The Vet Vault is a veterinary podcast for vets and vet students covering career growth, clinical medicine, leadership, and mental health and wellbeing across the veterinary profession. Vet life can be tough, but it's also good - so how do we make it even better? Host Dr Hubert Hiemstra brings honest, curious, occasionally irreverent conversations with the people making vet med better. Clinical CPD, careers, wellbeing, and the tech changing how we practise. Come fall back in love with veterinary science. Find show notes, clinical CE and the newsletter at thevetvault.com.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 59:12
Why does a vet who's flat out every single day still hit a pay ceiling? Dr Andy Roark explains the hidden economics of veterinary practice, and an uncomfortable truth: the thing…
Sep 17, 2026 · 51:45
Ask most vets what feedback means, and they'll think of a meeting. Once a year - maybe someone explaining that you're not billing enough. Dr Liv Oginska reckons that meeting is…
Sep 2, 2026 · 45:11
What if the thing making your working day harder isn’t the workload? What if it's the building? In this episode we're joined by Jerry Kennard from Evoke Projects , someone who…
Aug 26, 2026 · 1:10:55
Everyone says burnout. But Dr Sarah Golding thinks a lot of us are misdiagnosing ourselves. When vets come to her ready to walk away from the profession, they arrive with a…
Aug 10, 2026 · 26:55
I love any new tool that can make my life as a veterinarian easier and get better outcomes for my patients, so when I first heard about IDEXX's new CancerDx test I was excited,…
Jul 30, 2026 · 1:00:11
Most conversations about how to survive a veterinary career is a conversation with the survivors. We interview the vets who are still standing. The vets and nurses who left?…
Jul 15, 2026 · 48:18
Think about the last thing you did at work and forgot to charge for. A nail clip. A blood test. A “quick” ultrasound that never made it onto the invoice. One missed charge feels…
Jul 3, 2026 · 1:01:50
Twelve years ago, Dr Janey Lowes went to Sri Lanka on a holiday, and never really came home. Today she runs WECare Worldwide, a hospital that treats the island’s three million…
Jun 18, 2026 · 1:25:53
You've been using your veterinary AI note taker for a couple of years now - it’s great - saves you heaps of time. But are you using it to its full potential? I’ll take a bet that…
May 30, 2026 · 56:00
A surgeon hurls a scalpel across theatre. It clatters off the wall. Nobody looks up. Twenty minutes later he's in the tearoom offering everyone a biscuit, and someone shrugs:…
May 12, 2026 · 54:11
The long-term vision is that you walk into a clinic, hit record at the beginning of the day - you walk out at the end of the day, and you never put your hands in a computer. You…
Apr 22, 2026 · 54:24
"Maybe we're just picking the wrong people to be vets." You've probably heard some version of that line. Maybe you've even said it. 'The new grads can't cope. The younger…
Apr 8, 2026 · 58:28
You know that feeling: exam time is looming. You've spent three days making flashcards and highlighting your notes, but you haven't even started actually studying yet... Whether…
Mar 25, 2026 · 4:58
Is our podcast getting… repetitive? Honest question. Lately, we’ve felt a growing tension behind the mic: are we just saying the same things… just with a new guest and in…
Mar 18, 2026 · 52:54
Ever check your payslip… your student debt… your mortgage… and wonder if you’re just treading water? You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. In this episode we revisit one of the…
Feb 13, 2026 · 44:50
Four years after our original antibiotic myth-busting episode (Ep 60), we’re back with Dr Riati Scarborough to talk antibiotic prescribing habits. This time we’re joined by…
Jan 30, 2026 · 1:07:02
Veterinary life can feel like a treadmill with no off-switch: 15-minute consults that always run over. Emotional labour no one trains you for. A schedule that swings from slow to…
Jan 16, 2026 · 1:02:27
Ever feel like your anxiety or fear of failure is just... who you are? The perfectionism. The overthinking. The constant pressure to “get it right.” It can feel like it’s wired…
Dec 19, 2025 · 46:02
Welcome to episode one of our new Tech Tools series , where we cut through the noise to bring you real insights into the latest veterinary tech that could genuinely make your…
Dec 7, 2025 · 57:01
Am I a useless vet? Sounds like a silly question that a new grad might ask, right? But imposter syndrome doesn't care about your credentials. It whispers that you're a fraud,…
Nov 18, 2025 · 42:54
Stop scrolling - I know what you’re thinking: “I don’t want to listen to someone preaching to me about antimicrobial resistance - it’s boring, and it just makes me feel guilty!”…
Nov 13, 2025 · 54:57
