Boundaries aren’t just about saying no — they’re about protecting our wellbeing, our teams, and the human-animal bond. 

In this special Tails from the Lab episode for World Mental Health Day, Dr. Brad Ryan sits down with Dr. Jen Brandt, AVMA Director of Member Wellbeing Initiatives, to explore the role of boundary setting in veterinary medicine.* 

Dr. Brandt shares: 

• Why boundaries are often misunderstood in practice 
• How healthy boundaries improve psychological safety, trust, and retention 
• Practical strategies for defining and communicating boundaries with colleagues and clients 
• The ripple effect boundaries have on team culture and mental health 

“When we do then have that in place, we see so many benefits, including improved retention, increased psychological safety, improved trust, improved communication, improved decision-making — because now we really are all operating on the same page.”  

– Dr. Jen Brandt 

Whether you’re a veterinary professional seeking tools for personal resilience or a leader striving to support your team, this episode offers insights to help you create healthier, more sustainable practices. 

*Our mental health podcast series is meant for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to provide medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you need mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional or crisis line. 

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

Even the healthiest appearing pets can be hiding underlying conditions. In this episode of Tails from the Lab, Drs. Holly Brown and Brad Ryan dive into the value of wellness testing, using Doug — a seemingly healthy rescue Mastiff — as a case study. From uncovering Lyme exposure to detecting heartworm infection, they explore why routine lab work matters, how to communicate its value to pet owners, and the critical role of preventive diagnostics in supporting longer, healthier lives.

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

In episode 1 of Tails from the Lab, Dr. Brad Ryan and Dr. Holly Brown discuss anaplasmosis using a real case example and dig deep into diagnostic insights that help shed light on its rise and prevalence. 

Tune in and learn what this means for veterinary teams across the country, and how smarter testing can support clearer diagnoses, stronger client communication, and better outcomes.

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

We’re thrilled to bring back the Tails from the Lab podcast with our host Dr. Holly Brown and new co-host Dr. Brad Ryan! Get ready to discuss real cases with expert guests who dig deep into the diagnostic insights that help solve interesting and complex cases. We’ll also dive into topics that help veterinary teams tackle the industry’s many challenges while becoming better leaders and colleagues along the way. 🔬🐾 

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

The only constant in life is change. And in this episode, Jessica and Holly reconnect, share some of their exciting updates, and introduce a new iteration of the Tails From the Lab podcast soon to be released.

Zack, the beagle, presents for his annual wellness exam, and labwork is performed, including a CBC, chemistry, and (oh-so-fortunately) urinalysis, as part of his minimum database. Listen in as Jessica and Holly discuss Zack's unexpected results and the options to provide a definitive diagnosis. 

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

Inappropriate urination and lethargy lead to a concerning finding of hypercalcemia on Louie's labwork. Listen in as Jessica and Holly tackle the ensuing diagnostics to solve this hypercalcemia headache.

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

Bella has an appointment for a prescription refill, but the astute doctor is concerned about some subtle physical changes and reported clinical signs, and so he recommends laboratory diagnostics to explore further. Holly and Jessica discuss this interesting case, taking listeners on Bella's unintended journey through labwork abnormalities and the ensuing diagnostic outcomes.

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

Snickers arrives sick at the hospital, and initial bloodwork reveals elevation of liver enzymes. Subsequent abdominal ultrasound identifies ascites, and the fluid analysis that ensues provides key diagnostic information that helps define Snickers' disease process.

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.

Jessica is back with Part 2 of her ever-so-useful Tech Talk on Effusion Analysis, offering further tips and tricks to getting the most diagnostic information from your in-house fluid samples.  

Tails from the Lab is a production of Antech Diagnostics. The intent of this podcast is to provide education and guidance with the understanding that any diagnostic testing and treatment decisions are ultimately at the discretion of the attending veterinarian within the established veterinarian-patient-client relationship.