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Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. What does the words Backyard Breeder conjure up in your mind? Do you think of awful people that are just trying to make quick cash? Very possibly. But, let’s go exploring into the world of backyard breeding and see if this is truly the case. How This Backyard Breeder Topic Came About I’ll tell you how this topic came about. A couple that comes in fairly regularly, announced that their dog was having puppies. Okay. My question was, how did that happen, was it on purpose […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. It’s time to test our knowledge again with Pet Trivia 3.0. So, get yourself a score card and let’s see how you do. Ready? Here is the answer. One of the easiest and cost friendly products you can use is Dandelion. Dandelion has many great properties and is a super food. It has a great ability to help with inflammation therefore helping with any allergy flair ups. The best part is that it will work with any allergy. So, food or environmental allergies can be helped […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Have you ever been at a loss to find a dog walker or sitter and wished you could find one through a trusted and easy process? Well today I have Tanya Emma Elessen from Pawzy, an online Canadian app to do just that. Well, I would really like to thank Tanya from Pawzy for taking the time to talk with me. Her app set up to help pet parents to find the service providers they need is really what is needed in these busy times. The […]
Introduction Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. This question goes out to all the cat parents. Does your cat pee outside of the litter box? Or do they pee where they shouldn’t? Well, let’s go exploring. What Is Litter Box Avoidance? A very frequent question I get is, what to do with a cat that continuously pee’s outside of the litter box. I’ve heard pet parents say their cat will climb into the litter box, hang their back end over the edge and pee. Others say, the cat will go in the […]
Introduction Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In the news just recently has been the rescue of 1500 Beagles from Ridglan Farms. A biomedical research facility located in Blue Mound, Wisconsin, United States, that uses bred Beagles for experimentation. The size of this rescue was enormous, but unfortunately it was just the tip of the iceberg. And because of its significance, I thought we could go together and learn more about this incredible rescue. Ridglan Farms And Purpose Bred Beagles What Ridglan Says About Its Work Ridglan farm has on their home […]
Introduction Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I will be spotlighting the most popular breed of dog in Canada and the United Kingdom, the Labrador Retriever. Most Popular Dog Breeds Worldwide A Surprising Global Leader Have you ever wondered what is the most popular breed of dog worldwide? Well, I have, and I have to say I was a bit surprised as it turned out to be the French Bulldog. The French Bulldog has held the spot for several years worldwide ousting the Labrador Retriever that held the spot […]
Exploring the World of Pet Tech Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode it is time to explore the world of Pet Tech for dogs and cats. As we know and as I say many times, the pet industry is subject to changes like any other industry influenced by technology. Pet Tech or pet technology, encompasses AI-powered gadgets, apps, and hardware designed to improve pet health, safety, and lifestyle, including smart collars, automatic feeders, and activity monitors. And to add to this is One Digital Health. So, let’s take a […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Fur babies, fur kids, Mum and Dad, are we humanizing our pets too much to the point where their well-being is at stake? Let’s go exploring. What Is Fur Baby Culture? The “fur baby” culture or anthropomorphism of pets has some veterinarians concerned. Many vets are concerned that the “fur baby” culture is driving animal welfare issues. So, what exactly is “fur baby” culture? Fur baby culture apparently “refers to the society shift where pets, particularly dogs and cats, are treated as children, family members, or […]
Introduction Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I’m going to spotlight one of the most popular reptile pets; the Bearded Dragon. Understanding the Bearded Dragon What is a Bearded Dragon?When it comes to reptile pets one of the most popular is the Bearded Dragon. Interestingly, Bearded Dragons are a genus of reptiles called Pogana (puh-goh-na). This genus contains eight lizard species that are known by the more common name, bearded dragon. Why Do They Have a “Beard”?According to Wikipedia, the name refers to “the underside of the throat (or […]
On this episode of Val Talk’s Pets I’m going to be looking into an amazing premium pet food company called Petcurean. Petcurean is a Canadian pet nutrition company known for crafting premium, nutritionally focused dog and cat food designed to support long, healthy lives. The best part is, to help me with this exploration is two leaders from Petcurean: Ashley Norton, Territory Sales Manager, and Teresa Lantz, Nutrition Manager. Together, they bring a blend of frontline experience and scientific expertise. Ashley and Teresa? Let’s Go!! I would like to thank Ashley and Teresa for taking the time to talk with […]
Pet parents grieve terribly when a pet dies, but what happens to the other pet in the household when a member of the pet family passes away? In this episode we’ll talk about How Dogs and Cats Handle Pet Loss. Why This Episode Matters So, this episode comes about because our Rory passed away on January 23rd. I mentioned in one of the latest episodes that we were dealing with a kidney issue with Rory and unfortunately it just went pear shaped very quickly. The positive however is that Rory passed at home, quiet, warm and with his family. We […]
Hi everyone, and welcome In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Judy Tennant , the founder and executive director of Parrot Partners, a charity and rescue dedicated to the well-being of parrots. When I first learned about their work, I knew I had to get in touch and share their story. I found this conversation incredibly informative, and I want to thank Judy Tennant for taking the time to speak with me. When we think about animal rescue, we often focus on dogs, cats, and small animals. It is easy to forget that other animals are also […]
Introduction Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In the last episode I opened 2026 with a discussion about diabetes in pets beginning with dogs. On this episode we’ll look at how to Manage Diabetes in Cats: Symptoms, Food Choices, Insulin, and Natural Support As I said in the last episode, I was tempted into this topic by the amount of people that come looking for alternatives to feed their diabetic pet and some are also looking for ways to support a diabetic pet in tandem with their medicine. Truthfully we hear about […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this first episode of Val Talk’s Pets 2026. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and the fur kids had a safe, great time. To start off this year, I’m going to tackle the topic of diabetes in dogs. The reason I wanted to take on this episode is for one, we get a lot of people talking about diabetes in their pets and are looking for alternative foods that will do relatively the same job as the food they get at the vet, but at a friendlier price point. The other reason, is that […]
📅 Episode Overview: Saying Goodbye to 2025 Another year has flown by, and I have tackled 24 topics related to being a pet parent or pets in general. For this final episode of 2025, I’m recapping some of my favourite episodes, sharing insights along the way, and reflecting on what has been an interesting and sometimes strange year in the world of pets and pet parenthood. You can visit each of topics by clicking the first words in each title. Here we go! 🐱 FIP in Cats: A Critical and Emotional Topic My first episode of 2025 focused on Feline […]
Introduction Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Have you ever gone into your pet specialty store to get something for your dog to chew and found yourself staring at a section that was so complicated you just ended up grabbing the first thing? In this episode “Stop Guessing in the Chew Aisle: The Smart Way to Choose Dog Chews” and let’s turn an overwhelming aisle into easy, informed choices. Why Pet Parents Buy Chews Pet parents buy their dogs chews for a bunch of reasons. First of all, most dogs do love […]
Well we are getting into the time of year when Christmas lights and trees are going up and the shopping has begun. And because our pets are part of the family, we always get them Christmas or holiday gifts as well. So let’s talk about Great Gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers—And the Surprising Items to Avoid. Christmas Items for Dogs Toys and Treats When it comes to Christmas items for dogs, there are a lot. Generally we think of toys and treats to put in their stockings. Toys can be anything from the usual toys you generally buy to […]
Pet people love their animals and some would never be without a furry friend in the home. Why is that? Let’s explore “The Real Physical and Mental Benefits of Pet Ownership: Why Pets Are Truly Good for You”. Physical Benefits of Pet Ownership The Exercise Advantage of Owning a Dog Let’s begin with the physical benefits of having a dog.We all know that dog owners are usually out walking their dogs especially if they live in a town, or city and the dog may not have a large backyard to play in. Where I am, people take advantage of the […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. I was thinking the other day, why do we separate food for our pets as their food and human food? Why isn’t it just food? Well obviously, not all food that humans consume is for dogs and cats or small animals, but what food is totally allowed? Let’s go exploring to find out what foods besides designated pet food are totally fine for a pet. Proteins for Pets If you look around the pet specialty store or ask an expert, you will find just about every […]
