Best Vettalks Podcasts (2025)

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307 - Dr. Nathan Mitchell | SIMON Education Systems 17:32

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8d ago17:32

17:32

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Nathan Mitchell, co-founder of SIMON Education Systems, LLC, a company designing and distributing realistic and affordable veterinary diagnostic simulations. Dr. Mitchell, who started the company with his brother and mentor based on his own struggles learning diagnostics, shares how SIMON's ultra…

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306 - Yale Zhang | Seismi Inc 18:29

15d ago18:29

18:29

High-end monitoring tech for pets is often too expensive and complicated for the average practice, creating a major barrier to reliable care. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by hardware entrepreneur Yale Zhang, founder of Seismi Inc., to discuss how his company is disrupting the space with affordable, non-invasive monitoring. Yale s…

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305 - Kimball Carr | Inspire Veterinary Partners 20:36

23d ago20:36

20:36

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Kimball Carr, CEO and President of Inspire Veterinary Partners, to discuss how his company is challenging the consolidation status quo in veterinary medicine. Kimball shares his vision for a long-term growth model built on an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), designed to fight burnout and create …

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304 - David Teaster | SATELLAI 23:17

1M ago23:17

23:17

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with David Teaster, Product Marketing Director at SATELLAI, about how smart wearables are moving way past "just GPS.". David explains how their AI-powered collars use advanced GPS and motion tracking to spot changes in your pet's activity, give you early clues about their health, and create customizable…

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303 - Dr. Sonya Gordon | Cardiac Education Group 20:33

1M ago20:33

20:33

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Sonya G. Gordon, a professor of cardiology at Texas A&M University and member of the Cardiac Education Group. She shares a unique perspective on how AI is transforming veterinary education and clinical practice. Dr. Gordon explains that rather than replacing veterinarians, AI is a tool that enh…

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302 - Alex Voda | Pharma R&D and Longevity 17:26

2M ago17:26

17:26

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Alex Voda from The Cat Health Company to discuss how the startup became the first clinical-stage company focused on feline longevity. Alex explains why cats are better models than other species for pharmaceutical R&D and how repurposing existing drugs could accelerate new treatments. He shares insigh…

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Never Too Old To Go Under - Dr Sarah Goldsmid 6:23

2M ago6:23

6:23

It’s hard to believe but Medical teams have been progressively improving anaesthetic products since they were first invented more than 170 years ago. The result being that today’s surgeries being shorter and safer than ever before for both people AND pets. However, there’s been a long-held myth by some pet owners that their aged pets shouldn’t unde…

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301 - Dr. Lisa Lippman | Senior Dog Veterinary Society 19:24

2M ago19:24

19:24

Puppies have clear care protocols — but what about seniors?This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak dive into conversation with Dr. Lisa Lippman from the Senior Dog Veterinary Society about how her team is closing one of the biggest gaps in veterinary medicine. She explains how the Society is closing a critical gap in veterinary education by offeri…

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Stop Broody Birds From Laying - Dr Jayne Weller 5:16

2M ago5:16

5:16

It’s the bane of bird fanciers everywhere – how to deal with their feathered friend’s primal urge to become a mum – and the very real concern the bird might become egg-bound. It’s a problem Exotics Vet Dr Jayne Weller has helped many bird owners confront, so she was well-prepared with a mix of solutions when she joined us on the recent VETtalk ‘Liv…

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300 - Joe Chickerillo | Chckvet 22:40

2M ago22:40

22:40

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Joe Chickerillo from Chckvet to speak about the company's evolution from an online booking tool into a five-in-one veterinary platform. Joe explains how Chckvet integrates booking, analytics, communications, reviews, loyalty programs, and client portals into one customizable solution. He shares how c…

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Why Pet Dental Care Is So Important - Dr Barbara Fougere 8:28

2M ago8:28

8:28

Dogs, cats even birds have dental health problems - And poor dental health can lead to shorter lives and many life-threatening diseases. Did you know you can brush a dog or cat's teeth? - It's true... just ask your vet to show you how. Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet in Sydney tells us some of the signs to watch for with your pet's teeth.…

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Snakes Still About? - Nadia Crighton Pet Insurance Australia 5:25

2M ago5:25

5:25

It seems Australia's 'Long Hot Summers' are becoming even longer - especially with the El Niño effect. The result? - S N A K E S ! - And unfortunately the snake bite is not always the end of it. If your pet survives there are often other even even more costly side-effects that need to be treated. Prevention is better than cure according to Nadia Cr…

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Which Breeds Cost More To Insure... & Why? 5:41

