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  • Ticked Off: Inside The Ehrlichiosis Epidemic With Dr. Peter Irwin - Part 2 | Ep14

    Ticked Off: Inside The Ehrlichiosis Epidemic With Dr. Peter Irwin - Part 2 | Ep14
    Sep 22 2025
    Ticked Off: Inside The Ehrlichiosis Epidemic With Dr. Peter Irwin - Part 2

    📄 Episode Show Notes

    In Part 1 of this series, Dr Liisa Ahlstrom helped us understand what ehrlichiosis is, where it’s spreading across Australia, and why prevention is so different from paralysis tick disease.

    In this episode, we take the next step with Professor Peter Irwin, internal medicine specialist and one of Australia’s leading experts on vector-borne disease in dogs. Peter was directly involved in the very first confirmed cases of ehrlichiosis in the Northern Territory back in 2020, and he brings decades of experience in research, teaching, and clinical medicine.

    We dive into:
    • 🩸 Why Peter ranks ehrlichiosis among the top three most serious canine diseases worldwide
    • 🔬 The pathophysiology of Ehrlichia canis — how it causes widespread inflammation, immune complex disease, and systemic illness
    • 📈 The phases of disease (acute, subclinical, chronic) and how dogs present in each stage
    • 🧪 Key diagnostic clues for nurses to watch for on CBCs, blood smears, and biochemistry
    • ⚖️ Differentials and co-infections — when babesiosis or anaplasmosis might also be at play
    • 💉 Treatment pearls: doxycycline, supportive nursing care, blood transfusion considerations, and the controversy around corticosteroid use
    • 🏥 Surgical implications in endemic regions — pre-anaesthetic platelet checks and monitoring for delayed bleeding
    • 🐾 Ehrlichiosis in cats — what’s known, what’s theoretical, and what to watch for
    Between Part 1 and Part 2, you now have the full ehrlichiosis picture:
    from prevention and epidemiology to the clinic floor and patient care.

    🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode
    • Australian Government DAFF ehrlichiosis resources
    • Fourie et al. 2013 – Transmission within 3 hours of tick bite
    • Stanneck & Fourie 2013 – Seresto preventing E. canis transmission
    • Jongejan et al. 2016 – Comparing repellents vs systemic tick products
    💬 If this episode gave you a lightbulb moment, share it with your clinic team or tag me on Instagram @vetnursehacker or @vickythevetnurse.

    Your feedback and stories help keep this community strong.
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    48 Min.
  • Ticked Off: The Ehrlichiosis Episode with Dr. Liisa Ahlstrom | Ep13

    Ticked Off: The Ehrlichiosis Episode with Dr. Liisa Ahlstrom | Ep13
    Sep 14 2025
    Ticked Off: The Ehrlichiosis Episode with Dr. Liisa Ahlstrom

    Ehrlichiosis is here—and it’s not your usual paralysis tick story. In this warm, technical chat with Dr Liisa Ahlstrom, technical vet at Elanco for Seresto, we break down what ehrlichiosis is, where it’s showing up across Australia, and why prevention looks different when transmission can occur in as little as three hours. This is Part 1 (the what/where/prevention); Part 2 brings Prof. Peter Irwin for diagnostics, differentials, and nursing care.

    📄 Episode Show Notes

    Most of us on the east coast know the paralysis tick all too well — but did you know there’s another tick-borne disease spreading across Australia that looks completely different? In this episode of the Vet Nurse Hacker podcast, I’m joined by Dr Liisa Ahlstrom, technical vet at Elanco for Seresto, to shine a light on ehrlichiosis.

    We unpack:
    • ✅ What ehrlichiosis actually is (and how to pronounce it without tripping over your tongue)
    • ✅ The difference between the brown dog tick and the paralysis tick — and how their diseases show up so differently in patients
    • ✅ Why prevention for ehrlichiosis is a whole new ball game, with transmission happening in as little as three hours
    • ✅ How this disease arrived in Australia, where it’s spreading, and what that means for clinics everywhere
    • ✅ Key myth-busts and takeaways for vet nurses, techs, and vets on the frontlines
    This is part one of a two-part ehrlichiosis series.