Introduction Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Have you ever wondered how people chose names for their pets? Some dogs and cats have such cute names and some, you just kind of wonder. So, let’s go exploring on How to Choose the Perfect Name for Your Pet. Personal Experience with Pet Names Registered Dogs When it comes to naming a pet, I have to say I really struggle sometimes. And if you have ever had a registered dog, you have to come up with a name that is accepted by the CKC […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. It’s time for another trivia challenge. Are you ready for dog and cat trivia 1.3? Grab your score card. Here we go! Cat Vocabulary Question: In terms of vocabulary how many words do you think a cat can learn or understand? The answer is a bit vague actually. Apparently it is not as easy to measure how many words a cat can understand compared to a dog. For example, a cat will know its own name. Because it knows its name, there is no reason not […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Here’s a question for you: How pet-friendly is your country, or even your town or city, for that matter? It is actually quite varied across our world as to how pets are accepted in our daily lives. So, let’s explore how pets are accepted in different places. Dogs in Scotland I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Scotland, and one of the things that is really, really noticeable—besides from the amazing scenery and people—is that dogs are everywhere. And I mean everywhere! Not […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. I’ve got a bit of a trend going here. In this episode, I am going to spotlight The Border Terrier. On my last episode, I talked about the Cairn Terrier, and I have also spotlighted the Westie. Keeping with our rugged and tough Scottish small dogs, I’m exploring the Border Terrier. Also, a rugged little guy. A Personal Connection I have a friend who looks after pets as a business, and he had a favourite client who was a Border Terrier. Unfortunately, this little dog has […]
Introduction Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. It’s been a while since I did a focus on a specific breed of dog, so on this episode I will be shining the spotlight on the Cairn Terrier. If you have never seen a Cairn Terrier, be prepared, because they are cute! Like the Westie, the Cairn also originated in the Highlands of Scotland and the Isle of Skye. History of the Breed According to Wikipedia, originally, the Cairns were called the Short-Haired Skye Terrier. When the breed was being established, there was concern […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I am going to talk about Parvovirus, a serious threat to dogs. What is Parvovirus (Parvo)? What is Parvovirus or Parvo as often referred as? Wikipedia states “Canine parvovirus is a contagious virus mainly affecting dogs and wolves. CPV (Canine Parvovirus) is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct contact with their feces. Vaccines can prevent this infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases. Treatment often involves veterinary hospitalization.” PetMD also clarifies that the feces doesn’t have […]
On this episode, let’s talk about “Hot weather and your pets”. You can’t deny that the weather has been changing, and hot, hot days have started to become the norm in places that never saw such heat before. Our pets often do not do well in the heat, so what can we do to make things a bit more comfortable for our fur kids? Walking Your Dog in the Heat Should You Walk? When it comes to a really hot day, or days for that matter, the question about whether to walk our dogs always comes up. Our dogs don’t […]
Introduction: Looking Back, Looking Ahead Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In my last episode, I talked about seniors and older adults having pets and the benefits and challenges that go with that. On this episode, I’m going to discuss senior pets. Now, I have another episode on senior pets: Managing our Ageing Pets, but I’m going to add a few new things here. So let’s get into Senior Pets: A Deeper Dive. How We Become Pet Parents to Seniors The Natural Aging Journey Having a senior pet happens in a few […]
Welcome to Val Talk’s Pets Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I’ll be exploring the topic of “Pet parenthood for seniors”—what it means to care for a pet during the older adult and senior years. Let’s dive into the unique experiences, challenges, and joys that come with being a pet parent later in life. Defining “Senior”: A Subjective Term Varying Definitions by Age and Region First of all, I think sometimes the word senior is used in a wide spectrum that may or may not define the term in its entirety.Many stores […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today’s episode is the next installment of trivia with Cats and Dogs Trivia 102. So get those thinking caps on and keep score if you like, as we hit the quiz for cats and dogs. 🧠 Omnivore, Carnivore, Obligate: What Do These Words Mean? To begin, have you heard the words, omnivore, carnivore, obligate, thrown around? What do these words mean? First, let’s define them, and then we will see how you assign them to a dog and a cat. • Omnivore An omnivore, as defined […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talks Pets. I’ve got a super exciting show for you, as Tammy Fox from Pumpkin and Friends Charity is back with some amazing updates—both on recent milestones and on a few challenges that have truly put Pumpkin Power to the test. I love talking with Tammy. After our chat, the whole gang even popped onto the Zoom call to say hello—Bear, Smeagol, Ernie, and Pumpkin herself! I’m so thrilled for Tammy and Richard and the incredible growth of Pumpkin and Friends Charity. What they’ve accomplished in just […]
A Deep Dive into Controversial Pet Surgeries Introduction Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I want to discuss three controversial surgeries done on dogs and cats that many consider to be mutilations and cruel: tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing. Tail Docking What Is Tail Docking? Tail docking, also known as bobbing, is the removal of portions of an animal’s tail. This is typically performed using surgical scissors or a scalpel, or by constricting blood flow with a rubber ligature until the tail falls off. Most often, this is […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talks Pets. On this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Paul Spindler, owner of Blends for Life, Cat and Dog Supplements, a fully Canadian company and Paul’s dream and passion. Now, before we begin, I’d just like to apologize for my voice during the intro and outro. I had a cold. At least I didn’t sound like this when I interviewed Paul. Let’s meet Paul! Well, that was a great conversation with Paul. You can always tell when someone is passionate about their company and have the […]
Introduction Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. As we approach the Easter holidays, I want to discuss something I believe is very important: Do not buy rabbits, chicks, or baby ducks as Easter gifts. The Inspiration for This Episode The impetus for this episode came from a phone call I received where the caller asked: “Do you have any little baby ducks for sale?” My answer, of course, was no. She then asked: “Do you know anyone selling little baby ducks?” Again, I said no, and added that most places often […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me for this episode of Val Talks Pets. On this episode, I was thinking I would share with you a few of my favorite things. These are a few things that I think have made caring for my fur babies run a bit smoother. So here we go. These are a few of my favorite things. The Litter Locker: A Game Changer for Cat Owners One item I have that helps with dealing with the kitty litter is a Litter Locker. A Litter Locker is kind of like a Diaper Genie that allows you […]
Thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talks Pets. One of the things that pet parents become concerned about as their dog ages is arthritis. We get a fair few questions about how to manage arthritis in dogs. So let’s go exploring and talk about canine arthritis. Recognizing the Signs of Arthritis According to vcahospitals.com, Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex condition. I think that some of the first signs that pet parents notice about their pets to start to think about arthritis is difficulty getting up or lying down or limping. Often we think the dog may […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets! Here we are at the end of February, and in many climates, there is still a fair bit of winter left. Dog coats and boots are still high on the list of purchases. So, let me give you the options and the honest truth on winter pet apparel and footwear. Coats and Sweaters Does Your Dog Need a Coat or Sweater? Not all dogs require a sweater or coat. Generally, dogs with hair, rather than fur, need extra warmth. For example, a husky or malamute does […]
Hi Everyone, and welcome to this Valentine’s Day episode of Val Talks Pets! On this episode, I have the special pleasure of sharing with you my interview with Tammie Fox, the amazing founder of Pumpkin & Friends Charity, Advocate for disabled pets, and pet mum to the inspiration for the Charity, the very best Ambassador, Pumpkin! Oh my goodness! That was amazing talking with Tammie. And I was actually introduced to Pumpkin herself on the screen we shared. Tammie and Pumpkin’s story is heartwarming and inspirational. Her charity and its support for disabled pets is truly amazing. Pumpkin brought Tammie […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I am going to explore FIP in cats – a feline condition known as Feline Infectious peritonitis. Feline Infectious Peritonitis is often referred to as FIP. It is a mutation of the feline coronavirus. Now, there’s a word we have all become familiar with. However, this is the feline kind. What exactly is FIP? According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, FIP is a viral disease, as mentioned caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus. The way FIP manifests is quite […]
Rita Hogan is a clinical canine herbalist with over 20 years of experience specializing in holistic canine herbalism. She is an educator, speaker, writer, formulator, and herbal medicine maker. Rita uses a combination of diet, flower essences, herbs, mushrooms, and phytoembryonic therapies addressing dogs’ mind, body, and spirit. To learn more about Rita please visit canineherbalist.com
