The Dr. Molly Says Podcast

This week on Dr. Molly Says (and on round 2 of my world tour LOL), we’re coming to you LIVE from Vegas with veterinary nurse and chaos coordinator extraordinaire, Ashley Farmer (aka @ashleythevetnurse 💛).

Ashley and I are diving into the world of veterinary technicians, emergency medicine, and what actually happens behind the scenes at your vet clinic… because trust me, it’s a LOT more than people realize.

We talk about how Ashley went from dreaming of working with animals to feeding sharks at the Pittsburgh Zoo, becoming a licensed veterinary technician, working emergency medicine, and eventually helping run hospital operations at VEG (Veterinary Emergency Group).

We also get into:
What veterinary technicians/nurses actually do all day (spoiler: basically everything)
The difference between vet techs, assistants, and veterinary nurses
Why the “vet nurse vs vet tech” debate is way more complicated than people think
How emergency vet hospitals really work behind the scenes
Why open-concept ERs are changing veterinary medicine
The relationship between pet owners, vets, and veterinary nurses during emergencies
Why efficiency and teamwork matter so much in emergency medicine
The emotional reality of caring for hospitalized pets
How veterinary assistants can grow into long-term careers in vet med

PLUS: Ashley shares her hottest takes in veterinary medicine (including owners helping restrain pets 👀), we discuss the absolute chaos of emergency rooms, favorite and least favorite dog breeds in the ER, and why veterinary nurses are truly the backbone of every hospital.

And of course… we end with important conversations about Pomeranians, doodles, Great Danes pooping everywhere, and what dog breed Ashley would be if she had to choose.

LOVE YOU GUYS 💛

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome from Vegas + why we’re recording from a hotel room
00:01:00 Ashley’s journey into veterinary medicine
00:03:00 Working at the Pittsburgh Zoo + feeding sharks
00:05:00 What it takes to become a licensed veterinary technician
00:07:00 Vet tech vs veterinary nurse explained
00:11:00 Why people don’t realize how advanced vet med really is
00:12:00 Inside VEG emergency hospitals + open-concept ERs
00:17:00 Why collaboration between ERs and general practice matters
00:19:00 Dr. Molly’s new “open-ish” hospital concept
00:20:00 Hot take: should owners help restrain pets?
00:22:00 What veterinary nurses actually do during ER shifts
00:26:00 Surgery techs, inpatient care & emergency teamwork
00:28:00 Why Ashley moved into operations & leadership
00:30:00 Veterinary technician specialists (VTS) explained
00:34:00 The complicated relationship between vet assistants & licensed techs
00:38:00 Advice for assistants considering tech school
00:39:00 Favorite pets, breeds & ER patients
00:42:00 Emergency cases Ashley actually loves treating
00:44:00 The adrenaline of emergency medicine
00:45:00 Meet Ashley’s pets: Miss Kitty Meow Meow & Linda
00:46:00 Outro

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Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple:
https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028

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Follow Dr. Molly:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays

Follow the podcast:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod

This week on Dr. Molly Says, we’re coming to you LIVE(ish) from a very not-fancy hotel room in Orlando… I’m joined by my friend and internal medicine specialist, Dr. Nicole Fein, and we’re diving into everything from what internists actually do to the reality of specialty vet care (plus a few unhinged tangents… obviously).

We break down how someone becomes a board-certified veterinary internist (spoiler: years of chaos + 16-hour exams), the types of cases they see all the time (yes… so much poop), and a hot take you might not expect: more diagnostics ≠ better medicine.

We also get into:
When it’s actually time to see a specialist
The relationship between pet owners, general practitioner veterinarians, and specialists (it’s a throuple, not a love triangle)
Why some cases should be referred sooner (and what can go wrong when they’re not)
The real cost conversations that need to happen in vet med
Why internal medicine is basically the “everything that doesn’t make sense” specialty

PLUS: Dr. Nicole explains her viral “baby talking patients” videos (yes, including “mouth meat” 💀), we discuss cuteness aggression, and share what really happens behind the scenes at the vet.

And of course… we end with Global Pet Expo chaos: piglet parades (aka Frenchies in wagons), influencer pets, and why veterinarians are just trying their best out here.

