Unleashed Curiosity Podcast about Dog and Cat Health by Vital Pet Life

The Future of Pet Wellness: What We Saw at Global Pet Expo 2026

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 Vital Pet Life’s exciting launch at the show of Only Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats — the first pet supplement oil in the U.S. to carry the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) label. Follow Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life for science-backed conversations on pet health, longevity, and behavior. 👍 Like this episode if you learned something new 🔔 Subscribe for weekly pet health insights 📩 Share this with a fellow pet parent 📩 Have questions or episode ideas? Email us at podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com] 🌐 Learn more at VitalPetLife.com [http://VitalPetLife.com] You may also listen here to our previous episode 🎙️ https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-97 [https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-97] Connect with us: ᐧ Facebook - facebook.com/vitalpetlife [http://facebook.com/vitalpetlife] ᐧ TikTok: @vitalpetlife [https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalpetlife] ᐧ Instagram: @vitalpetlife [https://www.instagram.com/vitalpetlife/] ᐧ X: @vitalpetlife [https://x.com/VitalPetLife] ᐧ YouTube: @vitalpetlife [https://www.youtube.com/@vitalpetlife/podcasts] ᐧ Check out our website - www.vitalpetlife.com [http://www.vitalpetlife.com/] Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at ⁠podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com]⁠ Thank you for tuning in! “Life of Riley” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Why Your Dog NEEDS to Sniff on Walks (It's Not What You Think)

Your dog isn't walking — they're reading. Every fire hydrant, every blade of grass, every invisible trail left by a passing stranger — your dog is processing all of it through a nose that's up to 100,000x more powerful than yours. But most walks are designed entirely around human priorities: speed, distance, calories burned. In this episode of Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life, veterinarian Dr. Amber Da Silva and founder Donie Yamamoto break down the fascinating science of canine olfaction and why sniffing isn't a bad habit — it's a biological necessity. What you'll learn: * Why dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors (vs. our 5–6 million) * How sniffing reduces anxiety and builds confidence in dogs * The difference between a "march walk" and a mentally enriching sniff walk * What your dog is actually detecting when they stop at a fire hydrant * Why restricting sniffing is like making your dog wear a blindfold Whether you have a high-energy pup or a couch potato, this episode will completely change how you think about the daily walk. 🐾 Slow down. Let them sniff. Your dog will thank you. 🎙️ Unleashed Curiosity is brought to you by Vital Pet Life — where curiosity, compassion, and science converge to help your pet live longer, healthier, and happier. 📩 Questions or topic ideas? Email us: podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com] 🔔 Subscribe & leave a review — it helps more pet lovers find the show! You may also listen here to our previous episode 🎙️ https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-96 [https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-96] Connect with us: ᐧ Facebook - facebook.com/vitalpetlife [http://facebook.com/vitalpetlife] ᐧ TikTok: @vitalpetlife [https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalpetlife] ᐧ Instagram: @vitalpetlife [https://www.instagram.com/vitalpetlife/] ᐧ X: @vitalpetlife [https://x.com/VitalPetLife] ᐧ YouTube: @vitalpetlife [https://www.youtube.com/@vitalpetlife/podcasts] ᐧ Check out our website - www.vitalpetlife.com [http://www.vitalpetlife.com/] Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at ⁠podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com]⁠ Thank you for tuning in! “Life of Riley” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

60-Second Ingredient Deep Dive with Dr. Amber, DVM: Oatmeal for Dogs and Cats Shampoo

You've seen it on every pet shampoo. But do you actually know what it does? 🌾 Unleashed Curiosity by Vital Pet Life launches a brand new segment — 60 Second Ingredient Deep Dives — and Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM is starting with one of the most common and most misunderstood ingredients in pet wellness. Today: Oatmeal. Not the breakfast kind. The kind that could be actively restoring your pet's skin health — or doing absolutely nothing — depending entirely on whether the brand you're using got it right. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 1:03 – What is oatmeal (in pet wellness)? 1:30 – What oatmeal does in your pet's body 2:10 – How often your pet needs it 2:35 – Red flags: low-quality oatmeal to avoid 🐶 IS THIS VIDEO FOR YOU? Watch this if your dog or cat experiences: * Itchy or irritated skin * Seasonal or environmental allergies * Dry, flaky, or sensitive skin * Post-grooming irritation * Chronic skin issues despite regular bathing Or if you're simply a pet parent who wants to understand what's actually in the products you're buying. You may also listen here to our previous episode 🎙️ https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-95 [https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-95] Connect with us: ᐧ Facebook - facebook.com/vitalpetlife [http://facebook.com/vitalpetlife] ᐧ TikTok: @vitalpetlife [https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalpetlife] ᐧ Instagram: @vitalpetlife [https://www.instagram.com/vitalpetlife/] ᐧ X: @vitalpetlife [https://x.com/VitalPetLife] ᐧ YouTube: @vitalpetlife [https://www.youtube.com/@vitalpetlife/podcasts] ᐧ Check out our website - www.vitalpetlife.com [http://www.vitalpetlife.com/] Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at ⁠podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com]⁠ Thank you for tuning in! “Life of Riley” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

