary technicians, we risk losing the very backbone of our clinics.

A viral video from a popular “human nurse” influencer asking if veterinary technicians are “nurses” recently sparked a social media firestorm, but the outrage may be missing the real issue.

In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, go beyond the headlines to explore what’s truly at stake in the “vet nurse” debate: professional identity, title protection, and the public’s understanding of veterinary medical roles. While thousands weighed in online, some supporting the comparison, others fiercely rejecting it, Ward and Mossor ask whether these internet debates are distracting from the bigger, systemic problem: the lack of legally protected titles for credentialed veterinary technicians in many U.S. states.

They explore the emotional responses from both veterinary and human healthcare communities, examine the practical implications of inconsistent terminology, and call for stronger advocacy, unity, and legislative engagement. This episode challenges listeners to move past online outrage and toward meaningful real-world change.

If you’ve ever wondered why words like “veterinary technician,” “nurse,” and “assistant” matter so much, or what we can do to protect and elevate our profession, this conversation is a must-listen. As Beckie suggests, skip watching this nurse influencer’s videos and join NAVTA and contact your state veterinary medical Board to demand title protection for credentialed veterinary technicians. 

Should veterinary professionals, their colleagues, distributors, pharmaceutical representatives, and community heroes receive a discount? And what happens when they ask?

In this provocative episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the emotional and financial complexities of veterinary discounts. Prompted by Beckie’s personal experience navigating an expensive emergency bill for her own pet, the duo delves into topics ranging from professional courtesy and price transparency to client entitlement and business boundaries.

With a little humor and a lot of honesty, our hosts ask tough questions:

• When is it appropriate to offer a discount, and when does it erode profitability?

• Do corporate policies make it easier to say “no”?

• And how do you handle requests from vendor reps, military families, or your lead vet tech’s cousin?

From professional courtesy and corporate policy to profitability and emotional boundaries, this episode is a must-hear for practice leaders navigating pricing transparency and culture.

This episode is more than a veterinary business conversation; it’s a reflection on fairness, empathy, and the complex social dynamics of money in veterinary medicine. 

Whether you’re setting policy, enforcing it, or simply trying to survive the awkwardness, this one will hit home.

When a veterinary professional loses a pet, should they get time off? What happens when a request for pet bereavement leave is met with an eye roll?

In this emotionally charged episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle the tough conversation around grief leave for veterinary team members mourning the loss of their own animals. 

Drawing on listener questions, real-life clinic experiences, and personal stories, the hosts explore why this seemingly niche benefit deserves serious consideration in practice policies.

They unpack how grief uniquely impacts those who work in animal care, why existing PTO policies often fall short, and how dismissive responses from managers can erode clinic culture and trust. 

More than a debate over logistics, this episode makes the case for compassionate, proactive leadership, especially when grief hits close to home.

Whether you’re a practice owner, clinic manager, or team member, this episode will challenge how you think about mental wellness, staff support, and the human-animal bond inside your own veterinary walls.

What if the negative review was… right? 

In this brutally honest episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle one of the most difficult scenarios in veterinary medicine: how to handle legitimate complaints when your clinic or team actually did make a mistake.

With raw insight and hard-earned experience, the hosts examine how to manage everything from emotionally-charged one-star reviews to social media posts by staff that cross the line. 

They break down why the “we’re sorry this happened” template may no longer be enough and how transparency, empathy, and timely internal support can de-escalate even the most viral situations.

They also discuss the importance of leadership when things go wrong, the need for well-written social media policies, and the delicate balance between defending your team and holding people accountable. 

Remember when veterinary break rooms were covered in highlighted journals and sticky notes that said “READ THIS”? This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor explore how our learning habits have changed and what this means for clinic culture.

Are we still learning together… or just scrolling solo?

In this thought-provoking episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, explore how veterinary professionals consume and share clinical knowledge in today’s fast-paced, digital-first world.