    Today we set the scene with the what, where, and how to prevent it. In part two, I’ll be joined by Professor Peter Irwin for the clinical deep dive into diagnostics, differentials, and nursing care. If you’ve ever pulled a brown dog tick off a patient and thought “phew, at least it’s not a paralysis tick” — this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

    🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode (Links Coming Upon Upload!)
    • Australian Government (DAFF) ehrlichiosis resources: Ehrlichiosis in dogs – information for clinics, owners, and rescues
    • Fourie et al. 2013 – Disease transmission within 3 hours of tick bite: Vet Parasitol. 197:595–603
    • Stanneck & Fourie 2013 – Seresto preventing Ehrlichia canis transmission: Parasitol Res. 112:S21–S32
    • Jongejan et al. 2016 – Comparing repellent vs systemic tick products for ehrlichiosis prevention: Parasit Vectors. 9:348
    💬 Got a question, case story, or lightbulb moment from this episode?

    I’d love to hear it — DM me on Instagram @vetnursehacker or @vickythevetnurse, or email me at vetnursehacker@gmail.com.
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    42 Min.
  • Beransa Backlash: Sorting Science from Speculation with Babs Tasker | Ep12

    Beransa Backlash: Sorting Science from Speculation with Babs Tasker | Ep12
    Aug 31 2025
    Beransa Backlash: Sorting Science from Speculation

    Guest: Babs Tasker, Emergency & Critical Care Vet Nurse, Veterinary Territory Manager
    Host: Vicky the Vet Nurse

    Length: ~1 hr 21 mins
    🔍 Episode Summary: This episode dives head-first into one of the most contentious conversations in vet med right now: the backlash surrounding Beransa (Librela). With headlines, social media spirals, and speculation dominating the narrative, it’s time to pause, unpack the science, and get curious—not chaotic.

    Our guest, Babs Tasker, is a powerhouse ECC vet nurse with over 30 years in the industry and now a Veterinary Territory Manager at Zoetis. She's here to share insights from the clinic floor and the regulatory world, addressing concerns around Beransa’s safety, the now-infamous Farrell study, updated labels, post-approval data, and the truth behind those adverse event reports.

    This isn’t a sponsored episode. There’s no editorial input from Zoetis—just two vet professionals having an open, honest, and evidence-based conversation about how we can advocate for our patients through clarity, not fear.

    💬 What We Cover:
    • What Beransa (Librela) is and how it works as a monoclonal antibody
    • What the updated APVMA and FDA labels really mean
    • How post-approval pharmacovigilance works (and why it matters)
    • A breakdown of the Farrell et al. (2025) case series and its limitations
    • The dangers of correlation vs. causation in the age of TikTok and fear-based posts
    • How to navigate misinformation, emotional backlash, and clinical bias
    • Real-world success stories from clinics using Beransa
    • How to use client information sheets, monitor side effects, and report concerns
    • How to hold space for concern without discarding innovation


    🛠️ Resources & Links: COMING SOON!!! (One Spotify uploads episode! Stay tuned!)
    • 18.1M Dose Pharmacovigilance Report (Zoetis)
    • Zoetis Client Information Sheet
    • Bedinvetmab vs Meloxicam clinicial study
    • Beransa Canine OA Flow Chart
    • Zoetis response to recent publications re RPOA
    • Read the Farrell et al. (2025) Case Series in Frontiers in Vet Science

    ✉️ Got Questions?
    We want to hear from you. Email us at vetnursehacker@gmail.com or DM @vickythevetnurse or @vetnursehacker with your questions or feedback. We’ll be adding follow-up resources in the show notes as needed!

