Vet Times Podcast Veterinary Business Development Ltd

In this episode of the VN Times podcast editor Lacey discusses leaving clinical work with Sophie Giddens, a former Equine RVN who has forged a career supporting veterinary clinics while utilising many of her skills acquired in practice.

Sophie reflects candidly on not necessarily having a plan which leaving a role and the power of community and networks while making career connections.

𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦
Sophie works at VET.CT as a group case manager and trainer, helping with the training of the case manager team and taking responsibility for IT design and developments that improve the operations team workflows.

After working at an equine hospital as a nurse for 12 years Sophie made the move to a non-clinical role at VET.CT. Being able to move out of clinical practice while still being able to work closely with, and positively impact, the veterinary industry has made the change in career a successful one.

Chronic enteropathies in dogs and cats are characterised by gastrointestinal problems that manifest over a period of three weeks or longer.

Dietary strategies are key, so specialist vet Cecilia Villaverde, board-certified in veterinary nutrition, runs us through some of these considerations and more in this Vet Times Podcast.

Her article to accompany this podcast, “Gastrointestinal problems and latest thinking in pets”, was in Vet Times Volume 54, Issue 11, Pages 6-10 and is online now at https://bit.ly/4b9N82k

•••••••••••••••••

𝗖𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗣𝗵𝗗, 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗖𝗡, 𝗗𝗔𝗖𝗩𝗜𝗠(𝗡𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻)
Cecilia obtained a veterinary degree in 2000 and a PhD in animal nutrition in 2005 by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain.

She worked as a post-doctoral researcher in feline nutrition at the University of California, Davis, where she also completed a residency in small animal clinical nutrition at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

She is board certified in veterinary nutrition by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition) and by the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition since 2010.

After working as the chief of service of the veterinary teaching hospital nutrition service in UAB for six years, Cecilia is now a consultant in clinical nutrition for Expert Pet Nutrition and Veterinary Information Network.

She is the co-chair of the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee and has written several articles and book chapters on the topic of companion animal nutrition.

In this VN Times Podcast, editor Lacey Pitcher RVN discusses careers with Kirsty Cavill.

Kirsty has a passion for veterinary nursing that has allowed her to develop and utilise her skills in a variety of ways to not only help improve animal welfare but also provide accessible care in a variety of ways.

Kirsty, an award-winning vet nurse, shares her advice and insight to help other consider how they can support and nurture the human-animal bond.

𝘕𝘖𝘛𝘌: 𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳.

In the first of this two-part series (https://soundcloud.com/vettimesuk/vet-times-extra-test-for-success-part-1?si=a44aeb8025e747ee83d1d74885978e9e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing) we discussed the “when” and the “why” of embedding diagnostic testing into wellness plans. This week, we welcome back Carole MacColl from IDEXX and VidiVet founder Ben Sweeney to discover “how” to make that happen.

In this part, Vet Times editor James Westgate has his guests explain how practices can get started with wellness testing, and how to maintain momentum once things are up and running.

He also asks how practices can convince clients that wellness testing is a worthwhile outlay, particularly in the current economic climate, and how to present a “completely normal” result to an owner in a way they do not feel the screening was a waste of money.

•••••••••••••••••

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟 𝖡𝖵𝖬𝖲, 𝖯𝖦𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍, 𝖵𝖾𝗍 𝖤𝖽, 𝖥𝖧𝖤𝖠, 𝖬𝖱𝖢𝖵𝖲
Carole graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2011, and gained experience in first opinion practice before undertaking a rotating internship with a focus on emergency and critical care.

She spent time as an ECC clinician in referral hospitals throughout Australia and the UK, before accepting a role as a senior vet in the RVC’s first opinion teaching hospital.

Carole joined IDEXX as a Professional Services Veterinarian covering the South of the UK in 2021.

𝗕𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝖡𝖵𝖲𝖼, 𝖬𝖲𝖼, 𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖠𝖵𝖯, 𝖬𝖱𝖢𝖵𝖲
Ben graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2008 and is passionate about positive innovation and using insights from the veterinary profession and pet-owning population to fuel evolution in how we offer veterinary services.

Ben founded VidiVet, a tele-triage app that works with vet practices to support their customers 24/7 – www.vidivet.com

•••••••••••••••••

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗫𝗫
IDEXX offers a comprehensive veterinary wellness care diagnostic solution, which gives deeper medical insights into your patients’ health, helping them live happier lives.

Our Preventative Care solutions contain our Faecal Dx antigen test, to enquire about an 8-week no-cost trial for your clinic, visit https://pages.idexx.com/fecal-dx_free-trial_en-uk#contact-form

This Vet Times Extra Podcast, sponsored by IDEXX, sees editor James Westgate discuss the benefits of wellness plans and the important part played by diagnostic testing in wellness clinics.

To offer their expert insights, James is joined by Carole MacColl, professional services vet at IDEXX, and Ben Sweeney, vet and founder of telehealth platform VidiVet, which works increasingly with veterinary practices as part of health and wellness planning.

In the first of this two-part series, topics discussed include:

• What are the main benefits of wellness clinics?
• Which pets benefit most?
• How can wellness clinics benefit younger animals?
• What should vets be looking for in wellness clinics?
• What diagnostic tests should be included? 
• What do we do if we find something?

•••••••••••••••••

𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟 𝖡𝖵𝖬𝖲, 𝖯𝖦𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍, 𝖵𝖾𝗍 𝖤𝖽, 𝖥𝖧𝖤𝖠, 𝖬𝖱𝖢𝖵𝖲
Carole graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2011, and gained experience in first opinion practice before undertaking a rotating internship with a focus on emergency and critical care.

She spent time as an ECC clinician in referral hospitals throughout Australia and the UK, before accepting a role as a senior vet in the RVC’s first opinion teaching hospital.

Carole joined IDEXX as a Professional Services Veterinarian covering the South of the UK in 2021.

𝗕𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗬 𝖡𝖵𝖲𝖼, 𝖬𝖲𝖼, 𝖢𝖾𝗋𝗍𝖠𝖵𝖯, 𝖬𝖱𝖢𝖵𝖲
Ben graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2008 and is passionate about positive innovation and using insights from the veterinary profession and pet-owning population to fuel evolution in how we offer veterinary services.

Ben founded VidiVet, a tele-triage app that works with vet practices to support their customers 24/7 – www.vidivet.com

•••••••••••••••••

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗫𝗫
IDEXX offers a comprehensive veterinary wellness care diagnostic solution, which gives deeper medical insights into your patients’ health, helping them live happier lives.

Our Preventative Care solutions contain our Faecal Dx antigen test, to enquire about an 8-week no-cost trial for your clinic, visit https://pages.idexx.com/fecal-dx_free-trial_en-uk#contact-form

A problem in dogs and cats, as well as horses, corneal ulcers can be a common and potentially serious condition to face in general practice.

Chris Dixon, clinical director at referral practice Veterinary Vision, runs through some of the considerations for the Vet Times Podcast.

He wrote the article “Corneal ulcers update in canine and feline pets” in Vet Times (Volume 54, Issue 09, Pages 8-12), which is online now at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/corneal-ulcers-update-in-canine-and-feline-pets/

*************

𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗫𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗩𝗢𝗽𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦
Chris graduated from the University of Bristol and spent several years working in first opinion mixed practice in the North York Moors and Cumbria before deciding to focus on ophthalmology.

He is a clinical director of Veterinary Vision, a dedicated ophthalmology referral practice within the Linnaeus group. Chris has a particular interest in advanced ocular imaging, corneal cross-linking and retinal detachment surgery.