Stories of your local veterinarians, as they try to maintain sanity and offer details on their medicine and their lives. We are a group of extremely interesting and passionate people.
This podcast opens up our doors and connects the veterinary community with the rest of the world. Interviews with veterinarians, discussions on day-to-day topics, and insight on how we try to keep our delicate lives moving along are all included within this podcast series. Thanks for listening!
Drat & Drake: Patti Eddington - Don't Look in the Freezer
Today we interview author and former journalist Patti Eddington, about her book "Don’t Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian’s Wife" (released in April 2026) and how it grew from early blog-era writing and workshops into a more honest memoir-like collection of stories.
We discuss the realities of being constantly on call while building a practice, raising their daughter Molly around the clinic, a painful turning point during Patty’s foot surgery, and how respect, communication, and feeling “seen” sustain relationships in veterinary life.
Patti reflects on changes in hiring and expectations across generations of veterinarians, and shares her current work with book events and free “Write Your Story” workshops, plus upcoming signings across Michigan, including Mackinac Island.
00:00 Meet Patty Eddington
01:15 Why This Book Hits
03:15 Origin Story of Freezer
07:09 Memoir Truth and Voice
09:08 When Emergencies Flip
10:00 Vets Are People Too
11:28 Marriage on Call
14:50 Clinic Kids and Critters
16:13 Foot Surgery Breaking Point
23:21 Money Struggles and Making It
24:17 No Choice But Success
25:36 When It Finally Felt Secure
27:14 Frugal Years And Gratitude
28:03 Waiting To Have Molly
29:35 Raising Molly Their Way
35:57 Grandparenting And James
38:59 Generations Of Veterinarians
45:11 Whats Next For The Family
48:09 Workshops Book Tours Farewell
7 May 2026
Dr. Kate Elden, CMO of Dutch on Veterinary Telemedicine, VCPR Laws, AI, and Expanding Access to Care
Dr. Kate Elden (Dutch CMO) on Veterinary Telemedicine, VCPR Laws, AI, and Expanding Access to Care
On the Torat and Drake Veterinary Podcast, Dr. Tam interviews Dr. Kate Elden, recently hired as Chief Medical Officer at Dutch, a telemedicine platform, about her career path from equine practice to small animal general practice, medical director roles, and ultimately telehealth. Dr. Elden describes how COVID accelerated her telemedicine experience and why cost and access barriers keep many pets from receiving care, citing reports that large portions of pets miss veterinary services. She discusses how private equity, rising standards of care, and clinic hours contribute to affordability and access challenges, and argues telemedicine is a key solution despite restrictive state VCPR regulations. They also address AI as a growing tool that still requires a “human in the loop.” Dr. Elden explains Dutch’s guardrails, follow-ups, pharmacy logistics, and her leadership approach, including how parenting shapes her work.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:35 From Horse Vet to Small Animal
04:32 COVID Sparks Telemedicine
06:47 Why Pets Skip Care
09:22 Telemedicine as Access Fix
12:27 Inspiring Vets Through Communication
17:18 AI and the Future Toolbox
20:38 Telehealth Adoption Challenges
21:36 Telemedicine Demand Surge
23:35 VCPR Laws Explained
26:10 State Rules and Licensing
27:37 Why Clients Love Telehealth
30:11 Follow Ups and Messaging
31:21 CMO Role and Guardrails
34:46 Parenting and Leadership
39:07 Conferences and Closing Advice
14 Apr 2026
Dr. Kate Elden (Dutch CMO) on Veterinary Telemedicine, VCPR Laws, AI, and Expanding Access to Care
On the Drat and Drake Veterinary Podcast, we interview Dr. Kate Elden, recently hired as Chief Medical Officer at Dutch, one of the biggest telemedicine platforms, about her career path from equine practice to small animal general practice, medical director roles, and ultimately telehealth. Dr. Elden describes how COVID accelerated her telemedicine experience and why cost and access barriers keep many pets from receiving care, citing reports that large portions of pets miss veterinary services. She discusses how rising standards of care and clinic hours contribute to affordability and access challenges, and argues telemedicine is a key solution despite restrictive state VCPR regulations. They also address AI as a growing tool that still requires a “human in the loop.” Dr. Elden explains Dutch’s guardrails, follow-ups, pharmacy logistics, and her leadership approach, including how parenting shapes her work.
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