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

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:

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🎧 You may also enjoy:

Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

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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 smell
• Positive reinforcement vs. one-trial learning, and why a stressed dog can't learn
• Why rattlesnake season can be any season in Southern California
• Simple safety habits for trails, hikes, and the backyard
• Gina's take on the rattlesnake vaccine and where avoidance training fits
• How 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

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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 [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#UnleashedCuriosity #RattlesnakeAvoidanceTraining #RattlesnakeSafety #SnakeSafeDog #SnakeSeason #DogSafety

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🐾 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 [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#PetHealth #PetCare #PetLaw #AnimalWelfare #PetOwnerTips #VetCare #UnleashedCuriosity

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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 [email protected]. 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

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🐾 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 [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#PetHealth #PetCare #WildfireSafety #PetEvacuation #PetEmergencyKit #PetParents #UnleashedCuriosity

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🐾 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 support healthy skin and a glossy coat from the inside out

🐾 Simple paw checks that catch cuts, burns, and irritation before they become bigger issues

A few extra minutes of grooming each week does double duty, keeping pets comfortable while helping pet parents catch small issues early.

🧴Previous episode on fragrances and chemicals: https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-83

🥵Previous episode guide on heat and hot paws: https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-106

❤️ 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 Your Pet's Bad Behavior Is Actually Boredom And How to Fix It Today

https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/why-your-pet-s-bad-behavior-is-actually-boredom-and-how-to-fix-it-today

Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#PetHealth #DogGrooming #CatGrooming #PetCare #SkinAndCoat #TickSeason #PetParents #UnleashedCuriosity

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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 required.

🐾 What a bored dog, cat, or bird actually looks like day to day

🏠 Why boredom is becoming more common in modern pet households

🎯 Simple, no-equipment ways to add enrichment starting today

The throughline: a bored pet isn't a badly behaved pet, and a bored-behaving pet isn't a sign of a bad pet parent. It's a signal, and it's fixable.

❤️ 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: Tick & Flea Season: What's Actually Happening to Your Dog This Summer

https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/tick-flea-season-what-s-actually-happening-to-your-dog-this-summer

Music: "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #DogBehavior #CatBehavior #PetEnrichment #PetHealth #DogCare #CatCare #PetParent #PetPodcast

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"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 failure
• Where ticks and fleas actually come from, even on a short walk around the block
• What a real, thorough tick check looks like, and the areas that matter most
• The safest way to remove an attached tick
• What to watch for with fleas, and how to confirm it fast
• The three-part proactive routine that catches problems early

❤️ 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 Science of Animal Consciousness: Do Dogs and Cats Really Feel Emotions?

https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/the-science-of-animal-consciousness-do-dogs-and-cats-really-feel-emotions

Music: "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #TickSeason #FleaSeason #DogHealth #PetHealth #DogCare #SummerPetCare #VetAdvice #PetPodcast

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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 good news)

❤️ Why trusting what you see in your own pet is backed by more science than you'd think

Not a philosophy lecture — a grounded, real-talk look at why the science keeps landing closer to "yes, they feel more than we assumed."

❤️ Connect with us:

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ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/unleashed-curiosity-podcast

ᐧ Check out our website -www.vitalpetlife.com

🎧 You may also enjoy: Therapy Dogs, Mental Health & Community Impact with Jody Williams

https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/therapy-dogs-mental-health-community-impact-with-jody-williams

Music: "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #AnimalConsciousness #PetHealth #DogBehavior #CatBehavior #PetScience #DogsOfInstagram #CatsOfInstagram #PetPodcast

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Therapy Dogs in Jails, Clinics & Airports: The Human-Animal Bond in Action

In 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 his jail cell in two months stepping out to meet a labrador, to clinic patients who show up because they know the dog will be there, Jody's stories from the front lines of animal-assisted support make the case better than any research paper.

Topics covered:

🐾 How Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara grew from a library reading program to a multi-site behavioral health partner

🏥 What the jail-based competency treatment program is and why therapy dogs fit in

✈️ The Santa Barbara Airport therapy dog program and the unexpected moments it creates

🐕 What makes a dog (and a handler) suited for this kind of work

💙 How to get involved if your dog has what it takes

💙 Connect with our guest, Jody Williams of Therapy Dogs America:

ᐧ Website: TherapydogssbTherapy Dogs of America

ᐧ Instagram: @therapydogssb and @therapydogsofamerica

ᐧ Facebook: FacebookTherapy Dogs of Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara CA

❤️ Connect with us:

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ᐧ TikTok:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ Instagram:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ X:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ YouTube:@vitalpetlife

ᐧ LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/vitalpetlife

ᐧ Check out our website -www.vitalpetlife.com

You may also enjoy: Is Your Dog or Cat Overweight? The 2-Year Difference Pet Parents Miss

https://smartlink.ausha.co/unleashedcuriosity/is-your-dog-or-cat-overweight-the-2-year-difference-pet-parents-miss

Music: "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at [email protected]. Thank you for tuning in!

#UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #PetHealth #TherapyDogs #HumanAnimalBond #DogMom #AnimalAssistedTherapy #DogTraining #PetPodcast #JodyWilliams

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