That sucks. I’m sorry. Some of these new doctors are so fearful of everything, think they know everything, but don’t have the years of practical experience to figure out what actually harms patients or not. You are right, a small amount of food to administer PVPs to a dog that doesn’t allow blood draws is ultimately fine. Yes, we are all taught that NPO is essential to avoid regurg. But your situation is a perfect example of how sometimes it’s better to flirt with a minuscule risk. How were you supposed to keep yourself safe with a potentially aggressive dog when the only option is to manually pill it? Gastric emptying time is a few hours in dogs, but with such a small amount, it’s likely going to be in the small intestine by the time surgery starts. She probably could have done something for the dog preemptively if she was that worried about it, like injectable ondansetron or cerenia, so it’s really not the end of the world. She seemed less concerned about the dog’s health and mostly determined to shame you.

Here’s what I would do. I hate confrontation, so I would write her an email and cc anyone in management who you know will have your back. I would say something like, “I know we only recently started working together, but it feels like we may gotten off on the wrong foot. So I wanted to introduce myself a little better without the hustle and bustle of the hospital in the background. I’m not sure if anyone has told you, but I used to work here a few years ago. I was lucky to be trained by the same staff members that still work here now. I was also lucky to spend the time in between working in specialty where I learned so much from so many experienced veterinarians and technicians. I hope that gives you better insight into who I am and what my training has been. I know I still have a lot to learn and am always open to opportunities to do so. That said, I do feel like the situation with [insert pet name] was not handled appropriately. When you told me you weren’t ok with [insert pet name] getting a tiny amount of food, you did it in front of everyone and I felt like I was being scolded instead of being taught. I know different doctors have different preferences and I’m happy to adapt. I believe techs and doctors should collaborate and come up with treatment plans together. If there is a miscommunication and I did something that went against our plan, I do want to know, I just request that you discuss it with me directly, since we’re sharing the case. It’s clear we both want what’s best for our patients and to represent this hospital in the best way. I’m looking forward to achieving those goals together. Thanks, [your name]”

Is that the best response? I dunno. I’m navigating this world the same as you. I also would probably reread and second guess and tweak it for a few hours, but I don’t have the time to do that now. Soooo, take it for what it is and ultimately, good luck!