Hi everyone, thanks for joining me on this first episode of 2025, aptly called “Trends for 2025”. It is hard to believe that another year has gone by. I wanted to look at what we can look forward to for our pets in 2025 and things we may want to put on our list of “Things To Do”. 2025! Here we come! You likely have noticed some of these trends entering your favourite pet specialty store throughout the last year and even before. But, 2025 is trending for many of these to ramp up and some are new. In no […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this Val Talk’s Pets episode. Here is a question for you. Should pets be allowed to visit patients in a hospital? I’ll bet all the pet people are nodding yes! In this episode, I’d like to explore the idea of pets in hospitals for patients, staff, and long-term care facilities. So, let’s get at it! Let’s start with hospitals. Animals visiting or being at a hospital can be separated into three categories. There is the question about allowing a pet to visit someone in the hospital; the pet belonging to the patient. […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Guess who is back with me? Souha Ezzedeen, author of The Way of Life Method. Souha and I had a two-part conversation about her amazing training method to raise sound and spirited companions. Today Souha and I will discuss how her method can be applied to rescue and shelter dogs. I would just like to thank Souha Ezzedeen for taking the time to talk about the really important topic of rescue and shelter dogs. As I said, some people I encounter are diehard adopters. They […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I’d like to do a bit of an overview regarding cat nutrition. I find that many pet parents are quite confused about what their cat requires and do not require. So, let’s see if I can demystify things a bit. To begin, cats are carnivores. They fall into the category of obligate carnivores. So, let’s just define what these titles mean. As defined by naturalpetfood.com, “A carnivore is an animal that thrives on a meat-based diet, while an obligate carnivore requires a meat-based […]
Hi everyone, thanks for joining me on this edition of Val Talk’s Pets. How many times have you heard someone say, “Well you know, dogs come from wolves”. Do they? Where did the domestic dog we have today come from? Well, let’s find out the Origins of the dog! Ancestry The domestication like many things, was a process. According to Wikipedia the answer we all have been looking for is, “Genetic studies suggest that all ancient and modern dogs share a common ancestry and descended from an ancient, now-extinct wolf population – or closely related wolf populations – which was […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well just like I discussed in Cats, there are a lot of questions that begin with the word “Should”. That’s always a bit of a weird way to start a question, but let’s explore the top 5 Shoulds of dog parenthood. Should my dog’s nose be wet or dry? Good question! Well, according to VCA Animal Hospitals, “A healthy dog may have a warm, dry nose after a nap, or after extreme physical exertion associated with dehydration. Some dogs develop a chapped, dry nose as they […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this edition of Val Talk’s Pets. Everyone is familiar with the adage, “Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda”. So I thought I would discuss the “Shoulds” of cat parenthood by looking at the Top 5 cat questions that begin with “should”. So let’s begin. Should my cat wear a collar? There is nothing cuter than seeing a little collar on a kitty with something cute as a design. But do they need to be wearing a collar? Let’s break this down a bit into indoor and semi-outdoor cats. Wearing a collar indoors Indoor cats don’t […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this edition of Val Talk’s Pets. In this edition, I am going to talk about fall allergies. The rise in pet parents looking for solutions to help their pets, particularly dogs, with a rise in allergy symptoms is quite significant. So, let me see if I can give some tips and offer some help. Allergy Type & Symptoms When a pet is demonstrating symptoms that seem to be an allergic reaction, the first thing we have to determine is whether the allergy is food-related or environmental. My first question is whether these symptoms […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this edition, I am moving away from domestic pets as I would like to highlight a much-endangered cat called the Scottish Wildcat. I have mentioned the Scottish Wildcat in other episodes but I think this cat and the efforts to save it from extinction are extremely worthy of a solo episode. So, let’s get to it and explore the Scottish Wildcat. Introduction to the Scottish Wildcat The Scottish Wildcat is just that, a wild cat, not to be confused with feral cats. As Wikipedia points […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In thisepisode, I continue talking with Souha Ezzedeen, author of The Way of Life Method. Souha is a talented dog trainer with an innovative and creative method of raising our dogs to be sound and spirited companions.So, again, get out those notebooks as I speak with Souha in Part 2 of this interview. Getting to the root cause of our dogs’ behaviour starts with looking at our way of life. This guide takes a revolutionary approach to rearing dogs and addressing behaviour issues, drawing from the instinctual lessons […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Souha Ezzedeen, author of The Way of Life Method. Souha is a talented dog trainer with an innovative and creative method of raising our dogs to be sound and spirited companions.So, get out those notebooks as I speak with Souha in Part 1 of this two-part interview. Getting to the root cause of our dogs’ behaviour starts with looking at our way of life. This guide takes a revolutionary approach to rearing dogs and addressing […]
Hi everyone and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. Question… Do you let your dog, cat or both, sleep in your bed? Many pet parents do, but it is surprising how often the question “Should you allow pets to sleep in your bed?” is asked. Snuggle up with your fur baby, and let’s find out. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about the show, please drop me a line here. Sleeping on the bed when we are not in it. Cats I think to clarify, there are two options for dogs and cats sleeping on our beds. Cats often […]
Hi everyone and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. Pet parents regularly come looking for solutions to a dog’s fear of something in particular. So, let’s get into it, and help conquer your dog’s fears Dogs react so differently from dog to dog. What one dog couldn’t care less about, another dog is a drooling shaking mess. Many of these fears are just about equal on the scale of how severe the fear is, to many dogs. I think at the top of the list is thunderstorms. Thunderstorms Dogs that fear thunderstorms can go through terrible, traumatic fear. Many pet parents […]
Hello and welcome to Val Talks Pets. This edition looks at the 10 questions people ask about Guinea Pigs. If you are thinking about getting one or two of these fur babies this episode is for you. However, If you only want an overview of Guinea Pigs, check out my episode on Small Animals. So, let’s get into the world of Guinea Pigs. Where did Guinea Pigs originate? To begin with, the Guinea Pig. also known as Cavy, originated from the Andean region of South America. Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia are known for indigenous Guinea Pigs. As AZ Animals points out, wild guinea […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. In this edition, I will dive into the history behind the domestication of cats. The domestication seems to have gone very well based on the popularity of having a cat or cats. But how did they become pets? How long have cats been around? Cats are mammals and come in many varieties from your common house cat to fancy purebred cats. Our little carnivores have been around for a long time. But how long? There is evidence that the world had wild cats roaming different areas. For example, the Scottish Wildcat roamed the […]
Hi everyone and welcome to Val Talks Pets! Are you wondering what to do with your pets when you go on vacation? Well, I’ve got the answers, so let’s get to it. When you are preparing for vacation one of the most important things on your to-do list is to make arrangements for your pet. If you are actually travelling with your pet, check out my episode on travelling with pets to get all the info you will need to have a safe and glitch free vacation. But, if you are travelling and your pet or pets cannot go with […]
In this episode of Val Talks Pets, I’ll uncover the story behind common dog myths. There are a lot of misconceptions about dogs, and having our heads filled with what could be nonsense isn’t helpful. So let’s dive right into these myths and separate fact from fiction! Tail Wagging. People usually see a dog with a wagging tail and assume the dog is friendly and happy. This is common behaviour in dogs, but scientists do not know why they wag their tails more than other canines. An article by Jude Coleman in Science News Explores, has Emily Bray an expert […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I want to explore the topic of exotic pet ownership. How many of you have heard of someone or you are someone, who owns a Bearded Dragon for example, or a Ball Python or a Sugar Glider? These and quite a few more are considered, exotic pets. The question I feel that needs to be asked is, “Should we take exotic animals and try to turn them into pets?”. Is there an issue of cruelty here? Well, let’s have a look at exotic […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well last episode I looked at vaccines for cats. In the interest of fairness this episode is, you guessed it, vaccines for dogs. Let’s get at it! Just like in cats, dogs go into the vet for their vaccines. And the question then begs, what is my dog being vaccinated for? Let’s start just like we did with cats, and identify what a vaccine is and how it works. Let’s start with how a vaccine actually works. According to VCA Animal hospitals.com, “Vaccines work by stimulating […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today’s episode is all about fun, and your knowledge of cats and dogs. Of which, I’m betting you know more than you think you do. So get those thinking caps on and keep score if you like as we do The Cats and Dogs Trivia Challenge. Okay, so here we go: What is a group of adult dogs called? Our first instinct is to obviously call them a pack and that is true, but they can also be called a kennel. What about a group of […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I’m going to venture into another question that I often get about cats. So many cat parents ask, “Why are some cats such picky eaters?” And I’ll bet there are many listeners nodding their heads right now. Yes, cats can be a challenge sometimes when it comes to eating. So, let’s explore this whole issue about cats and being picky. The first thing we need to do is separate dry food from wet food. Some cats are quite fine with a certain kibble, […]
