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PODCAST

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

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

kids & family pets & animals

All Episodes

42:59

Snake Season Part 2: How Dogs Learn to Avoid...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/10/06

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

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06:42

New State Laws Are Reshaping Pet Sales, Vet Care &...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/09/29

🐾 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

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36:57

The Human-Canine Bond: Relationship-First Pet Care...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/09/22

Is Good Pet Care Something You Buy? with Shauna VidueiraWhat 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 of 12 years, and researcher at the Social Relationships Lab at the University of South Florida - for a conversation that reframes everything you think you know about caring for your dog.Shauna brings an unusual combination: nearly two decades of

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13:39

Keeping Your Pets Safe During Wildfire Season

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/09/15

🐾 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

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07:08

Why Grooming Matters More in the Summer

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/09/08

🐾 Tick season and wildfire smoke have more in common than you'd think, and it all shows up on your pet's skin and coat.In this episode, Dr. Amber Da Silva joins Donie to break down why summer is the season to pay closer attention to grooming, even when nothing looks obviously wrong on the surface.🧴 How often to brush, bathe, and check your pet depending on coat type and climate🌿 What to actually look for on a shampoo label (oatmeal, aloe vera, fragrance-free formulas)🐟 Why omega-3 fatty acids

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13:24

Why Your Pet's 'Bad Behavior' Is Actually Boredom And...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/09/01

Most pet parents know the signs when something's physically wrong - limping, vomiting, a dull coat. Far fewer recognize the signs of a bored pet, even though boredom is one of the most common (and most overlooked) drivers of "bad behavior" in dogs, cats, and even birds.In this episode, Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM unpack what boredom actually looks like across species, why it's becoming more common in modern pet households, and what pet parents can do about it today - no special equipment

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11:44

Tick & Flea Season: What's Actually Happening to Your...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/08/25

"I found a tick on my dog and I feel terrible" - if that's you every summer, Dr. Amber Da Silva has good news: it's not on you. She joins Donie Yamamoto to explain what actually drives tick and flea activity this time of year, why it has almost nothing to do with how careful you've been, and the two-minute daily habit that catches problems before they become vet visits.In this episode:Why tick and flea activity ramps up every summer, and why it's not a parenting failureWhere ticks and fleas actually

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06:39

The Science of Animal Consciousness: Do Dogs and Cats...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/08/18

Do animals really feel things — or are we just projecting? In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie and Dr. Amber dig into a new philosophy framework out of Michigan State University that's helping scientists figure out which animals are actually conscious.🧠 The "marker" debate — what scientists look for to judge whether a creature can feel 🦀 Why hermit crabs are the surprising test case researchers keep coming back to 🐕🐈 What the science says about dogs and cats specifically (spoiler: it's

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28:22

Therapy Dogs, Mental Health & Community Impact with...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/08/11

Therapy Dogs in Jails, Clinics & Airports: The Human-Animal Bond in ActionIn this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie and Dr. Amber sit down with Jody Williams, Executive Director of Therapy Dogs of America and Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara. Jody shares how her organization has taken the human-animal bond into places most people wouldn't expect - county jails, behavioral health clinics, airport terminals, and classrooms - and what she's seen change as a result.From a young man who hadn't left

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16:05

Is Your Dog or Cat Overweight? The 2-Year Difference...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/08/04

Donie kicks things off with a confession: after a few weeks of extra treats and fewer walks in the heat, she's pretty sure her dogs Tuxedo and Jean Martin have put on some weight. Dr. Amber's in the same boat with her recently adopted dog Willow, who's on her own weight loss journey. It's perfect timing, because nearly 60% of pets in this country are overweight or obese right now, and pets at a healthy weight live an average of two years longer than those who aren't.Dr. Amber explains why this is

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15:17

Your Pet in Bed: The Real Science on Sleep...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/07/28

Should Your Pet Sleep in Your Bed?In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva break down what the science actually says about co-sleeping with your pet - and why the headlines on this topic keep leaving out the most important variable.A 2022 study from Utrecht University confirmed that sharing a bed with a healthy pet does increase exposure to certain pathogens. But increased exposure is not the same as getting sick. For healthy adults with healthy pets on a routine

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10:15

Should You Take Your Dog Out in This Heat? What the...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/07/21

