There's been a LOT of talk about Ketamine recently. Not only as an induction agent but also its larger role as an NMDA receptor antagonist and how this plays into chronic conditions such as pain, anxiety, and depression. Today we talk with Dr. Matthew Gurney DECVAA on how we can better utilize this drug class and some of the science behind it! Dr. …

So, have you ever wondered what it would be like to make the switch from veterinary nursing to the human side? Well, today we are talking with Morgan McCann who has done just that! Morgan McCann has been a credentialed veterinary technician since 2010 and became a VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) in 2018. In 2020 she began the process of transitioning …

Today we are joined by Dr. Omar Zaheer, DACZM discussing all things Piggies and why your dosing calculations may be a lil off!Dr. Omar Zaheer graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 2016. Following graduation, he completed a small animal rotating internship at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto before returning to the OVC for…

Does team culture play a role in patient safety? The research may surprise you! Dr. Cyndie Courtney is back for round 2 helping us dive into the research on how teams work together and what that means for patient safety.Dr. Cyndie Courtney is a small animal veterinarian and recovering toxic team member. She speaks, writes, and consults internationa…

You've probably seen a study referenced in lectures or online forums as a way to present evidence-based theories. But have you ever wondered what all those terms in the studies mean? How does sample size affect the quality of the study? What is in-vivo vs in-vitro and how do these things affect the quality of information you are receiving and makin…

Waking up is hard to do...especially when it's after anesthesia. This episode of the podcast features Darci Palmer LVT, VTS (anesthesia & analgesia) discussing the differences between dysphoria, emergence delirium, and pain. We talk about different medication options and tips for making anesthesia recovery smoother overall.Darci Palmer has been a c…

You know I love my ventilator... see the photo for how I reacted when we got the new Mindray Veta 5 in-house! But when using a ventilator in anesthesia, what do those modes even mean? Volume control, Pressure control, PEEP...it can get a bit confusing, so we have Glynis here to make sense of it all. Today we talk to Glynis Wileman. She has a PhD - …

As you all know recovery from anesthesia and surgery is an integral part of the process. In today's episode, we talk with Feliza Lopez a VTS ECC technician in NYC who explains what makes an optimal recovery. This one is for you nutrition nerds because guess what??? it plays a huge role in recovery for some of our ICU patients. Feliza Lopez is a spe…

When it comes to onboarding your new hires what's the one thing that seems to inevitably get messed up? Training! Especially in surgery and anesthesia.In this episode, we talk to Clair Sauer, MSEd, CVT about ways we train folks (hint...there are best practices) ways we test folks on knowledge, and ways to make sure we are setting new employees up f…

We've all been there...the patient comes to our surgery service with buprenorphine on board. Now what do we do? Can we give pure mu opioids? Is buprenorphine enough for pain? How long do we have to wait for efficacy?Today we are talking with anesthesiologist Bryce Dooley about buprenorphine and why we may judge this molecule harshly. Buprenorphine …

Worlds collide on this episode of the VAN podcast! We are joined by CRNA known as "AnesthesiaGawd" on the socials. We talk about becoming a CRNA, differences in human vs vet med, drug pharmacology, and why I love a Macintosh blade! Look for Anesthesia Gawd on Instagram to follow along.Door Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds

There one drug class that can strike fear into the hearts of veterinary professionals: NMBA or muscle relaxers. This drug class is often used in optho patients however can prove to be beneficial in many other patient presentations. On today's podcast we talk to Rian Ashmore a VTS Anesthesia about what NMBA's are, how they function, and how you can …

Your mission should you choose to accept it...anesthetize this old cranky cat with kidney disease. There are many variables to consider and VTS Anesthesia Elizabeth Hart is here to help us through. What drugs should we avoid? What monitoring is the most important? Elizabeth explains what things to prepare to make anesthesia for the kidney dz patien…

BP goes down and the fluids go up...that's the way it goes right?Well it might be time to re-think those old rules of hypotension management. Today we are joined by Michelle Albino a fantastic VTS(anesthesia) out of NYC to discuss when to bring on the fluids and when to just get your vasoactive drugs going.Born and raised in New York, Michelle grad…

Is Gabapentin the new Tramadol?We see quite a many post on Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds discussing the use of Gabapentin for acute post surgical pain..but what does the evidence say? Here Stephen breaks down how this drug works, why acute pain may not be the best use of gabapentin and what you should reach for instead.Resources mentioned in this epi…

Anesthesia Machine? Check ✅Emergency Drugs? Check ✅Checklists are an integral part of our daily lives in the vet clinic, increasing efficiency and safety. You may use them in you OR, but do you use them in your ER? Today Amy Newfield is here to talk to us about WHY checklists are the s**t and why we should be using them everywhere. Amy knows educat…

well we know cannabis has been a hot topic in vet med for a while now but it still seems like there are some inconsistencies in the information out there. Is it legal to discuss with clients? What do the laws say? Does it even work? What the heck is a COA? These questions and more are answered by my guests, the enigmatic Stephen Cital, and the insp…