Hi everyone. This episode is about cadaver dogs, an interview with Debera Salo, who is a member of the Ontario Search and Recovery Canines. Yes! Cadaver dogs. You heard right. Ontario Search and Recovery Canines consists of humans with canines with independent certifications and countless hours of training, dedicating themselves to the ongoing search for missing persons in Ontario, Canada. The dogs are certified in human remains detection for wilderness, rural, water recovery, cold case, forensic and historic remains. I don’t know about you, but this sounds absolutely fascinating and I’m super excited to talk to Debera about her retired […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I have a guest with me who is a first time author and I think you are going to be quite enlightened with regards to the topic. Erika Sinner is the author of Pets are Family. Now I know that everyone listening knows that, but how many of you are given any bereavement time if you have one of your fur kids pass away? We know that companies extend time to an employee who has had a loved one, a human loved one, […]
Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode we are going to explore another question I get quite frequently and that is, what can I do stop my dog from pulling? Yes, this is one of the frequent questions from pet parents and want they want, is a magical tool that will sort the whole thing out. Unfortunately, that isn’t really possible, but there are tools available that can help or even create a pleasant walking experience. A dog that pulls just creates a stressful walk for the human […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. This episode was inspired by a rather interesting resurgence of a particular question and that is, do you have CBD oil for dogs? Hmm? It sounds like the interest in CBD oil and its reported benefits is on the rise again. So, let’s talk CBD oil for pets. What exactly is CBD oil? According to www.healthline.com, CBD is a “non-psychoactive compound in cannabis that may help manage health conditions, improve mood and reduce pain.” CBD stands for “Cannabidiol. What this means is that a “Cannabinoid” from […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode, I’m going to ask for a bit of indulgence as I go a wee bit away from talking strictly about pets. We are all animal lovers, right? So, I think this topic will be of interest as animal welfare is at stake, and we know that is extremely important. As we move into the cold weather in many areas, the thought of taking a week or two to lay on a beach somewhere is very enticing and many, many people become tourists at […]
Hi Everyone! On this episode I will be chatting with Patti Marche, Founder of Paws In Flight and, in my opinion, a true animal hero. Paws In Flight transports, domestically and internationally, vulnerable cats and dogs to proper shelters for care and adoption, as well as running an amazing supply chain providing massive amounts of food to animal rescues. So snuggle in with your fur baby, hit the play button and let’s find out all about Patti and Paws In Flight! Contact Information Address: 43 King Street West, Suite 332, Bolton, Ontario Canada L7E 5T3 Telephone: (647) 848-8913 Email: info@pawsinflight.ca […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well, it is that time when we start gearing up for the holiday season, thinking about decorating, snow, and all the things that represent and show the season. One of the breeds of dogs that seem to be the quintessential Christmas dog is the Samoyed. These medium-sized dogs are so fluffy and white, like snow, with the cutest faces that always seem to be smiling. So in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, let’s take a look at the Samoyed. When I was 15, […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well, it is that time of year again when we remember and pay respects to all the military personnel past and present that have fought in wars and conflicts the world over, serving their countries with dedication and sacrifice. Now I have done a Remembrance Day episode on animals in war. From dogs to elephants, pigeons, horses, donkeys, mules, cats, and even camels, animals have made a huge contribution to military efforts. So, for this episode, I’d like to focus on some particular cat and dog […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this, much requested, reprised Halloween episode of Cats – Lore and Legend. Black cats are synonymous with Halloween as they arch their backs and pose in front of ethereal moons, cats of all kinds are the quintessential icon for Halloween. With this night of ghouls and goblins right around the corner I thought we could explore again the lore and legends that surround cats. So, puton your witch’s hat and grab a steamy drink from your cauldron and sit back to explore cat’s lore and legends. Welcome Welcome to this spooky Halloween episode of Val […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In a previous episode, we looked at the rise of Addison’s disease in dogs. Now, in this episode we’ll take a look at Cushing’s disease in dogs. A topic which is being talked about more now than in the past. According to FDA.gov, Cushing’s disease known as hypoadrenocorticism, (hyper-a-dren-ocort-icism) occurs when the body produces too much cortisol which is a hormone. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and cortisol is produced and stored by the adrenal glands. According to Ann Stohlman V.M.D. who […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me for this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today’s spotlight is on one of the gentle giants in the dog world. I love these dogs, and you really don’t see them very often, so when you do, it’s a special treat. Are you wondering who I am talking about? Well, it is the Irish Wolfhound! Irish Wolfhounds are shaggy, big, and gentle giants. I find them fascinating, so let’s go on a tour of the Irish wolfhound. An Irish wolfhound falls into the category of “sighthounds”. Sighthounds are hounds that have amazing sight […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode, I am going to explore Addison’s disease in dogs, also known as hypoadrenocorticism. (hy-poa-d-reno-cor-ti-cism) Why? Well, lately I have had an increase in pet parents coming in looking for answers to their pet’s diagnosis of Addison’s disease. One person just the other day told me they were inheriting a dog that had been diagnosed with Addison’s disease. We talked a bit and I asked her if she had done some research and she said no. Well, I thought, that means this is […]
Well Is My Pet Fat? Don’t you just hate going to the vet, and the first thing they do is weigh your pet? The next thing is to be told their weight, and more than likely, the next part is that the vet thinks your pet needs to lose a certain amount of weight. Of course, some people have a great exercise program with their pets, and weight isn’t an issue, but many of us are the opposite. So how do you know if your pet is overweight or obese? Or maybe they just need to lose a few pounds. […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I want to explore something that has been happening in the veterinary world that to be honest, I’m not too sure about. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to veterinary care for my pets, I want to be able to see the vet that I have established a relationship with and the one that I know isn’t recommending unnecessary tests or procedures or is basically upselling me. Sounds reasonable? Well of late, many vet clinics have sold to veterinary corporations. […]
Introduction Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well we are in full summer swing and with all the heat waves we have had and turbulent weather I can’t help but think about summer safety for our pets. There are many things we have to think about to keep our pets safe and happy throughout the summer. We have to think about keeping them cool in hot weather, dealing with cuts and scrapes, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other bug bites. We have to be sure our dogs are safe in the water with […]
Hi everyone and thanks for joining me on this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. One of the breeds of dog that I have heard increase in popularity over the last little while is the German shorthaired pointer or what people are referring to as GSP’s. I remember when only a handful of particular people had heard of the GSP but now it seems like every week I hear that someone has a GSP. So, let’s take a little journey into the German shorthaired pointer. The German shorthaired pointer is defined as a medium sized dog, but I’m a little […]
Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. After my last episode’s interview with animal communicator Joan Ranquet, I was thinking more about animal communication and how do animals communicate with us. When you think about it, they communicate with us on a daily basis. How else would we know if they wanted out, were hungry, wanted to play, were down or in pain? Obviously our animals are communicating with us in a way they know they will get their desire across to us. According to scienceabc.com, “There are many ways that animals […]
Joan’s hands-on animal communication and energy healing processes troubleshoot behavioral and medical issues, stimulate healing (in conjunction with conventional treatment), and deepen her clients’ abilities to care for and understand their animals. Joan believes the capacity to attune to animals and work with them energetically is not a gift for a select few, but an innate ability we can all access with guidance. She teaches down-to-earth skills that enable her students to communicate consistently and confidently with animals. Clients include hundreds of thousands of animal guardians, animal trainers, barn managers, veterinarians, sanctuaries, wildlife, rehab, and therapeutic riding centers, as well […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Last episode I talked about Animals in Arts and the TV animal stars that generations had known and loved. It was super fun revisiting some stars like Rin Tin Tin, Flipper, Skippy and of course Lassie. But, as we know, the amount of animals in the movies are extensive. Rin Tin Tin for example, had his own TV show, but started out in the movies. Lassie also had movies, so there was quite a cross-over as several animal stars went from film to TV. In […]
The following images are not those of the actual tv pets, but are representations of their breeds. Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Last episode I talked about how intelligent our pets are. When thinking about the amazing intelligence of service dogs for example, I started thinking about other roles that animals play. And if that isn’t a hint, I thought about animals in the arts, like television and movies. There are actually a lot of animal movies where a particular animal is the feature of the film. But, I thought […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I’d like to begin by asking some questions. Have you ever wondered if your pet knows that you love them? Do you ever wonder how much they understand what we are saying? Are they trying to communicate with us? So let’s find out how intelligent are our pets. These questions all lead to what many pet parents wonder, do dogs and cats have cognitive understanding? According to apa.org, leading canine researcher Stanley Coren, PHD of the University of British Columbia, “reviewed numerous […]
