Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition & Vet Advice by Vital Pet Life

Vital Pet Life
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Weekly

Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life Podcast cracks the code on pet nutrition, health tips & keeping your fur fam happy and informed! ✨ Join Donie Yamamoto, CEO and Founder, and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, as they share practical advice, expert insights, and myth-busting truths to help you become a more confident, educated, and empowered pet parent. We're here to dispel misinformation, break down pet ingredients, and highlight key pet care strategies backed by veterinary expertise. From Q & A with Dr. Amber to ingredient transparency, this podcast is your go-to source for today's pet care. It's time to get informed, inspired, and confident in your pet care choices. Need quality supplements? We got you! Tune in, follow & unleash your pet questions: hello@unleashedcuriosity.com (mailto:hello@unleashedcuriosity.com) ➡️ You could be next episode's superstar! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. 8h ago

    Why Large Dogs Face the Longest Shelter Stays, and What Would Actually Change That

    Big dogs aren’t entering shelters at a higher rate than smaller dogs, yet they wait the longest and make up the smallest share of adoptions. Why? In this episode, Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, unpack the 2026 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report and what it reveals about large dog adoption. The answer isn’t what most people expect. It isn’t about loving big dogs less. It’s about confidence, cost, and housing rules stacking up in the way. What you’ll hear: Why large dogs wait longest in U.S. sheltersThe confidence gap: almost 90% of likely adopters feel ready for a big dog, compared with about a third of those unlikely to adoptWhat would actually help: lower adoption fees, training access, and financial help with startup costsWhy Gen Z and millennials are the most open to adopting a big dog and the most likely to run into rental restrictions If you’ve ever scrolled past a big dog’s shelter profile and talked yourself out of it, this one is for you. Naming the real barrier is the first step toward solving it. ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott Meier https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/beyond-the-bowl-how-keepsakes-help-pet-parents-hold-on-ft-scott-meier Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #LargeDogAdoption #BigDogs #ShelterDogs #AdoptDontShop #DogAdoption #RescueDogs #PetAdoption #FirstTimeDogOwner #PetParents #PetPodcast #UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Why Large Dogs Face the Longest Shelter Stays, and What Would Actually Change That

  2. Oct 27

    Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott Meier

    Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott Meier Most pet parents think of the bond in terms of daily life. Scott Meier thinks of it in terms of what's left after. As the owner of Budsies, Petsies, and Stuffed Animal Pros, he turns that bond into custom plush keepsakes. Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, talk with Scott about why pets become central to our lives, what customer stories taught him about comfort and connection, and his mission flying 100 rescued dogs and cats from Puerto Rico with The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue. Topics covered: 🎬 From film and television to the pet keepsake business 🐾 Why pets become part of our identity and daily routines 🧸 How custom plush keepsakes are made from a pet's own photos 💙 What thousands of customer stories reveal about comfort and connection 🎨 Why personalization matters and how artists capture every detail ✈️ Flying 100 rescued dogs and cats with The Sato Project and Wings of Rescue 💙 Connect with our guest, Scott Meier: ᐧ Website: mypetsies.com ᐧ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Petsies ᐧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petsies ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Why Nearly Half of Pet Parents Say Their Dog Is Their Soulmate https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/why-nearly-half-of-pet-parents-say-their-dog-is-their-soulmate Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #HumanAnimalBond #PetKeepsakes #Petsies #Budsies #ScottMeier #RescueDogs #PetCare #PetPodcast Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Beyond the Bowl: How Keepsakes Help Pet Parents Hold On ft. Scott Meier

  3. Oct 20

    Why Nearly Half of Pet Parents Say Their Dog Is Their Soulmate

    Half of dog owners say their dog, not a romantic partner, is their soulmate. Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM break down a new survey on the pet-owner bond, and the science that explains why it might not be an exaggeration at all. 🐕 The stats: 88% call it a soul-level connection, and half turn to their dog first for comfort, even before friends and family ✨ Why so many owners even know their dog's astrological sign 🧠 The oxytocin research behind mutual eye contact between dogs and their people ❤️ What this bond means for how we care for our dogs day to day The takeaway: this connection is real and measurable, and it deserves the same level of care you would give any relationship that means this much to you. ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Why Nearly Half of Pet Parents Say Their Dog Is Their Soulmate

