The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360

343: The power of passion: Shaping a career in veterinary medicine

Sophia Jodka is a first year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Masters of Public Health dual degree student at Colorado State University. She recently graduated Summa Cumme Laude from North Carolina State University where she was highly involved in pre-veterinary leadership including organizing the 2024 APVMA Symposium and serving as an APVMA National Board Member. She continues to be highly involved in research and hopes to combine clinical practice and research in her future career to tackle global public health challenges. 

341: Six Dastardly Derm Myths

This podcast episode, and all Itchy Pet Awareness Month content, is sponsored by Apoquel. Elizabeth Capitano, DVM, CCFP, earned her veterinary degree from North Carolina State University and her BA in Psychology from Davidson College. After seven years in small animal practice, she transitioned to industry roles at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Virbac, and Elanco, where she specialized in veterinary education, sales training, and strategic marketing support. At Elanco, she led technical training initiatives, developed unique training strategies, and created game-changing educational programs. Capitano currently serves on the dermatology medical education team at Zoetis, where she partners with cross-functional teams to develop engaging educational content for veterinary healthcare professionals. She is also an active advocate for mental health in the veterinary profession through her work with Not One More Vet.  Capitano lives in Charlotte, NC with her family, and 2 English Bulldogs (Booger and Lola). She enjoys jewelry collecting, roller-skating, grooving to her husband’s band, and discovering new podcasts.

328: Podcast CE:Tick Tidbits: Ticking Off The 5 Ws on These Tiny Troublemakers

Sponsored by Elanco Program Description: Ticks pose a significant health risk to companion animals, both as blood-feeding parasites and as vectors for numerous pathogens. Over the past few decades, tick populations have expanded and intensified due to factors such as increased globalization, greater movement of humans and animals, and climate change. In the United States, common tick species—including the blacklegged tick, lone star tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick—have the potential to transmit a range of bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens. Serological data indicate that tick-borne pathogens are a persistent challenge for dogs, with US canines frequently testing positive for agents of anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. Many of these same ticks and pathogens also pose a public health risk, as the tick species that commonly bite dogs can also transmit these same pathogens to humans. As a result, dogs can serve as valuable sentinels for tick-borne disease risks of their human families. Despite awareness of the risks ticks pose to pets, ticks are often and easily overlooked. Given that ticks are a year-round threat in most regions, annual testing and the routine use of fast-acting tick control products play a critical role in protecting pet health by killing ticks and reducing pathogen transmission risk. Learning Objectives: Identify the most common tick species in the US that pose a risk to companion animals and suggest resources where for investigating local tick and tick-borne pathogen risk. Explain the key factors contributing to the expansion and intensification of tick populations, including environmental and human-driven influences. Outline pathogens commonly transmitted by ticks to dogs and humans, including agents of anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis. Discuss the speed at which different tick-borne pathogens are transmitted and the implications for timely intervention and prevention. Advise on effective tick prevention, treatment, and control strategies for dogs, including the importance of annual testing. Credelio Quattro Indications & ISI. Indications: Credelio Quattro (lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel chewable tablets) is indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis and for the treatment and control of roundworm (immature adult and adult Toxocara canis and adult Toxascaris leonina), hookworm (fourth stage larvae, immature adult, and adult Ancylostoma caninum and adult Uncinaria stenocephala), and tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis, and Echinococcus granulosus) infections. Credelio Quattro kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) and the treatment and control of tick infestations [Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick), Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)] for one month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 3.3 pounds or greater. Important Safety Information: Lotilaner, an ingredient in Credelio Quattro, belongs to the isoxazoline class and has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions like tremors, ataxia, and seizures even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections before Credelio Quattro administration as it is not effective against adult D. immitis. The safe use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in clinical trials were vomiting and diarrhea. For full prescribing information see the Credelio Quattro package insert. Credelio Quattro Label Credelio Quattro, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. ©2025 Elanco or its affiliates.

340: Proactive solutions for patient wellness

James Bascharon, DVM, is the founder and CEO of Vetnique, a pet health company dedicated to creating vet-formulated solutions that help pets thrive for life. Since launching in 2012 with the groundbreaking supplement Glandex for anal gland health, Bascharon has led Vetnique to become a leader across multiple categories including digestive support, dermatology, ear care, and joint health. His passion for innovation has guided the company’s rapid growth—most recently marked by Vetnique’s acquisition and US launch of YuMOVE, a globally trusted, science-backed joint health supplement. Bascharon was also recently named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, a true testament to his impact on veterinary innovation and the pet health industry.

339: Expanding veterinary ophthalmology

The episode is sponsored by The Eye Vets and was recorded on site during the 2025 Fetch Nashville conference. Watch the full video here. Benjamin Bergstrom, DVM, MS, DACVO, is originally from the rural, small town of Rockton, Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2009 followed by his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2013 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He then completed a one-year Small Animal rotating internship at the University of Georgia in Athens. Immediately following his rotating internship, he traveled back to the Midwest where he completed a three-year residency in Comparative Ophthalmology at Purdue University in 2017. As a board-certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Bergstrom began practicing in Nashville in 2017. In 2023, Bergstrom pursued a dream of becoming an independent practice owner and opened The Eye Vets in Nashville. Through a combination of in-person consultations and telecollaboration, Bergstrom aims to provide compassionate, innovative veterinary eye care to the greater Nashville area and beyond.