That’s it for gross pictures. For the rest of this article they only be cute pics of cats and dogs. I promise! Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Pet owners are a different breed. A real lover of pets will put up with paw prints on the floor, hair and fur everywhere, drool, puke, cat litter tracked around, things getting broken, you name it. But, we love them with their gross habits and all. Sooo talking about gross habits, sometimes our animals do things that the average non-pet person would really […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. The other day I realized how often someone tells me they have an American Bully. I wondered, what exactly is that? Is it an American Bulldog and this is the shortened nickname? Or is it something else? Well let’s take a look at the American Bully and see what we can learn. We might as well start with the definition of the American Bully. According to Wikipedia, “the American Bully is a modern breed of dog that was developed as a companion dog.” There […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well spring is around the corner. I know it sure doesn’t look like it here in Southern Ontario, Canada, but it will be soon and for many areas spring has already sprung. Lucky ducks!! Spring Is Here? With spring comes some great things we can finally do with our pets, like get outside more and go for walks without the challenges of snow banks, salty streets and icy surfaces. Along with this wonderful time of warmer weather and trees and plants coming into bloom, we […]
Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Last episode I talked about the vet crisis shortage in Canada. Getting into the vet right now has become challenging with reduced hours in many clinics and the increase of clients. For this reason it has become even more important for pet parents to become proactive with preventative care with our pets. I’m going to explore what preventive care entails for our pets and hopefully we can avoid some unwanted visits. Let’s begin by assuming that your pet has been to a vet within a reasonable […]
Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well we all know that our veterinarians are a vital part of our pet’s health. Sometimes we never need to see the vet more than once a year or even longer in some cases. Sometimes we find ourselves at the vet office on a regular basis when we have a pet with an issue that needs routine monitoring or care. Either way having our pets registered as a patient at a vet office is important because just like us, we don’t want to be scrambling […]
Hello everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets.On the last episode I spotlighted the Schapendoes breed of dog, and hinted that this episode would be related, and it is. So let’s expanded our knowledge as we hear from CKC registered Schapendoes breeder from SchapAnnRo Kennels Anne Harvey, whose experience with this wonderful dog spans over 18 years. Thanks for listening, and I really hope everyone learned as much about Schapendoes as I did. What a wonderful breed! I really appreciated listening to Anne’s experience and how candid she was about the journey breeders […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this spotlight, I am going to take you through a breed I bet not everyone has heard of, and that is the Schapendoes. A Schapendoes is actually a shaggy sheepdog originating in Holland and they are super cute. Obviously as a sheepdog, the Schapendoes is a herding dog and was used as a general farm dog. The Shapendoes were very versatile, lending themselves to whatever work was needed. As many of our older breeds, the Schapendoes also faced near extinction during World War […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this first episode of 2023. Another year has flown by and when I think of all the topics we have discussed it really is mind boggling to think of all things that are important and interesting to pet enthusiasts. As a new year brings forth a look back at the past and a look forward to new things, I thought that maybe I can take a look back at some of the pet questions and issues that this past year’s pet parents have presented to me. Many conversations can last up […]
Welcome everyone and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well Christmas celebrations are right around the corner and in my last episode I went over the great gift ideas we can get for our pets, because as we all know, they are a part of the family. But, we do have to be very careful this time of year as there are so many things going on and our pets can get in to trouble. The last thing you need is an emergency trip to the vet on Christmas Day or special holiday. For this […]
Hi everyone, and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well it won’t be long before Santa Paws makes his rounds, so that means we have to be prepared for our furry family members to have what they need for a great Christmas holiday. It can be a bit confusing when trying to sort through all the great Christmas products for pets, so let me go through some ideas to consider for your cat or dog’s holiday fun. Quite often pet parents look for something to put in their pet’s stocking. Yes, most of us […]
Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I thought I would take a look at a subject that many pet parents deal with on a day-to-day basis and that is…bad breath, not theirs but their pets’. I hear on a regular basis, “my dog’s breath is so bad, or my cat has pretty bad breath”, what can I do? Well pet bad breath is actually pretty common, but it is a sign of a deeper issue and I think we should delve deeper into this common affliction because there […]
Hi everyone and thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today I have with me one of my favourite people and member of the National Service Dog family. I met Kat Anderson a few years ago when I partnered with National Service Dogs for fundraising and found that a working service dog was inmy area from NSD. Kat’s son Atlas is on the autism spectrum, and they had a service dog named Harris who is a yellow lab. Kat’s family’s story with NSD and Harris is quite something and I will let her fill everyone […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this reprised Halloween episode of Cats – Lore and Legend. Black cats are synonymous with Halloween as they arch their backs and pose in front of ethereal moons, cats of all kinds are the quintessential icon for Halloween. With this night of ghouls and goblins right around the corner I thought we could explore again the lore and legends that surround cats. So, puton your witch’s hat and grab a steamy drink from your cauldron and sit back to explore cat’s lore and legends. Welcome Welcome to this spooky Halloween episode of Val Talk’s Pets. […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I thought we would explore what to do after our pet has had surgery or a wound. Sometimes our pets have routine procedures like spaying or neutering and sometimes they end up with some very serious surgeries or boo boo’s. I find that pet parents are often looking for solutions to help their pets feel more comfortable after surgery and also to protect surgical sites from licking or biting. So, let’s explore what to do when our pets have had surgery or have a wound. Ask […]
Hi everyone, welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So, we are now moving into fall, and I have had a lot of pet parents asking about things they can do to help their pet with symptoms of seasonal fall allergies. Now, this past spring, I interviewed Joanne Carr from Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals about this exact issue as it related to spring allergies. So, is there a difference between spring and fall allergies? And what can we do? Well as usual, let’s go exploring. Food or Environmental Spring and summer allergies are quite common as we deal with snow […]
Hi everyone. Thank you for joining me on this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I’m going to talk about one of our most popular small animal friends, and that is rabbits. Rabbits are a great pet for many families, single pet, seniors and for multiple pet households, so that means, pretty much everyone! Domestic rabbits are cuddly, fun and trainable. So, let’s take a look at the rabbit as a pet. Longevity Pet rabbits can easily live up to 8 years with many living up to 12 years. In the scheme of so-called starter pets, rabbits […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this spotlight, I’m going to highlight a breed of dog that I think is being very misused and not appreciated for who they are. This is the poodle. The unbelievable doodle trend and “oodle” for every cross breed you can think of, really has me shaking my head. I don’t understand why everything has to be crossed with a poodle? What is wrong with a poodle? Well I think there is nothing wrong with a poodle, so let’s explore poodles and then talk a bit more about […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I’m going to stick with our feline friends again and talk specifically about nutrition and food for our cats. Throughout many of my episodes on cats I’ve addressed how cats get often painted as fussy and finicky and picky. Are they? Is there a reason? Well let’s go through some of the food issues and nutritional requirements for cats and kittens and if you are new to feline parenthood I hope you can pick up some good tips to make sure you have a healthy and […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. It’s time to get back to our feline friends so in this episode I’m going to try and make sense of…are you ready…cat litter! You would think that cat litter would be a simple product that you just fill up the litter box with and away you go. Well you would be surprised how many people have cat litter questions. We get questions often asking for a dust free litter, or one that clumps better or litter that doesn’t clump and even what litter can I flush down the […]
