Veterinary Innovation Podcast

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Sebastian Gabor, co-founder of Digitail, to talk about what the latest wave of AI investment means for veterinary medicine and how this momentum could accelerate the arrival of better, cheaper, and more capable AI tools for clinics.
With visits down across the industry, they discuss how technology can help strengthen client retention, reactivate patients, and build a more connected hospital. Sebastian also shares how Digitail is approaching holistic AI, where each major function in the practice has its own assistant supporting the team's daily work.
They also unpack a practical question many practices are asking today: what should AI actually do in veterinary medicine? From human-in-the-loop workflows that support medical teams to fully autonomous tasks that handle follow-ups and communication, the episode looks at where automation adds value and where humans must remain central.
Learn more about the Digitail.
Discover more preventive care insights with  "Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity" by Peter Attia.
Sebastian recommends  "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" by Liz Wiseman for leadership and team empowerment.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome back industry growth consultant and Bird Bath host,  Ryan Leech, to talk about what 2026 might look like for veterinary medicine. After the biggest conferences of the year, a few themes kept coming up: vet care affordability, rising salaries, corporate consolidation, and growing pressure on margins.
Ryan challenges the profession to stop searching for a "silver bullet" in AI or telehealth and start embracing the uncomfortable lessons of operational efficiency. From the "Walmart-ification" of vet med to the shrinking middle class of pet owners, this episode is a reality check on the economics of being a veterinarian in 2026.

Learn more about the First 100.
Discover more at The Bird Bath.
Ryan recommends Huge* If True with Cleo Abram.

In this episode, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Tanika Hall, serial entrepreneur and founder of ZooDoc, to discuss a significant shift in the veterinary industry: the transition from managing overcapacity to needing proactive lead generation. Inspired by her struggle to find care for a sick frog, Tanika built ZooDoc to connect pet parents with trusted professionals, especially those specializing in exotics.
The conversation explores how ZooDoc's B2B2C model supports clinics by providing tele-triage tools, transparent pricing, and flexible financing. As veterinary practices face new economic pressures, Tanika explains why technology should focus on building trust and bridging the gap between clinical expertise and patient accessibility.

Learn more about the ZooDoc.
Tanika recommends "All About Love: New Visions" by Bell Hooks.

This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome David Nietzke, the Chief Operating Officer at Snout, to discuss a transformative approach to veterinary wellness plans. As veterinary costs rise and visit frequencies decline, many clinics struggle with "legacy" wellness models that create administrative nightmares and delayed cash flow. David shares how Snout has redesigned the experience by financing transactions upfront, ensuring clinics get paid immediately while pet owners enjoy predictable, interest-free monthly payments.
You will learn how removing the financial barrier of the exam fee can skyrocket client compliance and visit frequency. From mapping messy PIMS codes to securing a $110M capital injection to fund clinic payouts, David explains how Snout aligns the incentives of the pet owner, the provider, and the patient. This episode offers a roadmap for any practice looking to transition from reactive care to a thriving, proactive preventive model without the traditional risks of "do-it-yourself" plans.

Learn more about the Snout.
David recommends TEDx Talks: "What Being a Veterinarian Really Takes" by Melanie Bowden, DVM

Veterinary clinics are currently facing a market shift where appointment volumes are down, revenues are tightening, and relief staffing has become both expensive and administratively messy. This week, Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak chat with Dr. Andrew Ciccolini, co-founder of Serenity Vet, about a new subscription-based relief management model that replaces 20% transaction fees with a streamlined, flat-fee platform.
Dr. Andrew shares how clinics can use data-driven tools—like profitability calculators, market benchmarks, and Average Check Transaction (ACT) tracking—to ensure relief shifts drive revenue rather than just filling gaps. Learn how to reclaim control of your relief network, reduce administrative burnout, and run a more profitable practice in a shifting economy.
 
Learn more about the Serenity Vet.
Dr. Ciccolini recommends "Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time" by Rob and Steven Shallenbergers.