Dogs, Aging & the Future of Medicine: What We’re Learning from Canine Longevity, Health Science & Breakthroughs for Longer Lives

🐾 Your Dog Is Aging Like You — And That's Changing Medicine Forever The Dog Aging Project is tracking tens of thousands of dogs nationwide — and what researchers are finding could reshape how we approach health for both dogs AND humans. Dogs don't just mirror us emotionally. They mirror us biologically. Same diseases. Same environment. Same aging pathways. Just on a faster timeline. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - The Dog Aging Project: What It Is 01:16 - Why dogs are the perfect human aging model 02:57 - Canine dementia & Alzheimer's parallels 04:28 - What pet parents miss about cognitive decline 05:20 - How to slow cognitive decline in dogs 06:26 - Cancer: the #1 killer in dogs & immune dysfunction 08:02 - Why dogs outperform mice as research models 09:07 - Rapamycin & the future of health span 10:20 - Shifting from reactive to proactive pet care 11:44 - What YOU can do as a pet parent right now 🔬 IN THIS EPISODE: Dr. Amber Da Silva and Donie Yamamoto break down canine dementia, cancer, chronic inflammation, and what the Dog Aging Project means for the future of veterinary and human medicine. 🐶 WATCH FOR THESE SIGNS OF COGNITIVE DECLINE: • Confusion or disorientation at home • Pacing or restlessness at night • Staring at walls or getting "stuck" • Forgetting familiar people or commands Early intervention is everything. Don't dismiss these as "just aging." 🔔 SUBSCRIBE + hit the bell — next episode: small changes that extend your pet's health span. 👍 LIKE if this changed how you think about your pet's health. You may also listen here to our previous episode 🎙️ https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-94 [https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-94] #DogAgingProject #DogDementia #PetHealth #DogLongevity #CanineCognitiveDysfunction #DogCancer #UnleashedCuriosity #VitalPetLife #PetWellness #IntegrativePetCare Connect with us: ᐧ Facebook - facebook.com/vitalpetlife [http://facebook.com/vitalpetlife] ᐧ TikTok: @vitalpetlife [https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalpetlife] ᐧ Instagram: @vitalpetlife [https://www.instagram.com/vitalpetlife/] ᐧ X: @vitalpetlife [https://x.com/VitalPetLife] ᐧ YouTube: @vitalpetlife [https://www.youtube.com/@vitalpetlife/podcasts] ᐧ Check out our website - www.vitalpetlife.com [http://www.vitalpetlife.com/] Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at ⁠podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com]⁠ Thank you for tuning in! “Life of Riley” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.

The One Why Cats Knead & Zoom at 3AM – 10 Weird Cat Behaviors Explained by a Vet

Why Cats Knead, Zoom at 3AM & Knock Things Over – 10 Weird Cat Behaviors Explained by a Vet Your cat isn't weird. Science just finally caught up. 🐱 We decode 10 viral cat behaviors with Dr. Amber Da Silva, DVM — and the answers will surprise you. Our Short on cat kneading just crossed 160,000 views, so we're going deeper. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Kneading / "Making Biscuits" 🍞 03:39 — The Slow Blink / Cat Kiss 😻 04:14 — "If I Fit, I Sit" 📦 04:48 — 3AM Zoomies 🌙 06:10 — Bird Watching Chatter 🐦 07:01 — The Loaf Position 🐈 08:04 — Knocking Things Off Tables 😤 09:01 — Showing Their Butt (it's a compliment) 🍑 10:10 — Sleeping on Your Laptop 💻 12:24 — Random Foot Attacks 🦶 🔬 What You'll Learn: * Why adult cats still knead — rooted in nursing instinct * The slow blink: your cat's version of "I love you" * Why domestic cats think 3AM is hunting hour * The chattering jaw reflex cats make at windows * Why knocking things off tables is cause-and-effect learning * How to train out foot attacks before they become a real problem Whether you're a lifelong cat parent or just deeply confused by your new kitten, this episode gives you the science and the laughs. Subscribe | Leave a Review | Share with a Cat Parent 📧 Questions? podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com] You may also listen here to our previous episode 🎙️ https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-93 [https://vitalpet.life/unleashed-curiosity-episode-93] #CatBehavior #WhyCatsKnead #CatParent #CatZoomies #VitalPetLife #UnleashedCuriosity #CatTips #Veterinarian #PetPodcast #CatLoaf #CatMom #CatDad #PetHealth #IntegrativePetCare Connect with us: ᐧ Facebook - facebook.com/vitalpetlife [http://facebook.com/vitalpetlife] ᐧ TikTok: @vitalpetlife [https://www.tiktok.com/@vitalpetlife] ᐧ Instagram: @vitalpetlife [https://www.instagram.com/vitalpetlife/] ᐧ X: @vitalpetlife [https://x.com/VitalPetLife] ᐧ YouTube: @vitalpetlife [https://www.youtube.com/@vitalpetlife/podcasts] ᐧ Check out our website - www.vitalpetlife.com [http://www.vitalpetlife.com/] Don't forget to follow us or send us your questions at ⁠podcast@vitalpetlife.com [podcast@vitalpetlife.com]⁠ Thank you for tuning in! “Life of Riley” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy [https://ausha.co/privacy-policy] for more information.