You can think of a bunch of things that make your working day (and career!) as a veterinarian more frustrating than you’d like it to be, right? But have you ever considered the role of the software that you use in how frazzled you feel at the end of the day?

And beyond the pure frustration of ‘too many clicks’ and that spinning wheel of doom when you have ten other things to do - have you considered how the very software that feels like it's holding you back could actually help solve some of the systemic challenges that feel like they’re just baked into the vet profession, like low clinical confidence, medical errors, and even burnout?

In this conversation, we speak to emergency vet and tech entrepreneur ⁠Dr Caleb Frankel⁠ , founder of ⁠Instinct Science⁠, about what’s broken in vet tech, what good software should actually do, and why the future of practice might depend on getting this right.

In this episode:

• Why building good vet software is so damn hard (and how to spot the tools worth your trust)
• What to look for (and avoid!) when choosing new software for your clinic
• Reducing the trauma of introducing a new tech tool to the team (yes, even the dreaded PIMS change!)
• How software design impacts clinical confidence, patient safety, and mental health
• AI in clinical decision-making - why it’s more than just a productivity tool
• Must-have tech tools for 2025 (that aren’t just another app)

If you’ve ever felt like your tools are working against you, this is the conversation that might just change the way you practice—for good.

Lift your clinical game with our RACE approved clinical podcasts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes, or check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠.

Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠.

⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Join us in person for our epic adventure CE events at ⁠Vets On Tour⁠. (Next up: Japan snow conference!)

Episode topics and timestamps: 05:55 Why veterinary software is so challenging

11:15 What to look for (and avoid!) in veterinary software

14:26 Cloud vs server-based software?

34:08 Unexpected ways where tech can help with the main challenges in veterinary medicine

37:07 AI in veterinary medicine

48:09 Must-have tech tools for 2025

55:14 Advice for new graduates

We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via our contact form at ⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠, or catch up with us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

And if you like what you hear, please share the love by clicking on the share button wherever you’re listening and sending a link to someone who you think should hear this.

I’m never excited when I diagnose a cat with anaemia: vague signs, confusing diagnostics, and what feels like a not-so-great prognoses. But are they really that hopeless?

In this episode, feline medicine specialist Dr Rachel Korman joins us demystify the anaemic cat and offer a clear, practical diagnostic framework that will give you more confidence and better outcomes the next time you see a cat with a low PCV.

Some highlights from this conversation:

• A step-by-step approach to categorising anaemia.
• Regenerative vs. non-regenerative: what it actually means in cats, and how to interpret the data.
• Why IMHA in cats doesn’t look like IMHA in dogs — and how to recognise it.
• Haemoplasma infections (like Mycoplasma): When to treat, how to treat, PCR testing, and what the results really tell you.
• Age-specific differentials: what to prioritise in young vs. older cats.
• Supportive care: what works, what’s myth.
• Prognosis pitfalls: why PCV alone doesn’t predict survival.

This episode will help you approach feline anaemia with more clarity, structure, and - dare we say - optimism.

💡 Proudly supported by Vetnostics Pathology: Australia's largest network of veterinary pathologists and internal medicine consultants. Learn how Vetnostics can support your work-up of complex anaemia cases with comprehensive PCR panels and diagnostic expertise.

🎧 Want more clinical deep dives? Subscribe at vvn.supercast.com for 600+ episodes covering small animal medicine, surgery and ECC.

Upcoming conferences that I’m excited to attend:

• Vets On Tour snow conferences (https://vetsontour.com) in Wānaka, NZ (August ’250), and Nozawa Onsen, Japan (Feb ’26)
• ANZCVS Science Week, 24-25 July 2025. https://vetscienceweek.com.au
• ⁠IVECCS 2025⁠, San Diego, September 4-8

Get help with your tricky cases in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

V⁠⁠isit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for show notes and resources related to this episode.

⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Episode Topics and Timestamps05:14 – Categorising anaemia06:00 – Regenerative vs. non-regenerative07:42 – Haemolytic anaemias in cats17:17 – Clinical signs and first tests18:43 – PCV/TP interpretation27:48 – Common causes by age31:38 – Mycoplasma diagnosis and treatment35:04 – Recognising haemolysis39:38 – PCR and anaemia panels48:53 – Bone marrow biopsy tips54:52 – Supportive treatments

🎙️ Introducing the Veterinary Business Accelerator, our new podcast for veterinary practice owners who want more than just survival - they want to own the practice they dreamed of when they first decided to start a practice - a place that gives them joy and freedom, and where other vets like to work.

In this brand-new series, vet business coach, author, and former Vet Vault guest Dr. Sam Bowden shares the mindset, strategies, and systems he’s used to help hundreds of practice owners transform their clinics into what he calls “abundant practices” - workplaces that are profitable, sustainable, and deeply rewarding.

In Episode 1: Why Even Start a Vet Practice?, we ask the question: Wouldn’t it be easier to just get a job?

When you’re in the thick of it all, it feels that way, doesn’t it?

Especially when you’re knee-deep in payroll, staff issues, client complaints, and wondering if you’ll ever take a proper holiday again.

In this kickoff episode we start with the question every practice owner should revisit regularly: Why are you in business?

Dr Sam Bowden breaks down why most owners start with good intentions: better medicine, a better team, better money - but end up overworked, underpaid, and out of joy. And why the fix begins with something deceptively simple: clarity on that why.

Sam outlines his framework for what he calls an “abundant practice” - the five pillars that any vet business needs to get right if it’s going to support the life you want. And yes, that includes permission to take a holiday.

What You’ll Learn:

• The real reasons vets start practices (hint: it’s not just the money)
• Why good intentions often lead to overwhelm
• The 5 pillars of Sam’s Abundant Practice Model: time, team, clients, finances, fulfillment
• How a low financial drive hurts the profession—and your personal life
• Common mindset traps (and how to replace guilt with growth)
• The power of shifting from “either/or” to “yes/and” thinking
• Why clarity is the foundation for fun, freedom, and financial success

If this episode was made just for you, and you’d like to hear more, you can find our other episodes here.