When to See a Vet Specialist (+ Why Your Pet Isn’t Getting Better) | with Dr. Nicole Fein

<p>This week on Dr. Molly Says, we’re taking a little trip down memory lane!!! We’re working hard behind the scenes on the clinic right now (more on that soon 👀), so while we’re in the thick of it, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes with my friend and internal medicine specialist, Dr. Nicole Fein.</p><p>We’re diving into everything from what internists actually do to the reality of specialty vet care (plus a few unhinged tangents… obviously).We break down how someone becomes a board-certified veterinary internist (spoiler: years of chaos + 16-hour exams), the types of cases they see all the time (yes… so much poop), and a hot take you might not expect: more diagnostics ≠ better medicine.We also get into:* When it’s actually time to see a specialist* The relationship between pet owners, general practitioner veterinarians, and specialists (it’s a throuple, not a love triangle)* Why some cases should be referred sooner (and what can go wrong when they’re not)* The real cost conversations that need to happen in vet med* Why internal medicine is basically the “everything that doesn’t make sense” specialtyPLUS: Dr. Nicole explains her viral “baby talking patients” videos (yes, including “mouth meat” 💀), we discuss cuteness aggression, and share what really happens behind the scenes at the vet.And of course… we end with Global Pet Expo chaos: piglet parades (aka Frenchies in wagons), influencer pets, and why veterinarians are just trying their best out here.LOVE YOU GUYS 💛Timestamps:00:00:00 Welcome + recording from a hotel bed</p><p>00:02:00 What is Global Pet Expo?</p><p>00:03:00 Meet Dr. Nicole Fine (internal medicine specialist)</p><p>00:07:00 How you become a veterinary internist (aka years of torture)</p><p>00:14:55 What cases internal medicine actually sees</p><p>00:18:30 Favorite cases (Addison’s, immune disease &amp; emergencies)</p><p>00:21:00 What a typical day looks like (and why it’s so communication-heavy)</p><p>00:23:00 When should you ask for a specialist referral?</p><p>00:26:00 GP vs specialist dynamics (the “throuple” conversation)</p><p>00:33:50 Cases that should be referred sooner</p><p>00:37:00 Cost conversations &amp; setting expectations</p><p>00:39:00 Making specialty care more accessible</p><p>00:42:30 Trends in cases + city vs rural vet med</p><p>00:46:00 IVDD, surgery vs medical management</p><p>00:49:00 Viral baby talk videos explained (yes… really)</p><p>00:55:00 Global Pet Expo chaos (piglet parade, influencer pets)</p