2M ago5:41

5:41

Is a Poodle healthier than say a Chihuahua?. What about a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel compared to a Beagle or a Boxer? Dogs are not 'dogs' when it comes to health issues. Sometimes it's just genetics -eg; "in the breed" - at other times it could be poor breeding generally or even cross-breeding. So which breeds are generally more expensive to ins…

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Do Chooks Make Good Pets? - Dr Jayne Weller 4:19

2M ago4:19

4:19

We've had chooks (chickens for our overseas listeners!) for many years now. They're a great source of eggs and believe it or not are VERY socialiable. Given the chance they love to cuddle and get involved in the day to day activities around the home - including coming inside the house to see 'wassup'! Exotics Vet Dr Jayne Weller also has chooks so …

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Are Anaesthetics Dangerous+VetCosts - Dr Sarah Goldsmid 6:11

2M ago6:11

6:11

Many vets tell us there's still an unfounded stigma surrounding the safety of anaesthesia for pets… sometimes resulting in desperately needed procedures such as a dental cleaning or extraction being put off, leaving the pet in pain. The rationale owners sometimes offer is " well, humans aren't put under just to have their teeth treated…are they?” S…

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299 - Dr. Elianne Mimoun | The Veterkin Society 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Elianne Mimoun from The Veterkin Society, a virtual animal hospital created to address a challenge many veterinarians face after leaving clinical practice or never in clinical practice: access to affordable tools, medications, and diagnostics. Drawing on her 20+ years in veterinary medicine, Dr…

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Dealing With Dry Eye Boogas - Dr Barbara Fougere 5:37

2M ago5:37

5:37

Ok let's get technical here... Do you know what 'Eye Boogas' are? It seems that all of us at some time have had crusty eyes that we often call 'boogas' and think very little of it... For animals and humans as it happens - dry eye can also be a serious health issue that really needs to be "looked" at (sorry about the pun!) as soon as possible. Dogs,…

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Travelling With Pets - Kylie Kavanagh 6:07

2M ago6:07

6:07

If you have pets and love travelling as much as we do, there's NO WAY we're going to leave them behind is there?... A very helpful chat with experienced traveller, dog lover and Veterinry Nurse Kylie KavanaghBy Brian Pickering & Kaye Browne

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Cats Vs Toddlers - Dr Kim Kendall 4:04

2M ago4:04

4:04

Put a young kid and a cat together and it makes a pretty cute photo right? Maybe… unless you’re the cat! Young kids, especially toddlers and especially boys can be a cat’s worst nightmare. This story is very close to home... Not too long ago our daughter needed help to solve a problem with her much loved 9 yr old cat Smokey and her then almost 3 yr…

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How To Tell If Your Pet Is Unwell - Dr Jo Sillince 6:10

3M ago6:10

6:10

Have you ever noticed how animals are VERY good at hiding pain or showing they are unwell. This is a highly evolved 'protective mechanism' of course - no single animal wants to be the sick one in the pack/herd/flock etc... But how can we as pet lovers tell? Are they hot, cold, off their food? Are their gums red, yellow, white or pink? How are they …

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Are Solo Dogs Ok? - Dr Jo Sillince 4:07

3M ago4:07

4:07

For many reasons some people only have one dog or one cat... And we hear a lot of animal behaviourists say that dogs in particular crave company - the old 'pack mentality' But is this true?... we thought we'd ask Dr Jo Sillince what she thought about 'solo dogs'!By Brian Pickering & Kaye Browne

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Do Mice Make Good Pets - Cindy Cairns 2:24

3M ago2:24

2:24

These days with a lot of people living in apartments or townhouses the idea of a dog or cat is often out of the question for many of them – so we thought we’d take a look at something a bit smaller – like a mouse! We chat with Cindy Cairns - originally from the aptly named ‘Rodent Ranch’ (now closed)…

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Vets Diagnosing Vet's Pets! - Dr Sarah Goldsmid & Dr Narelle Brown 4:19

3M ago4:19

4:19

Question: Do vets ever diagnose their own pet's ailments? You'd think with all their training - especially specialists & surgeons - that they'd know 'everything' - but it seems that's not always the case... And for good reason when you think about it - Of course they know all the basics all GP vets are required to know as part of being a registered…

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Pregnant? Get Rid Of The Cat! (True or False?) - Dr Jo Sillince 2:46

3M ago2:46

2:46

So many 'old wives tales' get muddled up with 21st century science. Maybe you've been told this? "Are you pregnant? Then you MUST get rid of the cat as soon as possible!" It still seems to be a common thought among pregnant women around the world - one which sadly means cats being 'dumped' for no reason whatsoever. So who better to find out more ab…

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Can We Solve The Feral Cat Problem? - Dr Kim Kendall 3:05