Hi everyone, welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, let’s talk collars! Getting the right collar for your dog can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. So, let me go through the various types of collars and their use and see if I can’t make things a bit easier when you go collar shopping. Let’s start with puppies. Often a new pet parent will come in with a tiny new puppy and they want to get a collar. My number one suggestion is to just get something cheap and cheerful because they are just […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So, this is an episode that I knew was coming but I just didn’t know when. In early 2020, the world was plunged into a Pandemic and we were all faced with lockdowns, remote learning for schools, closures of businesses, restaurants, and job loss as well as a new working from home schedule. The working from home, created a huge exponential rise of dog and cat adoptions as people were home and thought this would be a good time to get a puppy or kitten. The highest adoptions was […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. On this episode I am going to explore how some breeds of dogs have been altered in physical appearance or temperament over time. What some breeds originally looked like and what they look like now from breeding modification, is quite significant. Why do they fool around with a dog’s genes? Are these aesthetic changes really necessary and do they present health issues? Well let’s go exploring. I’d like to start with the German shepherd. Have you noticed that many German shepherds have that slant in the back end so […]
Hi everyone, and welcome as always to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So, one of the issues I have seen a bit on the rise is an interesting one, considering in topics past I’ve talked a fair bit about getting new puppies and how to avoid the pitfalls when looking for a new puppy and the food and toys etc. But, we can’t forget that many people have pets already and many of those cats and dogs are becoming senior. So, I thought it would be a good idea to have a look at how we can manage our […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well we are launching into summer and I hope you accessed my episode on summer safety and tips. So, to take things a bit further I thought I would go over some of the toys and treats that we can get for our pets, dogs in particular in this episode to make them have a happy and fun summer. Not every dog is a swimming dog so we have to think of ways to let them have fun on the shore or from the pool deck or from under […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well it is finally getting to some nice weather and where I am, spring has been a slow start. But, summer is around the corner, so I thought I would go over some summer tips and things to think about. I do have an episode on summer safety so please access that for full summer safety practices. As well we know it is flea and tick season, so please access my episode on fleas, ticks and worms oh my! But, in the meantime, let’s take a look at some […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this spotlight episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So, I have chosen a cat breed for this spotlight episode and I have a reason for choosing this one. Many years ago, I was involved in some specific events with my local SPCA. I was at the shelter and I went into the cat room just to look at the cats. There was this little cat, beautiful white and sort of caramel colour, super cute, but it looked like her ears had been bent over. I asked at the counter about the cat’s ears and they just […]
In this episode I once again have the pleasure of speaking with Joanne Carr, R.H.N, B.A., of Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals. Joanne is a bilingual Registered Holistic Nutritionist with 15 years experience in the holistic health field. She lectures extensively at natural health product seminars for retailers and consumers across Canada. Joanne also Contributes to natural health publications such as Vista, Alive and Healthy Directions. She is the Director of OASIS (Education Division) at Omega Alpha, supporting all 3 product divisions (Human, pet & equine). Joanne and I will be discussing pet allergies and how to avoid/deal with them. For more […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So, many of my listeners are seasoned pet owners or experiencing having a pet for the first time. But, there are many people out there that are in that place where they are wondering if getting a pet is something they may want to do. People with children wonder if it is a good time to get a pet or when is it a good time to get a pet? Senior’s often wish for companionship and wonder if pet ownership is for them. There are many reasons for why […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this very special fiftieth episode review! That’s right, this is my 50th episode and in the scheme of things that is a drop in the bucket but when I look back, that’s a lot of episodes! So, for this episode, I’m going to highlight some of my favourite topics and interviews and some best lines, in my opinion of the last 50 episodes. One of my first episodes was on getting a new puppy. In this episode I was able to go through the basics when choosing type of dog and even more important where […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this spotlight edition of Val Talk’s Pets. In these spotlight episodes I like to highlight a breed of dog or cat and talk about their history, personality etc. I really enjoy looking at the different breeds of dogs and cats and looking at their special traits. So, on this episode I am going to talk about a breed that is close to my heart because I had one of these dogs and he was wonderful. So with some of my own experience thrown in let’s talk about the Rottweiler. Many, many years ago, I shudder to […]
Hello and welcome to Val Talks Pets! Thanks for dropping by! Today our topic is Pet Nutrition, and who better to discuss this with than Belinda Smith. Belinda is a Sales Representative for Horizon Pet Nutrition, working in Western Ontario and the Maritime Region in Canada. Belinda has extensive experience in the pet industry, beginning when she was only 15 years of age. She has worked in all areas of the industry and is a parent to all kinds of pets, and gives her heart and knowledge to those with special needs and attention. In this episode, Belinda will take […]
Hi everyone and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. Well this edition is one that has caused controversy, mayhem with dog’s diets, and basically left many pet owners very confused as to what to feed their dogs. I am talking about DCM, Dilated Cardiomyopathy. If you haven’t heard of this yet, well maybe that means the panic and knee jerk reactions have settled down, or it just hasn’t reached your ears as of yet. So, I’m going to try and wade through this miasma of misinformation, look at some peer reviewed papers and see if I can’t help pet parents navigate […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this first episode of 2022. I hope everyone is staying safe and smart and all our furry friends and family members are also well and happy. Today we’ll be chatting about pet food fillers. But before we do, Unfortunately I have a sad update to share. On December 15th my little orange cat Esme lost her battle with a strange cancer she had in her nasal passage. She had been fighting with this cancer for about 2 years along with her stage 3 renal condition. I had mentioned several times how I had been quite […]
Welcome everyone to this special Christmas Eve edition of Val Talk’s Pets. Today we’ll take a look at The Siberian Husky. As many get ready for the festivities to come and Santa Paws is going to be making his rounds, I thought when we think of Christmas, what breed of dog springs to mind. I’ve noticed that a lot of yellow labs and golden retrievers seem to be on Christmas cards and advertisements, so I think they seem to be a constant representation of Christmas. But, I also thought of another breed that I think captures a lot of the […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this magical edition of Val Talk’s Pets. Well it is that time of year when holidays are upon us, whether you are celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, our pets are usually included in all the festivities. Our pets are part of the family, so just about every pet owner I know has their pet’s Christmas stocking hanging up to be filled by Santa Paws. But have you prepared to ensure that you and your furry babies are safe and ready for the festivities? Special occasions like Christmas can add a whole other dimension to our pet care […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this spotlight edition of Val Talk’s Pets. In this edition I thought I would have a look at the gentle giant of the cat world. Who would this be? Any guesses? How about the Maine Coon. So if you are not familiar with a Maine Coon, one distinct feature is they are big. They can easily be 30 to 40 inches long and weigh 9 – 18 pounds and they do originally hail from Maine USA. Male Maine Coons are larger than the females, and both have lovely coats that are silky, smooth and shaggy. […]
Welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. For this special edition interview I’m very excited to have a return guest, Danielle Forbes, co-founder and Executive Director of National Service Dogs. Today, we’ll be chatting about the National Service Dogs, specifically their PTSD and other services they provide. We’ve just marked Remembrance Day in Canada and around the world countries are honouring and remembering their veterans and military service members. With this commitment, many military members have left service with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and others are still serving while managing this condition. As well, first responders are not immune as members of the […]
Welcome to this spooky Halloween edition of Val Talk’s Pets. It’s almost Halloween and what goes with Halloween but ghouls, witches and cats!! How on earth did cats (particularly black cats) get associated with Halloween? Well let’s crawl onto a broomstick and swoosh into my Halloween special – Cats Lore & Legend. Let’s start with Celtic folklore. In Celtic lore there are magical cats. The magical cats are called the cait sidhe (pronounced caught shee). The cait sidhe translates to “fairy cat”. The cait sidhe are special cats that are witches, fairies or spirit-type creatures that take on cat form. […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to another spotlight edition. On this spotlight I thought I would look at one of the breeds of cats that I hear fairly often that people have or are looking for. And that is the Ragdoll cat. The Ragdoll is a very pretty cat and to be honest I’ve only seen actual Ragdoll cats at a pet expo where the cat fanciers had a section. They are very striking looking cats with their blue eyes and semi-long silky hair. I guess one of the first questions to address is why are these cats called Ragdolls? They […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Have you ever had a situation with your pet where they are doing something like acting in pain, or they are eating grass or you know they have just ingested a large amount of something they shouldn’t? It is such a horrible feeling for a pet parent when something is happening and you just do not know what to do. And I’m focusing here on the scenario where your vet is closed, it’s off hours and you are not sure if you should try and get to an emergency […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this spotlight episode on Val Talk’s Pets. In this spotlight episode I’ve chosen to highlight one of my favourite breeds of dogs, and no I’ve never actually had one, but I love them and they are the West Highland White Terrier or Westies. Westies are so cute and rugged wee things. I’m sure all my Scottish friends just loved Wee Jock from the TV series Hamish MacBeth, or in the comic Oor Wullie, his wee dug, Harry! The westie is quintessentially Scotland, so let’s have a wee look at the West Highland White Terrier. The […]
