Dr. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, joins Dr. Andy Roark to tackle a problem every clinic knows too well, stressed pets, stressed owners, and appointments that start going sideways before the car even leaves the driveway. They dig into pre-visit pharmaceuticals beyond the usual gabapentin and trazodone, including when to increase doses, when sedation is masking… Read More
About Andy Roark DVM MS
Why You Can’t Let Yourself Relax
My father is a retired surgeon, and he recently told me that he could never fully relax until he retired. “You’re always asking yourself if you could have been a little bit better. You wonder if you could have said something differently to put the person’s mind at ease, if you could have anticipated a… Read More
The Best Email Reply of All Time
I was recently asked to review a book chapter by someone I both like and respect. My immediate instinct was to say “of course! I’d be happy to help,” but I could also hear my wife’s voice in the back of my mind saying “You’re not allowed to complain that you’re too busy and also… Read More
The Dangers of Dutch
Dr. Andy Roark hosts Dr. Matt Salois, an economist, VMG president, and adjunct faculty at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, to discuss his Today’s Veterinary Business article on the “dangers of Dutch Pets veterinary telemedicine,” using a Trojan horse metaphor. They argue that when a “no strings attached” solution promises cheaper, easier access by reducing… Read More
Cult of the Holy Bedtime
Happy Scare-The-Crap-Out-Of-Your-Dog Day! There are three kinds of people in America: those who want fireworks on the 4th of July, those who want light-up drone displays, and those who want to go to sleep. I am a card-carrying member of the latter group. When I was growing up, I had a friend whose mother said… Read More
Fireworks Phobia Over the Phone
Dr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, joins Dr. Andy Roark for a timely Hall of Fame episode that every veterinary professional should revisit before fireworks season kicks into high gear. If you’ve ever had a client call in a panic hours before the fireworks start, this episode breaks down what you can do, what realistically helps,… Read More