In this episode of Diagnostic Tails, hosts Dr. Amy Armentrout and Dr. Lon Hays take a closer look at one of the most common congenital vascular abnormalities seen in small animal practice: portosystemic shunts.

They discuss what shunts are, why they occur, and how they impact a pet's growth, metabolism, and neurological function. The conversation walks through the diagnostic process, from suspicious bloodwork and bile acid testing to advanced imaging with nuclear scintigraphy and CT angiography.

Dr. Hays explains how imaging helps determine not only whether a shunt is present, but also its location and severity — critical information for surgical planning and long-term management. They also cover anesthesia considerations, treatment options, and why many of these patients can go on to live healthy lives when diagnosed and treated appropriately.

This episode is designed for veterinarians, veterinary students, and pet owners who want to better understand how advanced imaging helps diagnose and manage these complex but often treatable conditions.

You'll Learn:

• What a portosystemic shunt is and how it affects the body
• Common breeds and clinical signs associated with congenital shunts
• How bloodwork and bile acid testing help identify suspect cases
• The role of nuclear scintigraphy in confirming shunt presence
• Why CT angiography is often the preferred tool for localization and surgical planning
• Special anesthesia considerations for shunt patients
• The differences between medical management and surgical correction
• How advanced imaging improves diagnostic confidence and treatment outcomes

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to Diagnostic Tales

00:32 - Meet the Hosts

00:57 - Episode Focus: Shunts

01:21 - What Is a Shunt?

02:57 - Breeds and Shunt Types

03:42 - Clinical Clues and Labwork

04:18 - Bile Acids Testing

05:27 - Scintigraphy Explained

07:07 - CT Angio for Localization

08:45 - Anesthesia and Breath Holds

11:25 - Surgery vs Medical Management

13:57 - Why CT Beats Ultrasound

14:47 - CT Value and Other Uses

16:22 - Shunt Anesthesia Protocols

19:18 - 3D Recon and 3D Printing Future

20:05 - Rotary Phones and Party Lines

22:40 - Tail End Tip: Hard Conversations

26:04 - Wrap Up and Thanks

Key Takeaways:

• Portosystemic shunts allow blood to bypass the liver, preventing normal detoxification and metabolism
• Small-breed dogs, particularly Yorkshire Terriers, are commonly affected by congenital shunts
• Elevated bile acids are often the first clue that a shunt may be present
• Nuclear scintigraphy can confirm the presence and severity of a shunt, while CT precisely identifies its location
• Advanced imaging plays a critical role in determining the best treatment approach
• Surgical correction offers an excellent prognosis for many patients
• Careful anesthetic management is essential because shunt patients metabolize drugs differently
• Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve quality of life and long-term outcomes

Whether you're investigating a poorly growing puppy, unexplained neurologic episodes, or abnormal bile acids, this episode reinforces one core idea: the right imaging study can turn a confusing clinical picture into a clear treatment plan.

Animal Imaging Veterinary Radiology Specialists

https://animalimaging.net/

(972) 869-2180

info@animalimaging.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnimalImaging/

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/company/animalimaging

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animalimaging/?hl=en

In this episode of Diagnostic Tails, hosts Dr. Amy Armentrout and Dr. Lon Hays are joined by relief technician Bryce Morgan to discuss the evolving role of veterinary technicians and the importance of building sustainable, supportive veterinary teams.

Drawing from Bryce’s experience working across multiple practices and states, the conversation explores technician utilization, continuing education, anesthesia training, workplace culture, and the growing demand for relief support in veterinary medicine.

They also discuss how communication, trust, and professional growth opportunities directly impact patient care, team retention, and long-term success within veterinary practices.

This episode is designed for veterinarians, technicians, and practice managers who want to strengthen their teams, reduce burnout, and create healthier workplace environments.