  4. Oct 13

    The Vet Who Goes Anywhere: Dr. Cliff Redford on a Life of International Rescue

    The Vet Who Goes Anywhere: Dr. Cliff Redford on a Life of International Rescue In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, sit down with Dr. Cliff Redford, veterinarian, author, filmmaker, and owner of Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Toronto. A three-week volunteer trip to Jamaica became a global mission, taking him to disaster zones, jungle clinics, and remote Arctic communities. Dr. Cliff also gives a first look at his memoir, Far and Wild: The Adventures of the Worldwide Vet. Topics covered: 🌍 How a Jamaica trip became a global mission 🐾 Caring for pets in remote communities 💙 Why animals connect people across cultures 📖 Inside Far and Wild, Dr. Cliff's memoir 💙 Connect with our guest, Dr. Cliff Redford: ᐧ Book "Far and Wild": farandwild.ca ᐧ Website: drcliff.ca ᐧ Instagram: @drcliffworldwidevet ᐧ Facebook: facebook.com/cliff.redford Publishing dates for Far and Wild: ᐧ Canada: September 29, 2026 (already sold out on Amazon.ca and a best-seller) ᐧ U.S.: October 13, 2026 ᐧ Australia/New Zealand: November 10, 2026 ᐧ UK: November 12, 2026 ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    The Vet Who Goes Anywhere: Dr. Cliff Redford on a Life of International Rescue

  5. Oct 6

    Snake Season Part 2: How Dogs Learn to Avoid Rattlesnakes with Gina Gables

    Your dog stops on the trail, tail down, and won't take another step. Would you know what they're trying to tell you? In this episode, Dr. Amber Da Silva sits down with Gina Gables, owner of Ma and Paw Kennel - Canine Training Services. Gina has spent 17 years training thousands of dogs to recognize and avoid rattlesnakes. She walks through what really happens on a rattlesnake avoidance course, and why she blends shaping and positive reinforcement instead of relying on one-trial learning. She also explains how a dog that knows the sight, sound, and smell of a rattlesnake can alert the whole family to danger. What you'll learn: How a multi-station course teaches dogs to recognize adult and baby rattlesnakes by sight, sound, and smellPositive reinforcement vs. one-trial learning, and why a stressed dog can't learnWhy rattlesnake season can be any season in Southern CaliforniaSimple safety habits for trails, hikes, and the backyardGina's take on the rattlesnake vaccine and where avoidance training fitsHow to build a snakebite emergency plan before you ever need one Missed Part 1? Go back to Episode 103 for Dr. Amber's deep dive on snake season. https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-103 Connect with our guest, Gina Gables: 🌐 SnakeSafeDog.com ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: UnleashedcuriosityUnleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition & Vet Advice by Vital Pet Life ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/new-state-laws-are-reshaping-pet-sales-vet-care-animal-welfare Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #UnleashedCuriosity #RattlesnakeAvoidanceTraining #RattlesnakeSafety #SnakeSafeDog #SnakeSeason #DogSafety Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Snake Season Part 2: How Dogs Learn to Avoid Rattlesnakes with Gina Gables

  6. Sep 29

    New State Laws Are Reshaping Pet Sales, Vet Care & Animal Welfare

    🐾 Four states just passed real laws touching pet sales, vet care, and animal welfare, and most pet parents have no idea any of it happened. In this episode, Donie and Dr. Amber break down four new state laws reshaping how pets are sourced, treated, and cared for, and what each one actually means for you. 📹 Washington expands telehealth access for vets, and redefines what counts as a valid vet-client relationship 🐶 Colorado bans pet store sales of dogs and cats starting 2028, with exceptions for adoption events, shelters, and breeders ⛓️ Alabama sets its first statewide standards for tethering and outdoor shelter, with real penalties for violations 🌿 Maryland clarifies that vets can't be disciplined just for discussing CBD with pet owners Four states, four different angles, but one theme: access is opening up in some places, and accountability is tightening in others. ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: The Human-Canine Bond: Relationship-First Pet Care with Shauna Vidueira https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/the-human-canine-bond-relationship-first-pet-care-with-shauna-vidueira Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #PetHealth #PetCare #PetLaw #AnimalWelfare #PetOwnerTips #VetCare #UnleashedCuriosity Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    New State Laws Are Reshaping Pet Sales, Vet Care & Animal Welfare

