Episode Details

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In today’s show, we visit rural Michigan and find ourselves on a horse farm… Home to none other than veterinary pain management guru Dr. Mike Petty.

Mike is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. He has been the owner of Arbor Pointe Veterinary Hospital since 1985. And it was here that he dedicated himself to becoming a pet pain management specialist, developing his practice to include the Animal Pain Center, a hugely popular service drawing pet owners from far and wide. 

Within this particular niche, Dr. Petty expanded his knowledge and skills to encompass the most up-to-date and compassionate treatments available. He is certified as … and wait for it… a Veterinary Pain Practitioner, a Medical Veterinary Acupuncturist, a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, and he’s a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management.

In 2016 he published his first book Dr. Petty’s Pain Relief for Dogs: The Complete Medical and Integrative Guide to Treating Pain. 

Mike is the past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and the co-author of the AAHA/AAFP 2015 Pain Guidelines. 

He is an international speaker, a highly published author with articles in several veterinary journals and serves in an advisory capacity to several pharmaceutical companies on topics of pain management. 

Chatting with Dr. Petty was a real privilege, he’s one of the people others frequently recommend to be a guest on the show – for his knowledge of pain management, but also his contribution to veterinary medicine and affable personality.

We explore the background and career of Dr. Petty covering everything from Vespas to Lasers (and much in between). So if you need some pain management advice or even some career inspiration, this is going to be a show you don’t want to miss.

So, sit back, get comfy and enjoy this, my conversation with Veterinary Medicine’s pain management maestro, Dr. Mike Petty.

Episode Outline:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:48] How Dr. Petty got into veterinary medicine
• [06:14] Do you think veterinary medicine has changed?
• [09:07] Maintaining a high level of veterinary medicine
• [11:37] How the first statement of the resident affected Dr. Petty’’s career
• [14:00] Advice to other veterinarians
• [15:24] The difference between western medicine and eastern medicine
• [17:47] Dr. Petty’s experience with clients over the last three years
• [23:13] Getting over the bad reviews
• [25:24] Tips for managing client interactions
• [28:50] Dr. Michael’s qualifications and why he pursued them
• [30:27] The passion for pain management
• [35:34] The most valuable information about pain
• [40:17] The importance of diagnosis and its impact on the overall outcome
• [46:56] The myths and misconceptions about pain
• [49:47] The book: Dr. Petty’s Pain Relief for Dogs
• [54:33] How acupuncture works for animals
• [01:00:02] Laser therapy and why we should be using it
• [01:05:51] The exciting things about the future of pain management
• [01:06:38] Michael’s secret to longevity in veterinary medicine
• [01:10:13] Other essential things for people to know
• [01:11:16] The rapid-fire questions
• [01:12:06] What do you think is done well in veterinary medicine?
• [01:13:11] The best piece of advice that has paid off in Dr. Michael’s veterinary journey

Resources Mentioned:

• The Book: Dr. Petty’s Pain Relief for Dogs
• The Book: The River of Doubt
• https://www.zoetispetcare.com/checklist/osteoarthritis-checklist-cat
• https://www.zoetispetcare.com/checklist/osteoarthritis-checklist
• https://www.vet.upenn.edu/research/clinical-trials-vcic/our-services/pennchart/cbpi-tool 

Connect with Dr. Michael Petty:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-petty-71712312/
• Website: https://arborpointe.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikepettydvm

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn0ChBaSFZNYgcZtpd6JaVQ