Sometimes you hit a point in your career where you inveitibly ask, "What's next?" Often that next is a leadership position. But what if you don't want to be a manager? Or, what if you do but you done know where to start learning about leadership and management? In this episode we talk with RVT Senani Ratnayake as she help us understand the differen…

How well can you "go with the flow"? Today we talk about oxygen flow rates, breathing systems, and when an NRB really is a wiser choice. Courtney is originally from New Zealand where she trained and qualified, and has been working as a Veterinary Nurse since 2007. After working in a number of small animal clinics there, an anaesthesia passion took …

With the price of eggs skyrocketing, some folks think a backyard chicken empire is the way to go. But, how much do we know about chicken anesthesia? Can you intubate a chicken? What muscle do you use for IM injections? What pre-meds work best? These questions and more will be answered in this episode featuring Kristen Cooley VTS (anesthesia)Kristen…

Collab alert! Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds is joining forces with Dr. Andy Roark and the crew at Cone of Shame to talk all about drugs you need in your anesthesia crash cart! In this episode the original Anesthesia Nerd, Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS, is here. join us for this pearl-packed episode, where Tasha runs through her anesthesia crash c…

While skin issues may not be everyone's cuppa tea, they are important and often the pain associated with them is untreated. This episode I talk with veterinarian and certified dermatologist Dr. Darragh O'Hanlon about how we could be better managing pain in our derm patients especially ones with otitis. So grab yourself a fresh cup and some Jammie D…

Join Yvonne Brandenburg, RVT, VTS SAIM and Jordan Porter RVT, LVT, VTS SAIM as we talk WITH Tasha McNerney BS, CVT, VTS (anesthesia and analgesia) about: I LIKE BIG BLOCKS AND I CANNOT LIE!Regional anesthesia and all things that are amazing about local anesthesia to help our patients in new ways! Resources We Mentioned in the Show https://www.dvm36…

Have you ever came back from a conference and wanted to try a new protocol or technique and were met with resistance or even flat out turned away? It's pretty frustrating however Theresa tells us how we can best work with our coworkers to have our ideas heard. Theresa Cosper-Roberts is a Registered Veterinary Technician in the state of Louisiana. S…

Well well well.... my dad got a new dog ( and of course its a SILVER LAB!!!) cue the collective groans...no surprise its a lemon and it now has some elbow problems. But what can you do to keep a dog comfortable when finances make surgery a no go. Dr. Matt Brunke is here to discuss pain management options for cash strapped clients, how Synovetin is …

If you've ever been to IVECCS chances are you have heard the brilliant minds behind Vet Tech Café, Jeff Backus and Dave Cowan (both VTS (ECC))Today they are here to not only discuss getting started in podcasting but also how they would treat a trauma case that presents to the ER and has to be kept in the ICU. Check out the vet tech café podcast her…

This episode is a mashup with Tabitha Kucera ! We call it practicing veterinary medicine because we are always improving. The use of inhalant chambers has been around for a long time, and some believe that this technique is safer for the staff and the animal, however, we now know so much more about the physiological and psychological risks this tec…

What happens when a VTS in ECC gets into a position to really enact some effective change? Well, we discuss that and more with the amazing Kelly Foltz! Kelly Foltz is a 2006 graduate of Athens Technical College with an associate of applied technology degree in Veterinary Technology. She joined the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care T…

Do you ever feel like giving up clinic life and heading to a far off destination? What if you could blend veterinary medicine together with travel to create a sustainable career? Well that's exactly what our next guest Amber LaRock has done. Join us as we talk travel opportunities for veterinary professionals, what anesthesia looks like in rural re…

You've done a few TPLO's right? You've seen a down dog? But have you been doing these key things to help your ortho and neuro patients have a faster and less painful recovery? Today we are talking to Dr. Fred Wininger about all the amazing things he is doing (like 3D printing stuff to make our pets lives better) and how you can use his knowledge to…

YOU GUYS! This is the one right here, this episode is chock full of so much practical anesthesia information and it's all due to my guest Marcia Fletcher RVN, VTS (anesthesia) Join us as we dive into timely treatments for the septic abdomen patient. In 2011, Marcia successfully passed her specialty examinations to become New Zealand’s first Veterin…

How do you determine oxygen flow during anesthesia? Are you a "set it and forget it" type of anesthetist, or do you adjust your O2 constantly? Do you live on the edge and try "low-flow"? Is there a magic number when it comes to Oxygen flow rate? Listen in as Dr. Ben Brainard makes sense out of it all... and shakes out some common myths when it come…

Ok BIRDBRAINS this one if for you! 🦜🦅🦆🦉🐦Avian anesthesia can strike fear in the hearts of many but guest Liz Vetrano CVT is here to help. s we talk about why appropriate analgesia is so important and why we both love the Sentier VetCorderhttps://www.sentierconnect.com/Liz graduated with her bachelor’s degree in biology from Towson University in 200…

