Val Talks Pets

Hi Everyone and Welcome!

Food allergies and intolerances can leave dogs and cats dealing with itching, digestive upset and other frustrating symptoms. In this episode, I explore the differences between allergies and intolerances, possible food triggers and ways pet parents can begin identifying what may be causing the problem.

Let's jump in!

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback.
🌐 Vis...

Pet rats are one of those animals people either love—or are completely creeped out by. But domesticated rats are very different from their wild counterparts, and they can make intelligent, affectionate and highly social companions. In this episode of **Val Talks Pets**, Val explores what it really takes to care for pet rats, including why they should have companionship, the type of habitat and bedding they need, what they sh...

Hi Everyone and Welcome!

When wildfire forces wildlife to flee and entire communities to evacuate, animals face danger, displacement and separation from their families. This episode explores how wild animals respond to fire, what happens to pets left behind and how veterinarians, rescue groups, fosters and donors help affected animals.

Snuggle up with you fur baby and let's begin.

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with question...

Hi everyone and welcome to this spotlight episode on a breed of dog that really needs renewed recognition, and that is the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.  

There is lots to explore about this breed, so let’s go.

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback.
🌐 Visit my website: https://valtalkspets.com
for links mentioned on the show and additional resources.

☕ Support the p...

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.

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback....

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.

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback.
🌐 Visit my website: https://valtalkspets.com
for links mentioned on the show and additional resources.

☕ Support the po...

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 Pawsy, an online Canadian app, (available in other countries), to do just that. 

Also,

Tanya has generously offered the Val Talk’s Pets community 100 Pawsy Treats to use in ...

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. 

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback.
🌐 Visit my website: https://valtalkspets.com
for links mentioned on the show and ...

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 ...

What makes the Labrador Retriever one of the most beloved dog breeds in the world—and why does it continue to dominate as the #1 dog in both Canada and the United Kingdom?

In this episode of Val Talks Pets, we take a deep dive into the fascinating history, temperament, and enduring popularity of the Labrador Retriever. From its surprising origins in Newfoundland’s now-extinct St. John’s water dog to its development...

In this episode of Val Talk’s Pets, I explore the world of Pet Tech and how technology is changing the way we care for our pets.

From smart collars, GPS trackers, health monitors, and smart leashes to digital records, QR codes, telemedicine, smart feeders, pet cameras, pet robots, and litter robots, there is no doubt that pet care is becoming more connected and more advanced.

I also touch on One Digital Health and how digital i...

Hi everyone, and thanks for joining me on this episode of Val Talks Pets.

We call them our fur babies, our fur kids… but are we starting to treat them so much like humans that it could actually impact their well-being?

 Let’s go exploring.

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or feedback.
🌐 Visit my website: https://valtalkspets.com
for links mentioned on the show and additio...

Hi Everyone!

In this episode of Val Talks Pets, I take a closer look at one of the most popular reptile pets—the Bearded Dragon. From their origins in Australia to their unique behaviors and physical traits, I explore what makes these fascinating creatures so appealing to pet owners.

I walk you through everything you need to know if you’re considering one, including habitat setup, temperature and lighting requirements, fe...

On this episode of Val Talks Pets, we’re taking a closer look at an outstanding premium pet food company: Petcurean. Petcurean is a Canadian pet nutrition company known for crafting high-quality dog and cat food designed to help pets live long, healthy lives.

To explore what makes their approach to nutrition so unique, I’m joined by two leaders from Petcurean. Ashley Norton is a Territory Sales Manager who works directly...

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Val Talk’s Pets.

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.

☕ Support the podcast: Please purchase a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/valtalkspets

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, topic suggestions, or f...

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Val Talk’s Pets.

Today’s episode is a special one. I’m joined by Judy Tennant, the founder and executive director of Parrot Partners, a charity and rescue organization dedicated to the health, safety, and overall well-being of parrots.

When I first learned about the work Parrot Partners is doing, I knew I had to reach out. Their mission, passion, and commitment to these incredibly in...

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 be Managing Diabetes in Cats: Symptoms, Food Choices, Insulin, and Natural Support

So snuggle up with your fur babies and let's jump in!

☕ Support the podcast: Please purchase a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/valtalkspets

📩 Ema...

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. So snuggle up with your fur babies and let's jump in!

☕ Support the podcast: Please purchase a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/valtalkspets

📩 Email me: val@valtalkspets.com
with questions, ...

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.

Here we go!

☕ Support the podcast: Please purchase a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/valtalkspets

📩 E...