UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine Launches “The Vetrospective” Podcast Exploring the Science Behind Companion Animal Health

New series hosted by leading Radiation Oncologist Dr. Michael Kent brings expert insight to topics ranging from fleas and pet food to vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, genetics, and artificial intelligence

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a new podcast, The Vetrospective ^TM, a science-driven series that breaks down and explains the research of top modern veterinary medicine and explores the science shaping the future of animal health.

Hosted by Dr. Michael Kent, The Vetrospective features in-depth conversations with leading experts on topics that affect dogs, cats, and the people who care for them.

The first season launched on Tuesday, March 3 with three episodes. A new episode will drop each week until the season concludes on Tuesday, May 5 with a total of 12 episodes.

“Pet owners are inundated with information — and trending misinformation — about animal health,” said Kent. “With The Vetrospective, we wanted to create a trusted space where people can hear directly from veterinary specialists about the real science behind the headlines and the care their animals receive.”

Season One: From Fleas to Artificial Intelligence
The first season showcases the breadth of expertise at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine. Episodes available at launch include:

• Fleas and vector-borne disease — Board-certified veterinary internist Dr. Erin Lashnits, expert in flea-transmitted diseases, explores flea biology, cross-species transmission and the pathogens these parasites can carry.
• Dog nutrition — Board-certified veterinary nutritionist Dr. Jennifer Larsen explains how to interpret pet food labels, understand “complete and balanced” claims and avoid common pitfalls of home-prepared and grain-free diets.
• Vaccines for dogs and cats — Dr. Jane Sykes, a board-certified veterinary internist with a special interest in infectious diseases, discusses how vaccines work, the difference between core and non-core vaccines and emerging technologies such as mRNA platforms.

Every week, an additional episode will launch with topics and guests including:

• Cat nutrition — Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Jennifer Larsen
• Cancer immunotherapy — Veterinary oncologist Dr. Rachel Brady
• Dog genetics — Veterinary geneticist Dr. Danika Bannasch
• Artificial intelligence in veterinary diagnostics — Veterinary pathologist Dr. Stefan Keller
• Osteosarcoma – Veterinary oncologist Dr. Robert Rebhun
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) — Infectious disease researcher Dr. Terza Brostoff
• First aid for animals — Veterinary emergency and critical care expert Dr. Jamie Burkitt
• Kitten rescuing — Veterinary Professor and kitten advocate Dr. Karen Vernau
• Director-to-director research conversation — Center for Equine Health Director Dr. Carrie Finno

The Vetrospective’s original music was composed by Tim Gahagan, a musician based in Geyserville, California. 

Advancing Veterinary Medicine Through Education and Discovery
Each episode combines practical guidance for pet owners with insight into the scientific discoveries that inform veterinary practice. Listeners learn not only what to do — such as how to select a diet or understand vaccine recommendations — but why those decisions are grounded in decades of research, not Instagram trends.

The podcast also underscores the “One Health” connections between animal and human medicine, from shared infectious diseases to advances in cancer immunotherapy and artificial intelligence.

“Our goal is to make complex science accessible without oversimplifying it,” Kent said. “Veterinary medicine is evolving rapidly. This podcast helps explain what that means for pets and their families.”

The Vetrospective is available on major podcast platforms, including Amazon/Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

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Learn more and listen to episodes of The Vetrospecitive

Listeners can send questions or ideas for future topics to: thevetrospective@ucdavis.edu