Are you just as hesitant with rabbit anesthesia as I am? 😬Buns are so amazing and deserve the same level of high quality anesthesia and pain management as our canine and feline friends...yes that includes intubation. Listen in as guest Jody Nugent Deal gives us some insight on making these patients your new anesthesia favorite. 🐰We also talk about …

Picture this... Your job is a new clinic each week and you have complete autonomy over your schedule. Sound too good to be true? Well it's exactly what locum anesthesia tech Kim Spelts does every day! Traveling techs are a new way for techs to keep things interesting in vet med. In this episode we discuss how to make traveling tech your full time g…

How can you enact change? How can you convince your colleagues to try new things especially when it comes to high stakes stuff like anesthesia? How can we be fully utilized at our jobs and stay engaged? Liz Hughston is here to help us along the way with her deep insights and sharp wit.Door Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds

This one is for all my Lab Animal and Research nerds! This episode of the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds podcast focuses on the career options within research. Did you know that veterinarians and veterinary technicians are in high demand when it comes to positions in research? Check out my conversation with Dr. Charlette Cain of Children's Hospital of…

Does the thought of anesthesia and surgery keep you up at night? Are you unsure of your skills and feel like a total imposter? Well, join Katie Ford and I as we tackle the tough topic of imposter syndrome as it pertains to veterinary anesthesia. We will talk all about how you can calm your fears and have a better day when you are the one in charge …

Older cat with kidney disease that needs extensive dentistry? An anesthetic nightmare? Not so says Dr. Ralph Harvey DVM, DACVAA. Ralph Harvey, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVAA, retired from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he taught anesthesia and pain management in the Department of Small Animal Cli…

Love bearded dragons and amazing accents!? Well, then have we got the vet for you... check out his Instagram @Dreadyvet for adorable photos and real life vet med stuff. Today we talk Rabbit Anesthesia... what drugs should we use? Should we intubate? This and more is covered in this episode. (also please note the way I act totally cool in conversati…

Lets take a trip across the pond and discuss all the amazing UK things love...the skating rink outside the history museum in the winter, a good latte from Pret, the bartenders from First Date, Paracetamol, and Rory the Vet! Todays we talk to Dr.Cowlam about easing owners concerns when it comes to anesthesia. Rory is a small animal general practitio…

Tired of wrestling with patients to get an IV catheter in? Really tired of trying to get a fearful cat into an aquarium to gas it down? Well, our next guest has some great tips to do better!Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free and Low Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, CCBC, and KPA-CTP. She is the owner of Chirrups and Cha…

Join us on a respiratory adventure with Noah Jones, and RVT that made the switch over to working with people ( I know...gross) as a respiratory therapist. In this episode we talk about the career switch from veterinary medicine to human medicine, what it's like to intubate people, and why you should learn to love the mechanical ventilator.…

Back when I started in vet med, a diagnosis of osteosarcoma meant amputation or euthanasia. Now with more advanced treatment modalities we can create better outcomes for pets diagnosed with osteosarcoma. In this episode we talk analgesia options and career goals to #kickcancersassJenny Fisher is a Board Certified Veterinary Oncology Technician with…

So, a cow walks into a vet clinic...now what? Ever wondered how we treat bovine pain? Ever want to wake up at 4am to do a farm call? Ever put on one of those rubber gloves that goes all the way up to your shoulder? Then this is the episode for you! Join Cody Creelman for a look at how we provide good anesthesia and pain management to our cow friend…

Dr. Norkus is back! I don't know about your clinic but ours seems to be inundated with pandemic puppies... and pregnant patients.We have been seeing a fair number of dystocia and c-section patients this summer so I got all the deets from Dr. Norkus on how you can make the anesthesia experience as safe as possible.…

With covid-19 showing no signs of slowing down, veterinarians are facing some of the realities of limited supply. Not only are items like masks and gloves in higher demand, but also the anesthetic drugs we rely on to keep our patients safe and pain free. This week Dr. Kristen Messenger of NC State University discusses drug shortages we as an indust…

It's not officially summer until you treat 3 urethral obstruction cats in a row... and to get you through it Anesthesia Nerds presents this week's guest Dr. Chris Norkus DVM, DACVECC and DACVAA (yeah he loves school!)We will discuss all things UO cats! From sacrococcygeal blocks to the importance of electrolyte stabilization and why you probably sh…

Do you know the secret to having a fulfilling career and getting the most out of your life? I don't either which is why I turned to Shanna McAlarnen CVT who has recently made a huge career shift from vet med to life coaching. Shanna and I recently re-connected at a women's leadership mixer thrown by Philly group She Steps Up- https://shestepsup.com…

This week we explore the amazing world of zoo animal anesthesia with Mark Romanoski RVT from Oklahoma. Mark gives us advice on career paths and his favorite anesthesia even at the zoo so far!You can follow Mark's adventures in zoo medicine on his Instagram @zoomedrvtAnd if you like what we are doing here at Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds and want to k…