    💌 Final Word: If you’re a vet nurse, vet, or student feeling overwhelmed by the noise—this episode is for you. It’s okay to have questions. It’s okay to be uncertain. But let’s commit to staying informed, open, and always advocating for what matters most: our patients.
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    1 Std. und 22 Min.
  • Just a Vet Nurse, Asking to Be Seen: Laura Bennington on ECC, Leadership & Changing the Game | Ep11

    Just a Vet Nurse, Asking to Be Seen: Laura Bennington on ECC, Leadership & Changing the Game | Ep11
    Aug 24 2025
    Just a Vet Nurse, Asking to Be Seen: Laura Bennington on ECC, Leadership & Changing the Game

    🩺 Episode Summary:
    In this deeply honest and empowering episode of the Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast, we sit down with Laura Bennington, RVN, VTS (ECC)—Emergency & Critical Care specialist, educator, and founder of VEST (Veterinary Emergency Specialty Training).

    From her early days in general practice in the UK to her move to Australia, Laura shares the winding, wonderful (and at times wobbly) path that led her to advanced certification, founding her own CE platform, and becoming a fierce advocate for vet nurse value.

    We unpack the must-haves for your crash cart, triage mistakes to avoid, how to grow confidence in emergency settings, and why leadership doesn’t require a title. And then we go even deeper—into what it really means to say, “I’m just a vet nurse, standing in front of an industry, asking it to value me.”

    Whether you're a seasoned ECC nurse, new to the game, or somewhere in between—this one will hit your heart and your clinical brain.

    🧠 What We Cover:
    • Laura’s journey from Scotland to Australia—and from self-doubt to VTS
    • What inspired her to launch VEST, and why nurse-focused CE matters
    • Must-have items for every crash cart (yes, including suction!)
    • The art of rapid triage and managing five blocked cats at once
    • The real difference between experience and empowerment
    • How to build confidence, speak up, and advocate in high-pressure environments
    • Why retention isn't solved by pizza—and what vet nurses actually need
    • The problem with title protection (and how unqualified roles hurt all of us)
    • Hope, burnout, identity, and why ECC is more human than we think
    ⚡ Rapid Fire Fun:
    • If ECC was a cocktail? 🍸
    • The weirdest (and most satisfying) foreign body story
    • One thing Laura wishes every vet nurse knew
    • Her guilty pleasure post-shift ritual
    • Why “Pred Before Dead” is a thing (sort of)
    📲 Connect with Laura Bennington:
    • Instagram: @laurarvn.vest
    • Courses & CE: invest.thinkific.com
    • Email: vet.emergency.specialty.training@gmail.com
    🐾 Loved this episode?

    Tap follow, leave a review, or share it with the vet nurse who needs to hear this.
    For more real talk and deep dives, follow @vetnursehacker and @vickythevetnurse.

    Check out Uncage Me — our signature course for veterinary professionals ready to reclaim their joy - www.vetxir.com
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    1 Std. und 17 Min.
  • Surfing C02 Waves: How to Spot Shark Fin and The Leak on a Capnograph | Ep10

    Surfing C02 Waves: How to Spot Shark Fin and The Leak on a Capnograph | Ep10
    Aug 11 2025
    Surfing the CO₂ Waves: How to Spot Shark Fin & The Leak on a Capnograph

    🎧 Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast – Episode 10
    Capnography isn’t just a bunch of squiggly lines — it’s your patient’s ventilation story, written in real time.

    And in this episode, we’re zeroing in on two triangle-shaped waveforms that can trip you up if you don’t know what you’re looking at: The Shark Fin and The Leak.

    You’ll learn:
    🐟 The Shark Fin – What it means when your capnograph slopes up during exhalation (hint: it’s an outflow resistance problem), what causes it in vet patients, and exactly how to troubleshoot it before things get hairy.

    🎈 The Leak – How to spot that right-sloping triangle that says gas is sneaking out where it shouldn’t, the most common culprits in practice, and the fast checks that can fix it before your patient’s ventilation or airway protection is compromised.

    🧠 Memory hacks so you can instantly recognise which triangle you’re looking at, even under pressure.