  7. Sep 22

    The Human-Canine Bond: Relationship-First Pet Care with Shauna Vidueira

    Is Good Pet Care Something You Buy? with Shauna Vidueira What if the most important thing you could give your dog costs nothing at all? Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva sit down with Shauna Vidueira - founder of The Pup Scholar, certified dog trainer, and researcher at the Social Relationships Lab at the University of South Florida - for a conversation that reframes what caring for your dog truly means. She brings nearly two decades of experience and one belief: the bond between you and your dog is a relationship. And like any relationship, it evolves. In this episode:🐾 How psychology gave Shauna a language for patterns she had observed for years🐾 What changes between puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and senior years - and how to care for the dog in front of you, not the dog you remember🐾 The one free action every pet parent can take this week to know their dog better If you have ever felt pressure to buy your way to better pet care, this episode is for you. Connect with our guest, Shauna Vidueira: ᐧ 🌐 thepupscholar.com ᐧ Instagram: @thepupscholar ᐧ Facebook: @ThePupScholar ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Website: http://www.unleashedcuriosity.com/ ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook: @vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Keeping Your Pets Safe During Wildfire Season https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/keeping-your-pets-safe-during-wildfire-season Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #HumanCanineBond #PetParenting #DogBehavior #RelationshipFirstPetCare #ThePupScholar #DogTraining #PetPsychology #AnimalBehavior #SeniorDog #AdolescentDog #PetCare #DogMom #DogParent #CaregiverGuilt #PetWellbeing #ConsciousPetParenting #DogLife #KnowYourDog Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    The Human-Canine Bond: Relationship-First Pet Care with Shauna Vidueira

  8. Sep 15

    Keeping Your Pets Safe During Wildfire Season

    🐾 Wildfire smoke can affect your pet long before the flames are anywhere close to your home. In this episode, Dr. Amber Da Silva joins Donie to cover two wildfire scenarios every pet parent should know: smoky air with no evacuation, and an actual evacuation order. 🔥 How to protect your pet when outdoor air quality drops, even if the fire itself is far away 🧩 Indoor enrichment ideas to keep pets from getting restless when walks and yard time aren't an option 🎒 What actually belongs in a pet emergency go bag, and why packing it before fire season starts matters 🏷️ Why an out-of-date microchip can keep families from reuniting with a pet during an evacuation 🏠 What to check for once you're allowed back home after a fire passes A little preparation now can make an incredibly stressful day far more manageable. ❤️ Connect with us: ᐧ Check out our website: UnleashedcuriosityUnleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition & Vet Advice by Vital Pet Life ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast ᐧ Facebook -facebook.com/vitalpetlife ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife ᐧ Check out our website: www.vitalpetlife.com 🎧 You may also enjoy: Why Grooming Matters More in the Summer https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/why-grooming-matters-more-in-the-summer Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at hello@unleashedcuriosity.com. Thank you for tuning in! #PetHealth #PetCare #WildfireSafety #PetEvacuation #PetEmergencyKit #PetParents #UnleashedCuriosity Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    Keeping Your Pets Safe During Wildfire Season
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About

Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life Podcast cracks the code on pet nutrition, health tips & keeping your fur fam happy and informed! ✨ Join Donie Yamamoto, CEO and Founder, and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, as they share practical advice, expert insights, and myth-busting truths to help you become a more confident, educated, and empowered pet parent. We're here to dispel misinformation, break down pet ingredients, and highlight key pet care strategies backed by veterinary expertise. From Q & A with Dr. Amber to ingredient transparency, this podcast is your go-to source for today's pet care. It's time to get informed, inspired, and confident in your pet care choices. Need quality supplements? We got you! Tune in, follow & unleash your pet questions: hello@unleashedcuriosity.com (mailto:hello@unleashedcuriosity.com) ➡️ You could be next episode's superstar! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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