We scrutinise one of the most practical yet under‑examined advances in veterinary practice: AI‑based radiology interpretation tools. I sit down with veterinary radiologist and…
Nov 4, 2025 · 51:00
Did you know that a brachycephalic dog with BOAS has a 433% higher anaesthetic risk than a dog with a normal nose? Let me rephrase that: that Frenchie you’re spaying later this…
Oct 15, 2025 · 1:20:18
“If you can’t afford a pet, you shouldn’t own one.” Ever said this line? Once you’ve been on the receiving of someone’s anger about the cost of their vet bill, it’s an easy…
Sep 28, 2025 · 59:44
In episode 141 , I shared my take on where AI fits into veterinary medicine - and where it might take us next. But I’m no expert. So I brought one in. In this episode, I sit down…
Sep 8, 2025 · 48:56
Today’s bonus IVECCS live session wasn’t your average ‘clinical 101’. I had the absolute privilege of getting two brilliant minds on the yellow couch, and … wow. Apparently 1 + 1…
Aug 26, 2025 · 59:33
Ever had a case where you just knew what was wrong before you even touched the patient - but if someone asked you HOW you know, you couldn’t explain it? That almost mystical…
Aug 6, 2025 · 52:50
Thinking of trading grey skies for the Australian sun – stethoscope in hand? Moving to Australia as a vet can change your life, but here’s the truth: it’s not a straight road.…
Jul 23, 2025 · 59:10
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…
Jun 30, 2025 · 1:03:23
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…
Jun 20, 2025 · 40:58
🎙️ 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…
Jun 4, 2025 · 1:00:52
What’s your least favourite part of being a vet? Is it talking about money? In this episode, we take on one of the most emotionally charged parts of veterinary life: discussing…
May 14, 2025 · 44:34
Telemedicine. What’s your gut reaction when you hear that term?Maybe you think it was just a clever COVID workaround, or second-rate substitute for a “real” vet visit. Or maybe…
Apr 26, 2025 · 1:03:40
In this solo episode Hugh tackles a bold idea: if you're not currently using AI in your clinical veterinary work, you may be falling behind. And if/when artificial intelligence…
Apr 8, 2025 · 1:21:50
Join us for the Vet Vault's own conference in the snow: Vets On Tour Wānaka , New Zealand, 10-15 August 2025! Have you ever felt pressured, as a vet, to do more 'stuff' -…
Mar 21, 2025 · 54:37
Veterinary practice can be unpredictable, exhausting, and full of interruptions - not that conducive to getting things done, right? But what if you could handle it all with…
Mar 2, 2025 · 27:19
“Did you know the AVMA doesn’t actually require a residency to become a specialist?” Yeah, neither did we—until Dr. Matt Booth dropped that fact-bomb. And it’s bigger than just…
Feb 15, 2025 · 53:13
Most vets believe it’s inevitable—on average, they leave Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) after just 3-5 years. The obvious culprit? Shift work, right? But what if that’s just…
Jan 27, 2025 · 45:14
Try our AI Blood Gas Assistant here Are you wasting hours on outdated study methods like cramming and re-reading—only to forget everything by exam day? You might be studying…
Jan 7, 2025 · 56:18
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…
Dec 22, 2024 · 1:07:08
Hands up if you feel truly valued and respected at work. In this episode, we dig deep into what truly makes employees feel valued and how leaders can create workplaces that…
Dec 9, 2024 · 28:25
Get the show notes for this episode, plus a very neat treatment guide for hyperkalaemia, here. Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your…
Nov 29, 2024 · 53:07
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…
Nov 14, 2024 · 44:57
Lift your clinical game with our RACE approved clinical podcasts. Get your first two weeks free at vvn.supercast.com for more clinical confidence and better patient outcomes,…
Oct 29, 2024 · 42:50
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Oct 6, 2024 · 1:35:46
If you work in emergency practice, or you're considering it, then this episode is for you. Dr Brooke Schampers and Dr Taleta Hompas are ECC veterinarians with more than two…
Sep 18, 2024 · 1:25:17
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Sep 11, 2024 · 30:20
et access to our clinical podcast series with our 30% off IVECCS Special. Get case support from our team at specialists in our Specialist Support Space . Hands up…
Sep 1, 2024 · 57:18
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Aug 20, 2024 · 41:36
You’ll hear a lot of complaining and blaming of leaders for everything that’s wrong with veterinary science. But the reality is that leading people is a very hard job, especially…
Aug 2, 2024 · 1:12:01
In a world of Amazon and Uber-level convenience, where digital disruptors are changing the way the world interacts and how we do business, why do we think that the vet profession…