    🛠 Real-life scenarios from the treatment room so you can see these waveforms in action — from cats with deflating cuffs mid-dental, to Yorkies with airway collapse. Whether you’re new to anaesthesia monitoring or you’ve been staring at capnographs for years, this episode will make sure you never mix up these two lookalikes again — and that you know exactly what to do when you spot them.

    📎 Resources & Extras:
    • Visual waveform cheat sheet (Shark Fin vs. Leak)
    • Quick-reference nurse action checklist for both waveforms
    • Links to more capnography deep dives from trusted veterinary sources
    💬 Have you spotted a Shark Fin or a Leak in one of your patients? Share your story and tag me — I love hearing how you’re putting these skills into action.
    @vickythevetnurse
    @vetnursehacker
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    20 Min.
  • Ask Me Anything: Vet Nurse Hacker Confessions | Ep9

    Ask Me Anything: Vet Nurse Hacker Confessions | Ep9
    Aug 3 2025
    🎧 Vet Nurse Hacker — Ask Me Anything: Vet Nurse Hacker Confessions
    Host: Vicky, VTS (Nutrition)
    Episode Type: Solo AMA (Ask Me Anything)

    🩺 Episode Overview:
    In this raw and real AMA-style episode, Victoria answers the juiciest questions she's received from vet nurses across the profession. From clinical confidence to imposter syndrome, burnout to boundaries, and everything in between — this episode is a vulnerable deep-dive into what it really means to be a vet nurse in 2025. If you've ever asked yourself, “Is there more to this career?” — this episode is your sign that yes, there is. So grab a cuppa and let’s unpack the heart, hustle, and hidden truths of vet nursing.

    🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
    • The #1 Clinical Skill Every Nurse Should Master (Spoiler: It’s Not Intubation)
    • Why Victoria believes VTS titles are absolutely worth it
    • The hardest case she’s ever worked on — and how it shaped her forever
    • The two things she’d change about how nurses are treated in clinic (utilization + pay!)
    • Real talk about quitting, staying, and questioning your place in the profession
    • How she rebuilt her career after hitting rock bottom
    • The truth about burnout — how sneaky it is, and how you might not even know you're in it
    • Her hot take on resilience training (aka: stop giving us more PowerPoints while we drown)
    • Why rest is a boundary, not a reward
    • Her journey with imposter syndrome as a specialist — and how she pushes through it
    • What a typical day looks like now as a business owner and locum nurse
    • Her advice to any vet nurse thinking about walking away
    💡 Key Takeaways:
    • Advocacy is a clinical skill — and your voice matters.
    • You can absolutely step away from vet nursing and come back stronger.
    • Burnout is preventable, but only if we start recognizing it and supporting each other.
    • There is a future for vet nurses who want more — in leadership, business, education, product development, coaching, and beyond.
    • You’re not stuck. You’re expanding. That’s worth celebrating.
    🧠 Resources Mentioned:

    🌟 Uncage Me: The Radical Reset for the Human Behind the Healer
    An emotional reset course built specifically for vet nurses, techs, and vets.
    Normally $249 — get it for just $99 with the code vetnursehacker
    → Uncage Me: RESET NOW
    Learn more about Uncage Me: The Radical Reset for the Human Behind the Healer Here!

    🎙️ Episode 5 — Claire Boyle’s Career Pivot to Life Coach
    🎧 A must-listen if you’re thinking about building a career beyond the clinic.

    🐾 Connect with Vicky
    • Instagram: @vickythevetnurse
    • Email: vetnursehacker@gmail.com or @vetnursehacker
    • Companion Animal Nutrition Service: cans.vet
    • VetXIR (training + wellbeing): vetxir.com
    💬 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a vet nurse friend who needs to hear it. 💛
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    30 Min.
  • The Code Whisperer: ECC, Education and Empowerment with Megan Brashear | Ep8