3M ago3:05

3:05

Many listeners will know we have a couple of chooks that we like to let free range in the backyard from time to time... but recently we heard a lot of commotion and raced outside to see of all things ... a BLACK cat! ... We don't know anyone in our street who has one but we do live by a small suburban forest and we immediately suspected a feral cat…

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Holistic Healing For Pets! - Dr Barbara Fougere 8:34

3M ago8:34

8:34

Holistic Veterinarians who look at a pet’s tongue can tell a great deal more about their patient’s state of health/disease than say a GP asking a human patient to say ‘ahh’. A rapidly rising number of vets are choosing to learn Eastern techniques to use alongside their existing western scientific training to provide combined treatments for their pa…

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Fun With Anal Glands! - Dr Jo Sillince 4:10

3M ago4:10

4:10

Well even though it says it in the title - 'fun' is not necessarily what what you would call dealing with this problem in dogs mainly. But as always Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia describes the condition, causes and solution in her own humorous way for the benefit of us all :-)By Brian Pickering & Kaye Browne

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298 - Dr. Eve Hanks | MI:RNA Diagnostics 22:13

3M ago22:13

22:13

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak meet with Dr. Eve Hanks, the founder of MI:RNA Diagnostics to chat about her remarkable journey from clinical veterinary practice to becoming the CEO of a pioneering diagnostics company. Eve shares how her background in immunology led to the creation of an AI-powered platform that uses microRNA to detect dis…

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Why Desexing Your Pets Makes Sense! - Nadia Crighton 7:17

3M ago7:17

7:17

BENEFITS OF DE-SEXING (Spay/Neuter in the US!) There are many reasons why pet owners should desex their pets. As well as helping to stop pet overpopulation, the following are some of the other benefits associated with desexing cats and dogs. Health Reduced risk of getting cancer or other diseases of the reproductive organs, such as testicular cance…

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297 - Luke Hedlund | Tucannon Partners 19:14

4M ago19:14

19:14

What if the most effective way to innovate in veterinary medicine isn't to start something new, but to take something that already works and make it work better? This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak explore insights from Luke Hedlund, the Founder of Tucannon Partners, about exactly that approach. Luke is looking for one business within vet med …

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296 - Dr. Michael Blackwell | AlignCare Health Inc. 21:06

4M ago21:06

21:06

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Michael Blackwell from the University of Tennessee, and the Director of AlignCare Health Inc., about the increasing challenges families face in accessing veterinary care and how the One Health model offers a transformative solution. Dr. Blackwell explains that many of the barriers to care stem …

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295 - James Merchant | ClinicWise 18:31

5M ago18:31

18:31

Veterinary clinics are facing growing pressure from chaotic workflows, missed calls, scattered forms, and burned-out front-desk teams. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak sit down with James Merchant, co-founder of ClinicWise, to explore how deeply integrated, AI-powered tools are helping practices streamline client communication, automate rep…

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294 - Cory Pinegar | Teem 20:50

5M ago20:50

20:50

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak connect with Cory Pinegar from Teem about how veterinary clinics can reduce overhead and improve reliability by outsourcing administrative tasks to remote teams. Cory shares how Teem's model uses structured training, real-time performance data, and an empathy-first approach to create scalable support without…

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293 - Lea-Ann Germinder | Germinder & Associates 22:20

5M ago22:20

22:20

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Lea-Ann Germinder, Founder and President of Germinder & Associates, Inc. They chat about the complex challenges and transformative potential of Responsible AI (RAI) in veterinary medicine. Drawing from her PhD research and presentation at Cornell's SAVY Symposium, Germinder outlines the ethical gaps,…

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292 - Mark Hines | baxtr 21:41

5M ago21:41

21:41

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak talk with Mark Hines from baxtr about how veterinary clinics can use technology to streamline their operations and improve access to care. Mark shares how baxtr's software helps independent practices create custom subscription wellness plans with predictable monthly payments, automated communication, and les…

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291 - Steve Castillo | Profit Solver LLC 22:47

6M ago22:47

22:47

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Steve Castillo from Profit Solver about how veterinary practices can uncover hidden profits through precise, evidence-based pricing strategies. Steve shares how his patented software — already implemented in over 3,700 clinics — uses real financial data and time-motion studies to optimize service f…

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Dogs & Hugging - Good Or Bad? - Steve Austin 8:39

6M ago8:39

8:39

Is it ok to hug a dog?... How about if the dog likes to hug you? - Is that ok? A recent SBS TV show featured well known Aussie animal trainer Steve Austin - among others - trying to answer the question "Do Dogs Love Us?". We also had a listener wanting to have her say in this story which we've also included in this podcast.…

