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 fellow stewardship expert Dr Laura Hardefeldt, and this time we’re asking the harder question:

Have we actually changed?

The good news? Some prescribing habits are shifting. We’re seeing shorter courses and less ‘just in case antibiotic usage.

But let’s not pat ourselves on the back too quickly. Because some of our most entrenched habits are still alive and well, like how we treat skin disease, and our ongoing love affair with amoxiclav.

This episode is a practical, clinically grounded update on what the evidence says in 2026 - and how to make realistic changes without compromising patient care.

We cover:

• Why skin disease remains the single biggest driver of antimicrobial resistance in small animal practice, and what to do about it
• Amoxicillin vs amoxiclav: when de-escalation is not just safe, but smarter
• Why convenience (you know the brand we’re talking about right…) is not a clinical indication
• Trimethoprim-sulphonamide and the real story on KCS risk
• Dentals, heart murmurs, and what prophylaxis actually looks like in 2026
• Simple in-clinic stewardship strategies that genuinely shift prescribing behaviour

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

If you’d like effective antibiotics to still exist in five to ten years…

This episode is essential listening.

Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Tips and Timestamps

• 3:03 Progress in prescribing habits including UTI durations and surgical prophylaxis
• 4:55 Skin disease as the biggest problem area in small animal practice
• 7:01 Topical therapy versus systemic antibiotics for skin conditions
• 9:28 Deep pyoderma and the new consensus statement
• 11:00 Gut bacteria as a source of resistant infections
• 12:41 Rise of MRSP, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
• 14:00 Amoxicillin-clavulanate overuse
• 16:47 Vets on Tour conferences advertisement
• 18:08 Pharmacology refresher on amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and cefovecin
• 19:45 Why cefovecin is classified as high importance, vs the convenience argument for cefovecin in cats
• 22:56 Long-acting amoxicillin injections as an alternative
• 24:00 Getting amoxicillin back on the shelf
• 24:53 Communicating antibiotic choices to clients
• 29:32 Dental antibiotics and debunking the heart murmur myth
• 34:07 Subclinical bacteriuria and stopping cultures in asymptomatic patients
• 38:30 Reassessing the dry eye risk of trimethoprim-sulfonamide
• 41:43 Antimicrobial stewardship trial using colour-coded pharmacy shelves

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 chaos - in minutes.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

In this raw and refreshingly real episode, productivity coach Demir Bentley (Life Hack Method) live-coaches GP vet Dr Ray Gates, tackling the uncomfortable truth of veterinary medicine:You’re expected to be clinically excellent… while running on empty.

This isn’t a listicle of “10 productivity hacks.”This is about reclaiming 1% wins that actually work in the chaos of clinical life.

You’ll learn:

• Why productivity isn’t about doing more - it’s about protecting your energy
• How “chaos as the default” leads to burnout (and how you can change the system, not just yourself)
• How to lower your cognitive load and reduce admin fatigue
• The art of setting goals that don’t become another source of stress
• Small upstream shifts that stop downstream disasters
• How to finish a shift and still feel like you

Whether you’re buried in charting, stuck in overbooked consults, or silently wondering if you’re just not “resilient enough” - this conversation will show you another way.

You don’t need another motivational quote.You need practical tools to get your time, headspace, and energy back.

And it starts here.

Raise your hand here to find out more about our AI for clinics Mastermind

Find out how we can help you build you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Topics and Time Stamps

10:56 The problem

23:04 The revenge binge

26:10 Taking back the 1%

35:52 Upstream changes to prevent downstream chaos

41:31 Expectations vs reality

52:05 You are not powerless

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 into your DNA.

But what if it isn’t?

Dr Rod Irwin, vet, former clinic owner and author tells us how who went from panic attacks in an empty vet clinic to a completely rewired life - thanks to neuroscience.

After hitting breaking point, a chance encounter with neuroscience set him on a 15-year journey into neuroplasticity and positive psychology - and ultimately changed how he led.

Together, we unpack how our brains are shaped by past experiences, why vets are particularly vulnerable to negative belief loops, and how we can deliberately rewire our thinking to reduce anxiety, improve performance and build healthier workplace cultures.

We explore:

• Why early experiences like bullying and perfectionism hardwire us for burnout
• What neuroplasticity actually means, and why this isn't just “positive thinking”
• How emotions strengthen or weaken your neural pathways
• Dr Irwin’s first 3 practical steps to start rewiring your brain
• Why your identity is the key to lasting change
• How clinic leaders unconsciously set the emotional tone for the entire team
• And how reconnecting to purpose and values can transform your culture

This is a science-backed, practical conversation on mindset, leadership and wellbeing – tailored to the veterinary world.

Because your brain isn’t broken.It’s just wired by experience - and you can change the wiring.

⁠⁠

Learn about all 12 keys here, or here if you're a practice owner, or book a chat with Rod here.

Find out how we can support you in your vet career at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Grab one last handful of spots in the Maldives for our surf/dive vet conference with Vets On Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get case support from our team of specialists in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our Advanced Surgery Podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cutabove.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or go all in on surgery with our collaboration with Sydney University's ⁠⁠⁠CVE Surgery Course.