Should You Take Your Dog Out in This Heat? What the Research Actually SaysIn this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie and Dr. Amber Da Silva break down why the number on your weather app isn't the one that actually matters for your dog outdoors. On a 75-degree sunny day, pavement can reach 125 degrees, hot enough to burn paw pads in under a minute, especially for puppies who haven't built up calluses yet. Dr. Amber walks through the simple hand test that tells you if the ground is too hot to walk

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39:53

The Healing Power of Dogs: Therapy Dog Training,...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/07/14

Dogs, Grief and Caregiving: The Human Animal BondIn this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie sits down with Susan Hartzler, author and a recognized authority on therapy dogs and the human animal bond. Susan shares the story behind Sit With Me, her guided meditation practice for pet parents and their dogs, and how her own dogs, Blondie, Bliss, and Baldwin, carried her through pivotal moments in her life, from dating in her twenties to caring for her father through his Parkinson's diagnosis.Susan

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18:24

From Hype to Health: The Science Driving the Next Era...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/07/07

We don't wait for a cavity to start brushing our teeth, so why wait to support our pets? In this episode, Donie Yamamoto sits down with Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, to unpack what's really driving the pet supplement boom - and how pet parents can tell a quality product from marketing noise.Dr. Amber Da Silva breaks down what separates credible formulation from hype: ingredient-specific research, transparent sourcing, and serving sizes that actually match what the science supports. She and Donie also dig

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12:03

Snake Season Is Here: What Every Dog Owner Needs to...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/06/30

That dry, sprinkler-like buzz on a trail with your dog. If you've heard it, you know. Rattlesnake season is here - and this year it's already running hot.Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM and co-host of Unleashed Curiosity, breaks down what rattlesnake aversion training actually is, why the single-session class often fails, and what every dog owner in rattlesnake territory needs to do before they need it. If you hike or live in rattlesnake country, this episode is for you.This goes deeper than basic tips -

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30:01

Dog Longevity Decoded: Treats, Nutrition & Rescue...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/06/23

What if the treats you give your dog every day are getting in the way of their care?In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM sit down with Beth Jackson, founder of Oliver P. Toliver's Thoroughly Tasty Treats, for a conversation that will change how you think about every snack you hand your pup.Beth's brand was born from a 10-week-old rescue puppy who nearly died from Parvo - and one simple rule: every ingredient must earn its place.In this episode, you'll

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19:22

Moving Well, Living Longer: The Link Between Mobility...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/06/17

Is your dog or cat slowing down? Before you chalk it up to normal aging, this episode might change how you see your pet's everyday movement.In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie Yamamoto and veterinarian Dr. Amber Da Silva dig into one of the most overlooked topics in pet health: joint mobility and what it really means for your pet's long-term quality of life.Dr. Amber busts some of the biggest myths pet parents believe, including why a dog that isn't limping or crying out can still be in

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1:00:02

Pet Supplements, Ethical Breeding & Vet-Approved...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/06/09

What if your vet's training was shaped more by pharmaceutical companies than by nutrition science? In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life, hosts Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva sit down with Dr. Karyn Kanowski, veterinary content creator, supervisor at Pango Vet, and co-host of the Chatty Cattys podcast, for one of our most eye-opening conversations yet about pet health, pet supplements, and the future of animal welfare.🔑 In this episode, we cover:Why pet supplements and

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29:04

Good Poops, Happy Dog: Getting to the Bottom of...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/06/02

What's Behind Your Dog's Digestive Discomfort — And Why Diet Alone May Not Be EnoughYou've switched the food. You've been patient. But occasional loose stools, digestive gas, and coat issues keep coming back.In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity, Donie Yamamoto sits down with integrative veterinarian Dr. Amber Da Silva to explore what most pet parents never hear: gut microbiome balance may play a central role in your dog's overall wellness — and diet changes alone may not be enough to support

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07:14

The Future of Pet Wellness: What We Saw at Global Pet...

Unleashed Curiosity: Dog & Cat Health, Nutrition &... ·

2026/05/26

Donie Yamamoto and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM, back from Global Pet Expo 2026 with one major takeaway: pet wellness is evolving fast; from personalized nutrition and microbiome innovation to sustainability and ingredient transparency, today’s pet parents are increasingly conscientious about the ingredients in the treats and supplements they give their pets.In this episode, they discuss the biggest trends shaping the future of pet longevity, why clean sourcing and recognizable ingredients matter, and

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