• Vet Tech Cafe - Kelly Foltz Episode #2
    Jun 30 2025

    Caffeinators, this is a HEAVY episode. But it is one you ABSOLUTELY need to tune in to. You may remember our episode with Kelly Foltz from 2023 where she touched on the idea of futile care and has since been involved in researching this topic (link below). In this most recent discussion we try to define and label this idea, which proves to be very tricky and as yet is still undecided. But the fact remains, as evidenced by her research, we all have, or will, experience futile care in veterinary medicine. That "why are we doing this" patient. This episode starts that discussion and hopefully many more because we need to be preparing all future veterinarians and credentialed technicians for this. We need to learn to identify it, talk about it, and develop steps to mitigate it because it is not going away. DO NOT miss this episode.

    Show Links:

    The first paper by Peterson et al focused on clinicians: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/12/javma.22.01.0033.xml The paper I co-authored focused on technicians: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/4/javma.24.10.0659.xml; published this year. Today's Veterinary Practice article, may be more accessible than the research papers: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/practice-management/recognizing-futile-care-in-veterinary-medicine/ Hastings Center For Bioethics article by Dr. Peterson and Dr. Boyd: https://www.thehastingscenter.org/veterinarians-often-provide-futile-care-doing-so-comes-at-a-cost/ Marie Holowaychuk blog post: https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/08/03/futile-care-and-the-impact-on-wellbeing-in-veterinary-medicine/ Practical Bioethics from 2023: https://www.practicalbioethics.org/whats-new/three-definitions-of-medical-futility-and-how-to-balance-them/ Human paper from 2005: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16159066/ AMA paper from 2007: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/medical-futility-legal-and-ethical-analysis/2007-05

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

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    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Vet Tech Cafe Inge Breathnach Episode
    Jun 24 2025

    Caffeinators, let's talk oncology. And let's have that conversation with Inge Breathnach! Inge (@oncologyrvn) came by the Vet Tech Cafe recently (TWICE due to technical issues!) to talk all things oncology. We discussed the importance of alignment, ethically speaking, between the oncology nurse and the oncology veterinarian, the importance of celebrating your wins no matter how small they may be, and flipping the script from the difficulty that comes with a cancer diagnosis to the impact we can make in helping the patient feel better and improve their quality of life, and give the owner more time with their pets. We covered a lot of ground in this one, but not nearly as much ground as Inge has covered in her career from Ireland to Australia to the UK-more on that in the episode!

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

    Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

    Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

    Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Vet Tech Taproom Episode 51
    Jun 9 2025

    Taproom 51! Jeff has a new baby! We discuss Vet Tech title protection in Illinois and recap of our May episodes. We also discuss time off.. paternity, bereavement. What else do you get for time off? Our upcoming episodes are getting scheduled. Onco, futile care and shelter medicine coming up soon!

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    33 mins
  • Vet Tech Cafe - Kelly Drescher Johnson Episode 2
    May 26 2025

    Caffeinators, you may remember we recently spoke with Kelly Drescher Johnson and talked about end of life care and grief, and the company she started, Veterinary Chaplaincy Services. During that discussion she mentioned the idea of the "World's Worst Cocktail Party" and grief. We decided to make that a whole episode for Mental Health Awareness Month! This discussion was fascinating and made so much sense how we move through grief and how that applies not only to ourselves, but pet owners in our hospitals as well. This episode had no script-just an incredible discussion about grief and how we move through it, and resources for pet owners. Don't miss it!

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

    Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

    Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

    Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Vet Tech Cafe - Lynn Blake Episode 2
    May 12 2025

    Caffeinators, you may remember when we had Lynn Blake on in the Summer of 2024. There were a few points in that discussion that made us think she'd be a perfect fit for our May episodes where we focus on mental health in our field for Mental Health Awareness Month. Lynn cam back recently to tell us what she's doing now and we discussed mental health in our field from several different angles, including those that are a result of the current political landscape in the US. There are some difficult moments in this one, but, if you're in a leadership role, I can't recommend this episode enough as we discuss QPR training at length, and Lynn shares when she had to utilize that training, and so much more.

    Show Links:

    988 Lifeline https://988lifeline.org

    QPR Training https://qprinstitute.com

    The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org

    RAINN https://rainn.org

    ACLU Know Your Rights https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

    Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

    Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

    Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr
  • Vet Tech Taproom Episode 50
    May 5 2025

    Taproom # 50! Lots to unpack here. Here's some links we discussed

    Minnesota: https://navta.net/industry-news/minnesota-association-of-veterinary-technicians-mavt-update-historic-veterinary-technician-licensure-bill-passed/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKEdsZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5RkdkN1pOVjJNZFdva2pRAR6BEr4PhIBwEWu4Y8dwWRrIA6c0xlmY4yDXlH_Zw3cZIJYVwS0YooL4G_8gQg_aem_fGQxGLGSOUe9MNS7zcYIFQ

    Mid Level Practitioner: https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&catId=6958&id=12620873

    DEI: https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2025/4/25/avmas-council-on-education-cites-federal-pressure-in-controversial-decision-to-eliminate-diversity-reporting-requirements

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    47 mins
  • Vet Tech Cafe - Amelia Sherwood Episode
    Apr 28 2025

    Caffeinators, you know we love to highlight veterinary technicians and nurses that are out here blazing a path that makes us all better for it. This is another one of those episodes. We recently came across Amelia Sherwood, (@tissueviabilityvetnurse) and looking at her content and what she was doing, we knew we had to talk to her. She was gracious enough to to chat with us, and what an inspiring conversation! We talked all things wound management, healing, and the role of the veterinary technician or nurse in these cases, and how we can advocate for these patients and play such a crucial role in their healing and case outcome. It was fascinating to hear how she's progressed in the field of wound management and tissue viability, and the consulting she does now. You DO NOT want to miss this one. Come for the great discussion, stay for her accent!

    Show Links

    Website: www.tissueviabilityvetnurse.co.uk Instagram: @tissueviabilityvetnurse Wound Resources: TissueViabilityQI - Etsy UK

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

    Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

    Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

    Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Vet Tech Cafe - Elizabeth Stark Episode
    Apr 14 2025

    Caffeinators, it's time for another uplifting, inspiring episode. We've had a few people recommend Beth Stark to be a guest on the Vet Tech Cafe, and we finally got to meet her at HiVE Anaheim as the three of us are HiVE Champions. We recently sat down with her to talk about her unique path, her passion for helping veterinary technicians advance their careers, work to prevent burnout, and also her involvement in several organizations. We talked about the importance of being involved and engaged and so many other facets of our careers. We really covered a lot of ground in this one!

    Our Links:

    Check out our sponsor https://betterhelp.com/vettechcafe for 10% off your first month of therapy

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vettechcafe

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vettechcafepodcast

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vet-tech-cafe

    Like and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDTKdfOaqSW0Mv3Uoi33qg

    Our website: https://www.vettechcafe.com/

    Vet Tech Cafe Merch: https://www.vettechcafe.com/merch

    If you would like to help us cover our podcast expenses, we'd appreciate any support you give through Patreon. We do this podcast and our YouTube channel content to support the veterinary technicians out there and do not expect anything in return! We thank you for all you do. 🐾

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vettechcafe

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    1 hr