Hi everyone! Thanks for joining me on Val Talk’s Pets! Continuing on with the theme from my last post, (which you can visit here), today we’ll be discussing what to do when you are travelling with your pets. As we all know, things are a bit different right now, and our time off and vacation plans are also quite different. Many people are travelling within their own area or their own country and this actually opens up a type of travel that many people have not done before and that is travelling with your pet. We still have quite a […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. Today we are taking a peak into A Vets Life. This is a super exciting episode because my guest today is Dr. Rob Hillerby from Caledon Mountain Veterinary Hospital in Caledon Ontario Canada. It’s a busy life for most veterinarians and they are relied upon so greatly by pet parents. In the human world there are specialists for just about every condition but vets have to be able to diagnose within a vast array of ailments and conditions our pets can have. Plus, they are the ones we go to for maintenance […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to the first of a new spotlight on different breeds of cats and dogs. This episode will be spotlighting the Bengal Cat. Every few episodes I’m going to spotlight a type of cat or dog and explore some of their history and traits and maybe answer some questions you may have about these furry, or in some cases not, so furry companions. And I would love if any listeners could visit the website for suggestions for cat breeds or with some stories to relate about owning a certain breed. So, I’m going to kick off this […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Let’s dive in to New Puppy FAQs. Well the puppy craze continues and many, many people are getting a puppy for the first time or getting a puppy after many years without a dog and some are adding to their canine family. With these new pups coming into the family we are finding quite a few questions that are cropping up and there are certain ones that are asked more than others. Now, not all new canine friends are pups. Some people have gone to great lengths to adopt […]
Hi everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today I will reprise Fleas, Ticks & Worms Oh My! Well it’s that time of year again when the weather is warm or hot and our pets are spending a lot moretime outside, going on hikes, visiting parks or lying in the grass or dirt as the casemay be. We have had a rise in questions about fleas and ticks which isunderstandable this time of year and also about bug repellant.A question about bug repellant for pets is a really good one. Our pets getpestered by pests just the […]
Kissable K9 Care Does your cat or dog have bad breath, but you find that maintaining their dental hygiene through teeth cleaning and regular check-ups is cost prohibitive. Well, I may have a solution for you! Or at least Jill Thompson has. On this episode I chat with Jill who is the owner of Kissable K9 Care. Kissable K9 Care is a successful and affordable cosmetic teeth cleaning service that includes brushing and scaling above the gum line with the use of hand instruments to gently remove tartar. Jill talks in-depth about this service and how it is designed to […]
Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today we’ll be looking at summer safety. Well the weather has finally changed and it’s time to talk about summer safety and summer activities with our pets. There are definitely some summer do’s and don’ts for pets and some equipment that you might want to have on hand for activities and hot days. Cats Let’s start with cats. Many cats are indoor cats that do not go outside. When the temperature outside really soars it is best to keep your indoor cat in a cool air conditioned environment. Cats […]
Hello and welcome to Val Talks Pets! Today I will continue to look into alternative therapies. This time I will be chatting with Wendie Patrick. About Wendie Patrick Wendie is a Biochemic, a Quantum Practitioner, the host of Quantumly Yours podcast, and is the Founder of Dogs of Pride and the holistic health brand Finnessiam. From a lifelong passion for animals and more recently a revelation in her own health, Wendie has committed herself to sharing her energy, skills, knowledge and experiences to give everyone, two and four legged, a better and alternative solution to feeling and being better.Wendie offers […]
About Theresa Gilligan Theresa has been riding and training horses for over 25 years. She has a special affinity for thoroughbreds and their rehabilitation. Theresa is the owner of Neachai Equine Ayurveda, and is certified in Ayurvedic medicine and currently enrolled in the Ayurveda doctorate program. She is also a certified Animal Neuro Myofascial Practitioner and practices Cranial Osteopathy. Theresa travels throughout North America advocating for and treating horses, humans and dogs through the practice of Ayurveda. Ayurveda According to Ayurveda, there are three primary forces or biological humors in the body called ‘Doshas’. The Doshas bind together the five […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today we’ll be looking into the world of Alternative Therapies For Pets. In keeping with my series on natural alternatives and complementary care for our pets, I’d like to explore the different types of treatments that we can get for our pets to help with their overall health but more specifically when they need that extra care. As humans we can venture off for a massage, or to the chiropractor or have a Reiki session or see a naturopath or homeopath etc. etc. But, I wonder how many people […]
Hello and welcome to Val Talks Pets! In this episode, we’ll be taking a deep-dive into Natural Supplements for Pets. In order to do this I have the pleasure of speaking with Joanne Carr, R.H.N, B.A., of Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals. Joanne is a bilingual Registered Holistic Nutritionist with 15 years experience in the holistic health field. She lectures extensively at natural health product seminars for retailers and consumers across Canada. Joanne also Contributes to natural health publications such as Vista, Alive and Healthy Directions. She is the Director of OASIS (Education Division) at Omega Alpha, supporting all 3 product divisions […]
Hello everyone, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I am going to look into the world of alternative and complementary supplements for pets. Just like humans, dogs, cats and small animals, suffer often from very similar maladies. From itchy dry skin, to reactions to food, to anxiety, to weakened bladder function, to senior on set issues, to aches and pains from over exertion or getting old, our pets can suffer just the same as we do. As humans, we look to something that will help alleviate the pain, manage pain, and possibly get rid […]
Hi and welcome to Val Talks Pets! In this episode, I explore the world of Breeding Himalayan Cats. And joining me is Himalayan cat breeder Diane Simpson. With Diane’s expertise we will learn all that cat breeding entails, from, quite literally, inception to purchasing and bringing a kitty home. So regardless of breed, if you are thinking of purchasing a pedigree cat, or have recently purchased one, then you have came to the right place! Support The Show For the price of a coffee, or more if you are feeling generous, you can help keep this podcast going & growing. Please […]
Hi everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. So I thought with this episode I would address some of the frequently asked questions I get about cats. Some of the questions are covered in Cat and Kitten care and Cats mysterious behaviour, but it’s always good to go over things again and see if I can’t take things from a different perspective. As you know, I love cats and I’ve always had a cat since my very first cat made her way into our home when I was about 9 years old. All my cats have been […]
In This Episode I have the absolute pleasure of chatting with Danielle Forbes, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of National Service Dogs (NSD) here in Canada. During our conversation, we talk about the inception of NSD, it’s programs, it’s challenges and rewards, and of course those very special dogs and people who change the lives of so many in our communities. The following is taken, with permission, from the website of National Service Dogs. Please visit their website for more information on the organization, and what you can do to help. About National Service Dogs Our vision is to be Canada’s premiere […]
Welcome to Val Talks Pets. Today, and I’m so excited about this, we’ll be learning how Service Dogs Change Lives. I have the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Ridley, whose son is a recipient of an Autism Response Dog, called Beaumont. So, please join me as Stephanie reveals the incredible role Beaumont plays not only in the life of her son Ewan, but in that of her family too. We’ll also gain insight into the training this wonderful dog went through, as well as some of the obstacles faced when out and about in public. At the end of it all, […]
Hello everyone and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Let’s talk about Service, Therapy and Support Animals. This episode is one that I have wanted to do for quite some time and I’ve got some great interviews lined up for this topic that I know you will just love listening to. So the topic of this episode is about animals, dogs primarily, that serve humans in specific capacities. Service dogs, emotional support dogs, therapy dogs are categories of dogs that serve people to live a better life or to cope with difficulties that makes day to day living challenging. I […]