You’ll learn:

• Why technician education and utilization are essential in modern veterinary medicine
• How workplace culture impacts retention, morale, and patient care
• Why anesthesia training is one of the most underserved areas in technician development
• How relief technicians help practices navigate staffing shortages and burnout
• The importance of communication and trust between veterinarians and technicians
• Why sustainable scheduling and clear boundaries matter for long-term success
• How continuing education helps technicians grow in confidence and skill
• Why the human connection remains critical in veterinary medicine despite advances in technology

Whether you’re managing a veterinary team or entering the profession yourself, this episode reinforces one core idea: investing in people is one of the most important investments a practice can make.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Podcast Welcome

00:38 - Meet The Hosts

01:23 - Guest Bryce Intro

02:52 - Travel Tech Life

04:41 - Why Tech Education Matters

08:52 - Underserved Skills

14:05 - Techs As Partners

16:06 - Culture And Retention

19:50 - Relief Techs Explained

23:41 - Setting Relief Up

25:28 - Advice For New Techs

27:12 - AI And Human Touch

28:42 - Tech Passion And Feedback

29:43 - Standardizing Credentials And Tech Titles Debate

32:44 - Ask To Learn More

34:04 - Wrap Up And Thanks

Key Takeaways:

• Strong veterinary teams are built through trust, communication, and continued investment in staff
• Technician burnout is often tied to poor support, lack of training, and unsustainable workloads
• Proper technician utilization improves efficiency, workflow, and overall patient care
• Anesthesia confidence comes from hands-on experience, mentorship, and continued education
• Relief technicians can provide critical stability during staffing shortages and employee leave
• Healthy workplace culture often has a greater impact on retention than salary alone
• Veterinary technicians are valuable clinical partners — not just support staff
• Long-term success in veterinary medicine depends on creating sustainable environments for both patients and teams

Animal Imaging Veterinary Radiology Specialists

https://animalimaging.net/

(972) 869-2180

info@animalimaging.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnimalImaging/

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/company/animalimaging

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animalimaging/?hl=en

In this episode of Diagnostic Tails, hosts Dr. Amy Armentrout and Dr. Lon Hays introduce the role of endoscopy in veterinary medicine and how it expands diagnostic and treatment options for referring veterinarians. Joined by technician Mia, they share insights from a recent hands-on training course and what this new capability means for patient care.

They break down how endoscopy allows for minimally invasive foreign body removal, targeted biopsies, and more efficient diagnostics — often under a single anesthetic event. The conversation also highlights the importance of teamwork between veterinarians and technicians, especially when performing advanced procedures.

You’ll learn:

• When endoscopy is the right choice for foreign body removal
• How endoscopy allows for targeted gastric and intestinal biopsies
• Why minimally invasive procedures improve recovery and efficiency
• The role of endoscopy in diagnosing GI disease and cancer
• How combining diagnostics under one anesthetic benefits patients and clients
• The importance of technician support and teamwork in advanced procedures
• How referral centers can provide faster access to specialized care

Whether it’s retrieving a foreign object or getting answers in a chronic GI case, this episode reinforces one core idea: endoscopy is a practical, efficient tool that helps veterinarians get answers faster — with less invasiveness for the patient.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Podcast Intro and Hosts welcome listeners

02:01 - Introducing Mia, a technician at Animal Imaging

02:41 - Lon shares background – 25+ years in a small animal private practice in Dallas

03:46 - Announcement: Animal Imaging will be offering endoscopic procedures

05:43 - Mia’s excitement about foreign body cases – “I wanna see what they ate”

06:17 - Endoscopy compared to a claw machine

09:19 - Mia’s personal highlights from the course - hanging with Dr. Hayes’ wife

14:42 - Mia’s highlights from the course from a technician standpoint

16:09 - Importance of the technician’s role in endoscopy and other procedures

23:18 - New CT imaging package announcement: bilateral elbows and shoulders

24:16 - CT of elbows and shoulders give you more information than x-ray.

26:04 - Closing – thank you and excitement about the CT offering.

Key Takeaways:

• Endoscopy is a minimally invasive tool for both diagnosis and treatment
• Ideal for removing gastric foreign bodies before they progress further in the GI tract
• Allows for targeted biopsies of the stomach and proximal small intestine
• Improves efficiency by combining diagnostics under a single anesthetic event
• Helps deliver faster answers and quicker turnaround for referring veterinarians
• Strong technician support is essential — endoscopy is a true team procedure
• Proper equipment care and handling are critical to protect investment and ensure performance
• Expands what referral centers can offer without requiring full hospitalization
• Provides an additional option when specialty centers have long wait times

Animal Imaging Veterinary Radiology Specialists

https://animalimaging.net/

(972) 869-2180

info@animalimaging.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnimalImaging/

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/company/animalimaging

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animalimaging/?hl=en