    The Code Whisperer: ECC, Education and Empowerment with Megan Brashear | Ep8
    Jul 27 2025
    In this powerhouse episode of The Vet Nurse Hacker Podcast, Vicky is joined by the legendary Megan Brashear, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC) — a veterinary technician specialist, international speaker, educator, and deeply respected leader in emergency and critical care. From baby Megan’s animal-obsessed beginnings to becoming one of the most recognisable voices in veterinary nursing education, this episode explores her journey, lessons learned, and why she believes ECC nurses are absolutely superheroes. Megan opens up about:
    • The chaotic but exhilarating early days of ECC
    • Why mentorship, teamwork and emotional intelligence are non-negotiable in vet med
    • How she navigated burnout, leadership and major life change
    • What keeps her in love with ECC, even after two decades
    • Why techs teaching techs is the legacy she's most passionate about
    • Her favourite topics to teach (spoiler: bring on the acid-base nerds!)
    Packed with honesty, humour, real-life stories (including auto-transfusing blood in a white boxer at 3AM), and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the veterinary profession—especially those curious about ECC, leadership, or public speaking.

    💡 Topics Covered:
    • Megan’s vet tech origin story
    • ECC highs, heartbreaks, and what makes it magical
    • The truth about burnout and working “invincible” shifts
    • The transition from floor to education and leadership
    • Training tips and in-the-moment learning in emergency settings
    • Her journey to becoming an international educator and speaker
    • Advice for vet nurses wanting to get into public speaking
    • The secret to longevity in vet med (hint: it involves peanut butter & good people)
    • Rapid fire: scrub pocket surprises, chaotic shifts, theme songs & more
    🧠 Key Takeaway:
    “You can do this—you just may need to make a few changes. You don’t have to push so hard all the time. The knowledge will come. You’ll get there.” — Megan Brashear
    🔗 Connect with Megan:
    Catch Megan at upcoming conferences like VMX and IVECCS, or come say hi at her next international speaking engagement—she promises she actually loves talking to people, even as an introvert.

    Follow Vicky@vickythevetnurse and @vetnursehacker and learn more at www.vetxir.com
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    56 Min.
  • The Vet Nurse's Guide to Brave Conversations | Ep7

    The Vet Nurse's Guide to Brave Conversations | Ep7
    Jul 20 2025
    The Vet Nurse's Guide to Brave Conversations 🩺 Episode Summary:
    In this heartfelt episode of Vet Nurse Hacker, Vicky unpacks the emotional reality of having hard conversations in vet med—from asking for a break, to setting a boundary, to speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. If you’ve ever cried in your car after a shift or second-guessed your voice in the treatment room, this one’s for you. Vicky walks you through the emotional labour we carry as vet nurses, how that impacts our ability to speak up, and—most importantly—how to reclaim your voice without burning out or burning bridges. With practical tools like the SANE Method, grounding strategies, and easy-to-remember scripts, this episode is your go-to guide for building brave conversations that honour your humanity. 🧠 What You'll Learn:
    • Why hard conversations feel unsafe (hint: it's not about confidence)
    • How emotional labour affects our ability to advocate for ourselves
    • The SANE Method to prepare what you want to say
    • Scripts and phrases to hold your ground without conflict
    • Nervous system regulation tools for before and after the convo
    • How to reflect, reset, and reclaim your power—even if it felt messy
    🛠️ Tools & Takeaways:
    • SANE Method: Situation, Action, Need, Emotion
    • Box breathing & grounding anchors
    • Mantras to stay calm: “I am safe to speak. My needs matter.”
    • Broken record technique for holding boundaries under pressure
    • Reflection questions to build self-trust post-conversation
    🧡 VetXIR + Uncage Me
    If this episode landed deep—if you’re ready to go from just surviving to showing up with confidence—explore VetXIR for in-clinic skill building, or join Uncage Me, the emotional reset course for the human behind the healer. 📱 Connect with Victoria:
    Instagram: @vickythevetnurse
    Podcast IG: @vetnursehacker
    Website: vetxir.com 💬 Listener Love:
    “If this episode resonated, or you're processing your own brave convo, DM me on IG or leave a voice note—I'd love to hold space for you.” 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with the vet nurse who needs to hear it.
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    30 Min.