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290 - James Kademan | Vet Receptionists 24:47

6M ago24:47

24:47

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome James Kademan from Veterinary Receptionists to discuss how his specialized virtual receptionist service is helping veterinary clinics overcome staffing shortages, reduce front desk burnout, and improve client communication. James also shares how AI tools like real-time transcription and chatbots are …

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289 - Maria Morgan | Passpaw 22:45

7M ago22:45

22:45

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Maria Morgan, co-founder of Passpaw, about how veterinary teams can turn international pet travel documentation from a time-consuming task into an efficient, team-led, and profitable service. As more clients travel with their pets post-pandemic, many practices either avoid these certificates entire…

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288 - Dr. Kemba Marshall | KLMDVM Consulting LLC 23:13

7M ago23:13

23:13

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak sit down with Dr. Kemba Marshall, veterinarian, DEI expert, and author of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine", to explore how psychological safety — the #1 trait of high-performing teams and the focus of the P chapter of her new book — drives innovation, improves patient care, and reduc…

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287 - Andy Bond | BestyBnB 26:27

7M ago26:27

26:27

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Andy Bond from BestyBnB, a tech platform providing confidential, in-home pet care during crisis situations. Andy shares how they've created a "HIPAA-compliant Airbnb for pets" supporting pet owners facing domestic violence, mental health challenges, or housing issues by partnering with social servi…

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286 - Dr. Kristin Welch | DVM STAT Consulting 23:20

7M ago23:20

23:20

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Kristin Welch, the founder of DVM STAT Consulting, for a deep dive into how teleconsultation is transforming access to specialty care in veterinary medicine. They explore the unique benefits of doctor-to-doctor virtual consultations, how AI is being used to streamline the review of complex medica…

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285 - Dr. Andrew Ciccolini | Serenity Vet 21:03

9M ago21:03

21:03

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Andrew Ciccolini from Serenity Vet, a new relief platform that uniquely combines a marketplace connecting veterinarians with employers and a business suite featuring financial planning tools for both. They discuss why relief work is growing, how Serenity Vet differentiates itself with features …

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284 - Chuck Rich | Greysteel 20:54

9M ago20:54

20:54

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by Chuck Rich from Greysteel to discuss current trends in veterinary real estate, including the sale-leaseback model, navigating corporate acquisitions, and strategies for practice owners to unlock equity and plan for retirement or expansion. Learn more about GreySteel. Chuck Rich recommends "Extreme …

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283 - Ryan Salvino | VetTalk 22:31

10M ago22:31

22:31

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Ryan Salvino, the co-founder of VetTalk Software, about their automated client education system that integrates with veterinary practice management systems. Ryan shares how VetTalk improves compliance, reduces staff workload, and ensures better pet care through pre and post-appointment educational …

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282 - Dr. Emily Hubbard | Veterinary Innovative Partners 20:01

10M ago20:01

20:01

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Emily Hubbard, the Chief Medical Officer at Veterinary Innovative Partners (VIP), to talk about fostering healthy communication, conflict resolution, and leadership in veterinary practices. Dr. Hubbard shares how VIP supports autonomy, empowers hospital teams, and advances the veterinary field th…

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281 - Dr. Rory Lubold | Affordable Pet Labs 20:39

11M ago20:39

20:39

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak joined by Dr. Rory Lubold, Founder of Affordable Pet Labs, a company dedicated to making diagnostic testing more accessible and affordable for pet owners nationwide. They discuss breaking barriers to veterinary care — both in terms of cost and accessibility — and how their in-home blood collection and at-hom…

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280 - Aoife Caulfield | Village Vets 21:54

11M ago21:54

21:54

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Aoife Caulfield, Partnerships and Acquisitions Lead at Village Vets Ireland, to talk about building partnerships, challenges of consolidating practices, innovative practice ownership models, and the future of veterinary in Ireland. She also shared insights on the importance of leadership, networking,…

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279 - Suvi Irvine | Blue River PetCare 20:05

11M ago20:05

20:05

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak are joined by Suvi Irvine, Clinical Development Manager at Blue River PetCare, to discuss how AI innovations provide a path forward to increasing efficiency, reducing burnout, and improving care access without compromising staff well-being. Learn more about Blue River PetCare. Suvi Irvine recommends YouTube …

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278 - Price Fallin | Otto (formerly TeleVet) 22:13

11M ago22:13

22:13

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Price Fallin, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Otto (formerly TeleVet), where he shares the journey of Otto, a leading workflow automation platform. He discusses the challenges of rapid growth, the impact of COVID-19, and how automation can unlock new opportunities for veterinary practice e…