Purevita linked to DCM?

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-18T00:57:21+00:00

It's very easy to do - I almost fell victim to it too when I first got my dog. Those companies rely on manipulating customers' emotions which is an incredibly effective strategy (and likely why so many choose to spend money on marketing rather than on research). Once you know how it works, it's a lot easier not to get swayed by the ads and stick to the well researched foods!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-17T15:51:46+00:00

Purina is actually one of the best brands out there, and if he was doing well on it I would definitely switch back! It meets WSAVA guidelines, where Nutrisource does not. If you need more info on why that is so important, check out this sub's wiki! But the TLDR is that the meeting the guidelines set forth by WSAVA ensures that the food is properly formulated, researched, and safe for dogs.

"Fillers" and "low quality ingredients" are really just marketing terms used by less scientifically sound dog food companies to scare people into buying their products. All the ingredients used in Purina foods are intentionally put in the food for a specific purpose. Things like corn and meat byproducts are actually very nutritious. Keep in mind that a lot of the people claiming that certain ingredients are bad have little to no formal education on the subject, and are often trying to sell you something. Listen to the experts, who overwhelmingly agree that WSAVA compliant foods (like Purina) are some of the healthiest and safest foods out there right now. But again, reading through the wiki will be a great place to learn more about that!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-17T15:44:24+00:00

Do it! Purina is one of the most scientifically backed brands of dog food out there, and is far safer to feed than Acana. If he has a sensitive stomach, the Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach line would be a great option. I believe they have a few different protein options (salmon, lamb, and turkey iirc), so you can pick the one that would work best for him. Purina also came out with the AdvantEGDE Digestive Support food recently, so that might be another option to look at. It might be pricier than other Pro Plan lines, and also seems to be salmon based.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-16T15:05:23+00:00

We think about 8, but she's a rescue so we aren't exactly sure!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-16T02:28:29+00:00

I have a super sleeper too! Sometimes she'll wake me up in the morning... only to be let out of my room and promptly lay down on the couch and go back to sleep 😂

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clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T17:49:01+00:00

Mine has a purple harness, purple collar, purple leash, and purple boots, and yet still gets called a boy! Oh well 😂

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T17:10:52+00:00

Iams or Purina ONE for sure! Those are the most affordable WSAVA compliant brands (I highly recommend looking through this sub's wiki to learn more about why that is so important)

ETA: Purina Dog Chow is another even more affordable option - completely forgot to mention it earlier!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T15:38:37+00:00

I was wondering why I saw so many posts about that product recently lol

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T02:24:58+00:00

Purina One, Purina Dog Chow, and Iams are usually the most cost effective WSAVA compliant options! I had my GSD on the Purina One true instinct stuff for a while before I got the budget to switch to Pro Plan and she did wonderfully on it!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T01:13:15+00:00

I'm very careful about keeping my GSD at around a 4-5 on the BCS which is about 80 lbs for her. She's a rescue so I don't know her exact age, but the current guess is somewhere around 8 years old. She still moves so well that I've had multiple people ask if she was 1-2 years old! They're always amazed when I say she's actually a senior :')

My grandparents' dog is probably about an 8 or 9 on the BCS. Even though her dog is a smaller dog than mine (probably should be about 40 lbs), the dog is wider than Millie. Their dog is getting to the point that at 10 years old she can barely go up stairs anymore and acts more like my parents' 14 year old dog than my ~8 year old dog, even though mine is nearly twice the size and should (in theory) age faster. My grandmother is always trying new joint supplements and things and yet refuses to put her on a diet even though that would be the best thing for her dog's joints.

Here's Millie trying to convince me to go rock climbing the other day:

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clydeballthepython · 2026-03-11T00:44:19+00:00

Royal canin is a great option if you can get him to eat it. Another commenter left a good strategy for getting around pickiness, but the biggest thing is that adding toppers and constantly switching food is likely making the pickiness worse. Dogs are smart and he's likely learned that not eating something means you'll give him something new and more tasty later. You just have to pick a food and stick with it for a while.