Jul 23, 2024 · 59:30
Ah, those liver enzymes... sometimes they are up when you don't expect them to be. Sometimes they're up a bit... but not that much, so you don't know if it's actually…
Jul 10, 2024 · 1:15:36
Be part of the conversation to help shape the Vet Vault with your feedback . Many of us dream of building a practice, and then one day selling it and walking off into the sunset,…
Jun 19, 2024 · 12:56
This little bonus episode is for a very select audience of brave souls who have already completed the written part of their Australia New Zealand College Of Veterinary Scientists…
Jun 19, 2024 · 59:16
If you clicked on this episode, then I’m guessing that you already know WHAT the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists membership exams are. Maybe you’re…
Jun 10, 2024 · 1:10:27
Have you ever considered doing something other than clinical veterinary practice, only to get stuck at 'but what else could I do? The only skill I have is fixing sick animals!'…
May 27, 2024 · 39:28
You know that conversation that you have with your client when you first diagnose congestive heart failure in their mitral valve disease dog? The one where you say: 'This will be…
May 20, 2024 · 52:20
It’s the topic in veterinary science that we wish we didn’t have to talk about. Every time we hear about another veterinary suicide, we feel sad, angry, and frustratingly…
May 10, 2024 · 48:41
What if I told you that your clients never have to worry about when they inject their diabetic cats with insulin, and still maintain beautiful glucose control? And timing insulin…
May 3, 2024 · 1:02:35
You know when you see that case, usually some sort of traumatic injury , where something feels a bit 'off'. Maybe the story doesn't fit the injury, or it's the third time you've…
Apr 22, 2024 · 43:55
You know that feeling when the ‘not breathing well’ patient gets rushed to your crash bench, and you stand there with your stethoscope trying to look like your planning, but…
Mar 27, 2024 · 18:35
We're experimenting with something... I found a software that magically translates your voice into any language of your choosing, and I'm dying to see if I can use it to get some…
Mar 22, 2024 · 1:31:29
'Resilience' can be a very loaded word: where is the line between 'toxic resilience' that relies mostly on stubborn grit and self-sacrifice, and a deep sustainable resilience…
Mar 12, 2024 · 38:03
If you find surgery even remotely appealing, then chances are a good old intestinal foreign body removal ranks high on your list of favourites. But GI surgery can be a lot less…
Mar 4, 2024 · 1:06:21
You know you want to do it, but you don't know where to start. It's a daunting task for sure - veterinary practice is not known for being soft on the environment, so the thought…
Feb 19, 2024 · 32:46
The puppy that ate the box of NSAIDs, the lab who found the bag of sultanas, cats and lilies - you know what to do: whack them on twice maintenance fluids for a few days to flush…
Feb 11, 2024 · 42:09
" The what and the why of leadership is not up for debate anymore. We know what leadership is supposed to be, and we know what workplaces are supposed to be so that the human…
Jan 31, 2024 · 32:04
Whether you're still calling it HGE, or you're getting used to saying AHDS, it's likely that haemorrhagic diarrhoea is one of the more serious and most common GI conditions that…
Jan 22, 2024 · 1:05:04
The last time we had Sam Bowden on the podcast, all everyone in the veterinary profession could think about was: 'too much work, not enough workers!' But 2023 saw some changes.…
Jan 5, 2024 · 1:17:16
This episode is available as a video podcast on Spotify. Dr Gary Turnbull is a Director of The Lincoln Institute , a coach, speaker and facilitator in the fields of veterinary…
Dec 21, 2023 · 1:11:54
This episode is available as a video podcast on Spotify. In this episode, Dr Zoe Lenard shares with us the importance of continuous learning for a fulfilling veterinary career,…
Dec 7, 2023 · 1:16:09
Regina Carey is a coach, public speaker and special educator who works to help drive change within the veterinary and human healthcare professions. But in this interview we focus…
Nov 22, 2023 · 1:13:39
What would you say are the biggest stumbling blocks to a joyful career in veterinary science? The unfortunate reality is that there are many people in the veterinary profession…
Nov 8, 2023 · 1:05:26
Have you ever found yourself in a moment in your career where you knew: ‘This is definitely not it. Something has to change!’ Dr Tannetje Crocker’s career is as multifaceted as a…
Oct 31, 2023 · 1:35:21
Dr Jane Heller is the epitome of a mutlti-faceted vet career: she’s a Veterinary Epidemiologist with an interest is in infectious disease epidemiology, with particular reference…
Oct 23, 2023 · 1:18:26