Gone are the days of dog-eared journals in the break room and article clippings on the clinic fridge. But what have we lost in this shift to screens and skimming? From the impact of algorithm-driven content and AI tools like ChatGPT to concerns about critical thinking and team collaboration, Dr. Ward and Beckie ask whether we're trading connection and depth for convenience and speed.

The episode questions whether the rise of digital isolation and the decline in communal learning have affected how veterinary teams function and bond. 

It’s more than nostalgia; it’s a call to reimagine how clinics can cultivate curiosity, unity, and a culture of continual education in a fragmented information landscape.

What do you do when a client trashes your clinic with a negative online review, then schedules another appointment as if nothing happened? In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, unpack the emotional and professional complexities of accepting—or refusing—returning clients who’ve publicly criticized your team.

From understanding when a bad review crosses into abuse to learning how to initiate honest, respectful dialogue, this episode delivers actionable strategies for managing digital conflict, preserving team morale, and navigating tough conversations. 

The hosts also explore how evolving norms around online reviews have changed the client-vet dynamic, and why price complaints, while frustrating, may not always be personal. A must-listen for veterinary professionals dealing with the emotional toll of public feedback in an increasingly review-driven world.

Vaccine and surgery hesitancy isn’t just a human healthcare challenge; veterinary teams are seeing it more often in exam rooms across the country. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, cohosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, take a deep dive into the rising trend of pet parent hesitancy around core vaccines and routine surgical procedures like spays, neuters, and dental cleanings

The conversation covers how internet misinformation, personal beliefs, and changing cultural norms are driving some clients to question the necessity, safety, or ethics of traditional veterinary recommendations.

Dr. Ward and Beckie share practical ways veterinary professionals can respond with empathy while maintaining high standards of care. They discuss strategies to build trust, avoid confrontation, and reframe conversations to focus on animal welfare and preventive health.

Whether you're facing pushback about a rabies booster or a client declining a critical dental procedure, this episode offers clear guidance to help your team feel prepared and unified. If your practice is seeing more resistance during treatment plan discussions, this is a must-listen for every veterinary professional.

In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle a timely topic that every veterinary professional should consider: how inflation, rising tariffs, and supply chain disruptions are affecting big purchasing decisions and clinic growth strategies.

As economic pressures mount, practice owners, managers, and technicians alike are asking: Should we buy that new piece of equipment now or wait? Dr. Ward and Beckie walk listeners through real-world examples — from deciding whether to replace aging digital radiology systems to concerns about the availability of surgical lasers and other high-ticket items due to supply chain slowdowns.

But this conversation isn’t just about purchases. It’s about strategy. The hosts encourage clinics to use slower economic periods to introduce new services, such as Class IV laser therapy, advanced dental care, acupuncture, or clinical weight management programs. They emphasize that investing in team training during slow periods, such as additional preventive care like heartworm and intestinal parasite education, can boost morale and better position a practice for future growth.

This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, tackle one of the most urgent and unsettling issues facing veterinary professionals: the growing instability in the profession driven by corporate layoffs, clinic closures, and public scrutiny. They discuss the recent, abrupt shutdown of My Pets Wellness clinics across multiple U.S. states, leaving veterinary teams and pet owners stunned and unemployed.

Adding fuel to the fire is a recent BBC investigative report examining rising veterinary fees in the UK, with claims that corporate-owned practices are pressuring veterinarians to upsell services and prioritize profits. These revelations have sparked renewed global concerns about how corporate influence affects client trust, team morale, and the future of veterinary care.

Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or practice manager, this episode explores how these economic and ethical pressures may impact hiring, compensation, burnout, and even the decision to stay in the profession.

In this timely and insightful episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, address one of the most pressing concerns facing veterinary professionals today: how to support your clinic team during economic uncertainty. As inflation rises, operating costs soar, and layoffs make headlines, veterinary practices—whether corporate or independent—must adapt quickly to protect their staff and patients.