Hello and Happy New Year. Welcome to this first episode of 2021. Today we’ll take a look and winter care, and I’ll also give you some tips. What a year 2020 has been and although the challenges have been very real, one of the great positives have been the consistent following of Val Talk’s Pets, from all over the world. So before I launch into the topic for this episode, I really do invite my listeners to visit the website and put forth topics that you would like to hear about or have some insight into that I can share […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Let me introduce you to Tundra My Wonder Dog! I have noticed that I get quite a few questions about my dog. When I have him with me, people are very curious about what kind of dog he is and it takes only a quick statement that he almost died twice, and people want the whole story. His story was actually so intriguing that I was asked to write his story as an article for the Pet Valu Companion magazine Spring/Summer issue in 2019. It was called, Tundra’s Story, the fate of […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode, I’m going to discuss puppy mills. And tie this in to the exponential rise of puppy and dog purchases that has been going on over the past several months. I also want to discuss the other types of puppy sellers that may not be puppy mills in the traditional sense but let’s see what you think. In Designer Dogs part 1 and 2 I talked about puppy mills with regards to the rise of crossbreeding and how creating designer dogs has in so many ways contributed to […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today we’ll look at Animals In War. Remembrance Day has passed recently here in Canada and similar events around the world so it got my thinking about the role of animals in conflict. My humane society for the third year has been offering pins for sale that commemorate animals in war. The first year the metal ribbon had a dog on it and the second year it had a horse and this year it has a pigeon. I was able to get the one with a dog two years ago. […]
Hello and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets. Well this post is not an episode. It is an appeal. I’d like to make an appeal directly for the Iqaluit Humane Society. In northern Canada the city of Iqaluit in the territory of Nunavut is up against a very serious timeline. They have a very small shelter that is the size of a bachelor apartment and serves the fly in communities. They are the only game in town. Well, by spring if they cannot raise money to expand their shelter and bring in supplies they will have to close. On any given […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today I’ll be taking a look at pet safety. Throughout the year we have many special holidays and events where our pets are a part of the festivities. Christmas and Halloween really come to mind. And with this, we have to think about our pet’s safety. When we have a new puppy or kitten in the house, we have to think about puppy safe-ing, kitten safe-ing our homes. We also have to think about our pets in the event of an emergency, like a weather event or fire. All of […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. This episode is part 2 of my delving into the world of crossbreeding and designer dogs. In part one I went over how the designer dog breed world began and discussed some of the concerning issues with regards to crossbreeding and designer dogs. My intent with both of these episodes is to create awareness and education. When it comes to designer dogs there is so many misunderstandings and a lot of misinformation. There are also a lot of disreputable people getting very rich. The expansion of puppy mills and the […]
Hello, and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Well I think it is time to address a topic that can be very controversial, Designer Dogs. I’m sure will have some people rather miffed or down right angry, some will be giving me the major high five and for me I will be able to deal with a super important topic that really, really needs to be explored and exposed and where education is desperately needed. Hopefully I have your attention now, because this episode is about cross breeding and designer dogs. Let me first define what we are […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. This episode is all about keeping our furry friends clean and presentable. And I’m super excited to include an awesome interview with professional groomer Christine Santon of The Spaw Grooming Salon. All pet owners know that if you want a pristine house that is free of cat or dog hair, paw prints, litter odour, shavings odour, pet ownership is just not for you. All of our furniture is covered with pet throw covers and there is a towel on the bed, there are pet beds strategically placed and there is […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talks Pets. Today, I am talking about every pet’s wish…treats, treats and more treats! We love to give our pets a reward good behavior, to help train, to satisfy our own desire to give them something special, and to enjoy their excitement on their faces when they are offered a treat. There are treats for dogs, cats, small animals in all different sizes, shapes, flavors, textures, you name it. There are puppy treats, training treats, Senior treats, chewy treats, crunchy treats, it is endless. So you can imagine how difficult it is […]
Welcome to this episode of valid talks pets. In this episode, I’m going to discuss one of the hardest parts of pet Parenthood. And that is when our pet passes away. Sometimes we get our pets as puppies or kittens or young small animals, and we’ve had them for their entire lives. That could easily be 15 to 20 years depending. That is a long relationship and when that pet has to come to the end of its life journey, it is extremely hard to adjust to not having their little faces, or big faces as the case may be, […]
Welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets! This episode is dedicated to cats and their mysterious behaviour. As you know, I love cats. And so do a lot of other people! In Canada 57% of households own a pet. 37% of these households own one or more cats. Overall, Canada is home to approximately 5.9 million dogs and 7.9 million cats. In the United States, cats ranked second with around 42.7 million out of 63 million households with pets. In the United Kingdom, 24% of adults have a cat, with an estimated cat population of 10.9 million. In Australia […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. In this episode I’ll address some of the frequently asked pet questions I get asked on all kinds of topics to do with our fur babies. Daily we give advice as best we can and hopefully educate pet owners as they look at food, treats, toys, etc. Walking into a pet specialty store can be quite daunting if you are new to pet ownership or if it has been a while since you have had a pet. Just like everything else, the pet industry evolves with research and innovation, so […]
Hello and welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. This episode is all about avoiding the pitfalls when becoming a pet parent It always interests me how people acquire their pets. The stories range widely from some that break your heart to some that to be honest have me shake my head. As for me I’ve had a few dogs in my time. The very first dog in my family growing up was already a member of the household when I was born. My father found a stray dog running down the middle of the road in our neighbourhood […]
Welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets where I talk about Spay & Neutering. In one of my past Podcasts, I went over getting a new puppy and what to expect. So, I thought that I would take this episode to delve deeper into a very important part of getting a puppy, and that is spaying and neutering. I talked previously about the things a new owner would need for a puppy. In my Podcast called “Did you get a new puppy?” I discussed a fair few of the expenses that a new owner needs to prepare for. One […]
Welcome to this episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today’s episode is about little furry companions. Referred to as small animal pets. Let’s take a look at the little creatures that have become a part of many households. Small animal pets are usually rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, ferrets, hedgehogs, chinchillas and gerbils but I have to admit that gerbils seems to have gone by the wayside as I really can’t remember anyone telling me in the last few years that they have a gerbil. We still carry supplies for them but food for example will be for hamsters and gerbils. […]
Hello and welcome to today’s episode of Val Talk’s Pets. Today’s episode is all about cat and kitten care. I just love cats and everyone knows how cute kittens can be. I got my first cat when I was about 9 or ten. My sister found a little black and white kitten that had the markings of a Holstein cow. She found it wondering when she was going to school or coming back from school. We estimate it was probably about 7 weeks of age and how it ended up wondering on its own is a mystery. My Mum without […]
Hey everyone, and welcome to Val Talk’s Pets! Today, we’re tackling a big question: Is raw food good for my dog? We’re also going to chat about the booming raw food industry for dogs and cats. It’s a hot topic, so let’s dive in! How Did Raw Feeding Become So Popular? It’s funny how trends start, isn’t it? First, we had freeze-dried raw options popping up, and before we knew it, frozen raw diets became a go-to choice for a lot of pet parents. Here’s something interesting: people have been anti-by-product in kibble for years. But did you know that […]
We’re looking at Fleas, Ticks, and Worms today. Yuck! I have been lucky that none of my pets, since I left the city more than twenty years ago, has ever had fleas And I can’t say that I’ve been particularly proactive in the past with flea prevention. As I said, I’ve been lucky. But, times are changing regarding climate causing a change in the flea and tick cycles. Where I live we used to have a pretty deep freeze during winter, along with significant snowfall. As things have been changing with climate, our winters have been not quite as snowy and […]
On today’s episode I am going to tackle and address puppies! Specifically getting a new puppy. The best part of our day is when new puppies come to the store. They look around at all the wonderful things and take in the smells that are so new and enticing. Sometimes they are little puppies held in arms, sometimes they come in on leashes ready to tackle whatever is new. How people get their new puppy is another topic that I will reserve for a more in-depth podcast. However, today we will focus on what to expect from, and how to […]
FULL EPSODES COMING MAY 1st, 2020 Welcome to Val Talks Pets: Your Ultimate Guide to Pet Ownership! At Val Talks Pets, we are devoted to celebrating the joys and navigating the challenges of pet ownership. As passionate pet enthusiasts, we understand the unique bond between pets and their owners, and our mission is to enhance that relationship through our bi-monthly podcast and blog. Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned caretaker, Val Talks Pets is your trusted resource for expert advice, current trends, and heartwarming stories from the pet world. Explore the Latest Trends Stay ahead of the […]