Join us as we chat with the incredible Dr Dennis Wormald, and discover why he wants us to take another look at the word - difficult - when it comes to our patients. Dennis is not…
Oct 6, 2023 · 1:08:21
How much time have you committed over the course of your veterinary career to get better at teaching? I'm betting that for most of you, the answer is: not much. Why? Because…
Sep 27, 2023 · 1:24:34
How do we make 'resilience' more than just another buzzword and resilience training not just a box to tick for the HR department? Assoc. Prof. Sarah Guess is a specialist in…
Sep 6, 2023 · 1:10:40
Here's a little nugget of wisdom for you: 'Do what you can with what you have where you are.' I stumbled upon it a while back, and it's like a bite-sized version of stoic…
Aug 30, 2023 · 55:00
I don’t know about you, but one of my least favourite things to see on my consult list is a cat with a snotty nose. The idea that my patient’s problem can be anything from a…
Aug 25, 2023 · 1:06:39
Confession: sometimes I get tired of wellness discussions, with the constant barrage of advice on resilience and burnout prevention. Not because it's not important, but because…
Aug 9, 2023 · 46:16
Vets of Australia, meet Spirocerca lupi, a parasite that's been flying under the radar for a while now in Northwest Queensland. But as you'll learn in this episode, is well worth…
Jul 21, 2023 · 52:41
Join us as we explore the concept of compassion fatigue from a fresh perspective. We take a closer look at the underlying mechanisms behind the terms commonly used when we talk…
Jul 9, 2023 · 1:09:59
Dr Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for nearly four decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written…
Jun 24, 2023 · 1:30:47
Introducing Dr Mike Bugg. Mike graduated from veterinary school in 2008 and started his career as a mixed animal veterinarian. However, he soon realised the importance of having…
Jun 12, 2023 · 1:08:08
Dr Shea Cox is a global leader and subject matter expert in veterinary hospice and palliative care. She’s certified as a Pain Practitioner, a Hospice & Palliative Care…
May 26, 2023 · 1:20:31
Have you ever considered, or are considering specialising, but you are put off by the journey of becoming a specialist? Usually the path to specialising means putting almost…
May 9, 2023 · 1:13:43
Who feels like Cushing's is a nice disease to diagnose and manage? Like, how often do you feel like your hyperadrenocorticism patients are really doing REALLY well? My guess is:…
Apr 28, 2023 · 1:35:26
Our guest for this episode - Dr Olivia Oginska, has made it her mission to help us have better relationships, both in and outside of work. Olivia Oginska is a veterinarian,…
Apr 9, 2023 · 1:04:34
Many of us struggle with attaching a dollars-and-cents value to this ‘fixing animals’ thing that we do for a living. We tell ourselves stories about how our work is a labor of…
Mar 31, 2023 · 42:04
This episode from our clinical series is brought to you by Elanco , makers of the broadest range of parasiticides including Advocate, Milbemax, Seresto and Credelio Plus. "The…
Mar 8, 2023 · 1:02:40
Dr Andrew Ciccolini is a Medical Director at the National Mill Dog Rescue , a non-profit that rescues and rehomes discarded breeding dogs, and also the Director of Non-Profit…
Feb 21, 2023 · 1:38:05
Dr Steve Joslyn is a specialist veterinary radiologist and tech enthusiast with more than two decades of experience consulting for referral, teaching, and general practice…
Feb 7, 2023 · 45:46
Who loves neurology?! That little blob of skull-jelly and all the wires that come off it can be very confusing and very intimidating, even more so when we start talking about the…
Jan 29, 2023 · 1:38:15
How nice are you to your fellow veterinarians? It's likely that most of us feel that we're professional and supportive with a high degree of collegiality. But if this is true,…
Jan 10, 2023 · 1:00:39
We talk about well-being a lot on this podcast, but one thing we don’t really discuss all that often is financial well-being. And while it’s a truism that money can’t buy you…
Jan 2, 2023 · 2:01:59
This episode is supported by Animal Emergency Services Tanawha , part of the AEA group . If you're interested in the career opportunity discussed in this episode contact us at…
Dec 1, 2022 · 1:19:47
Dr Micheal Archinal has been a vet for over 35 years and is the senior director of 9 veterinary hospitals. He has post-graduate training in animal behaviour, acupuncture,…
Nov 20, 2022 · 52:36
If you are a clinician working in a paralysis tick area of Australia then you’ll be well aware of the 2022 shortage of tick antiserum, and you very likely have some questions,…
Nov 11, 2022 · 47:04
This episode from our clinical podcast series is brought to you by the SVS Pathology Network - Australia's exclusive provider of the advanced testing techniques discussed in this…
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