LOVE YOU GUYS 💛

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome + recording from a hotel bed
00:02:00 What is Global Pet Expo?
00:03:00 Meet Dr. Nicole Fine (internal medicine specialist)
00:07:00 How you become a veterinary internist (aka years of torture)
00:14:55 What cases internal medicine actually sees
00:18:30 Favorite cases (Addison’s, immune disease & emergencies)
00:21:00 What a typical day looks like (and why it’s so communication-heavy)
00:23:00 When should you ask for a specialist referral?
00:26:00 GP vs specialist dynamics (the “throuple” conversation)
00:33:50 Cases that should be referred sooner
00:37:00 Cost conversations & setting expectations
00:39:00 Making specialty care more accessible
00:42:30 Trends in cases + city vs rural vet med
00:46:00 IVDD, surgery vs medical management
00:49:00 Viral baby talk videos explained (yes… really)
00:55:00 Global Pet Expo chaos (piglet parade, influencer pets)
00:59:00 Outro

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Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple:
https://www.youtube.com/@drmollysayspod 
https://open.spotify.com/show/7xmKqrXGPJXpsbDbtCMgfe?si=17148ddc74604cb1 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-molly-says-podcast/id1800302028

---------------------------------------------------------------

Follow Dr. Molly:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysays
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysays

Follow the podcast:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drmollysayspod/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@drmollysayspod

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Text me your question or inquiry here!
Hey friends! This week on the pod, I'm answering YOUR questions... prescription food for allergies, treatment for lipid deposits, tick fever management in dogs, and so much more.

Do you have a question or inquiry for me? Send me a text from the link above, ask me on any social media platform, or email [email protected]!

Episodes of The Dr. Molly Says Podcast are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube!

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5d574928
TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjd9d
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mr3jradc

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
03:35 Prescription Food for Allergies
11:00 Treatment for Lipid Deposits
14:07 Tick Fever Management in Dogs
18:42 How to Know if a Supplement is Working Properly
24:13 When Will My Puppy Be Fully Grown
26:37 Tips for Finding a Holistic Vet
31:04 Outro

Text me your question or inquiry here!
Hey friends! This week on the pod, we’re digging into one of the most important — and often overlooked — areas of veterinary medicine: dentistry. From why dental care still makes so many vets hesitant, to what actually happens during a COHAT, to everyday things like brushing, chews, and dental wipes, we’re breaking it all down in clear, practical, real-world language. We’re joined by Dr. Thomson, who shares insights from her residency, mobile practice experience, and years in veterinary dentistry.
Do you have a question or inquiry for me? Send me a text from the link above, ask me on any social media platform, or email [email protected]!

Episodes of The Dr. Molly Says Podcast are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube!

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5d574928
TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjd9d
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mr3jradc

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:20 Dr. Thomson
04:25 Hot Take
04:53 Dr. Thomson’s Residency
09:30 Why Vets Are Hesitant Of Dentistry
11:53 Dr. Thomson’s Current Practice
14:18 Mobile Practice
20:10 Why Veterinary Dentists Are Needed For
23:10 Endodontics in Pets
25:55 Fourth Premolar Tooth
29:02 What Are Good Things for Dogs to Chew On
32:18 Brushing Your Pets’ Teeth
42:09 Using Dental Wipes
43:49 COHAT Basics
52:06 When Should COHAT Start
58:05 COHAT in Cats
1:01:55 Dentistry and Orthopedics
1:03:46 Rapid Fire Questions
1:11:27 Dr. Thomson’s Biggest Advice
1:15:53 Outro

Text me your question or inquiry here!
Hey friends! This week on the pod, we're diving deeper into everything you need to know surrounding EHV-1 and Parvovirus in pets; outbreaks, symptoms, treatment, prevention, and so much more!
Do you have a question or inquiry for me? Send me a text from the link above, ask me on any social media platform, or email [email protected]!

Episodes of The Dr. Molly Says Podcast are on all podcast services along with video form on YouTube!

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/5d574928
TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2p9kjd9d
YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/mr3jradc

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:50 Equine Herpesvirus Basics
04:00 How Does EHV-1 Affect A Horse
05:55 Clinical Signs of EHV-1
07:16 How Transmission Happens
09:03 How Equine Hospitals Operate
11:22 Prevention Options for EHV-1
12:00 How Horse Shows Contribute To The Spread
14:04 The Current Outbreak Situation
16:03 Parvovirus Basics
18:45 How Parvovirus Spreads Within the Body
19:50 Impact of Parvovirus on the Body
20:23 What Dogs That Have Parvo Look Like
21:50 Treatment Options
23:43 Survival Rates
24:30 A Huge Update in Parvo Treatment
27:05 Parvo Outrbreaks
32:23 Importance of Vaccination
33:47 Outro