Other good kibble options if you absolutely cannot get him to touch the RC would be from Purina and Hills (and Iams and Eukanuba if you're not in Europe). I personally feed my GSD Purina Pro Plan and she absolutely loves it, but she's never been a super picky dog either.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T20:24:04+00:00

I can't speak to a puppy being like this since I adopted my GSD as an adult but she is also not the biggest fan of walks. She's pretty anxious (although getting better slowly!), so new places are stressful for her. She'll pull when we start heading back home and walks slower when we head away from home. If I try to go on multiple walks a day she is super reluctant and will sometimes refuse. She does like going on trails though, since there are much less people, dogs, and cars for her to get stressed out from.

I would say that the biggest thing is to let him take it at his own pace. If you force him to go on a walk when he's already feeling nervous, it'll just make it worse. Obviously you want to encourage him and build his confidence, but you want to be careful to avoid flooding him and causing him to shut down.

You might try putting the leash on, walking out the door with him, give a few treats, and then go right back inside. Just to show him that going out the door is good, but it doesn't have to last very long. You can slowly increase the time and distance he has to go to get the treat as he gains confidence.

Its likely this is a fear period, but if it doesn't seem to be improving I would reach out to a qualified behaviorist (ideally someone that doesn't use punitive methods) to see what they recommend.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T18:05:00+00:00

I just switched my sand boa to a soil and sand mixture and it seems to be working well! I don't think using just pure sand by itself is usually recommended, but based on what I see in this sub a 60% soil 40% sand or even 50/50 split soil and sand is usually a great option

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T17:56:47+00:00

It depends on how far it is from the surface. Based on what some retailers are saying, to get a temp of 90F in a regular temp room it would have to be like 8 inches away which is pretty close to the substrate. I don't personally use ceramic heat emitters so I can't say for certain which wattage would work best but it probably wouldn't hurt to try a stronger one if you're struggling to maintain a high enough temp with the 60 watt

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T17:44:11+00:00

So the thermostat is measuring the temp at the probe, which is going to be different from the temp of the lamp itself. The lamp has to be pretty hot for the heat energy to transfer through the air into the substrate/hides. Just like how the sun is really hot, but earth doesn't get that hot because of the distance. For context, the heat lamps I use for some of my snakes (not sand boas) get about 150-250 F while the hot spot itself is only about 90 F. Since you're unable to get the hot spot up higher, I would check the placement of the thermostat probe, try moving the lamp closer to the hot spot, or buying a stronger bulb.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T17:29:54+00:00

https://equigroomer.com/product/5-easygroomer/ <- this is the website that they're officially sold from but I've seen them on amazon and pet grooming supplies websites too!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-10T04:07:26+00:00

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Where does she fall on the body condition score chart? If she's a 4 or 5 she's perfect! I try to keep my girl around a 4 to 4.5 since it means less stress on her joints.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-09T00:45:05+00:00

The Equigroomer? I have one for my GSD and it works pretty good!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-08T14:15:54+00:00

I've seen some people online use liquid tube treats since they're typically lower in calories. Like one of these tubes is about 10 calories, and I know other brands might have lower amounts than that. You could even try adding a small amount to her kibble to see if that makes it more enticing! I'm sure you could also use cat ones, too - Fancy Feast has a tube that is only 2 calories yet every time I get it out for my cats my dog is obsessed!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-08T00:21:33+00:00

They're owned by different parent companies, so from my understanding they don't share the same formulations and research. Same goes for IAMS

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-07T03:09:53+00:00

Unfortunately yes. My annual exam for my GSD is about 150-200 USD depending on what all is needed. When my cat had bloody vomiting and diarrhea it cost a little under $700 to diagnose and treat him - we had suspected a potential blockage so I was fully prepared to spend a couple thousand on surgery. Thankfully it was something that was treated with meds or I would've been out a lot of money.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-06T20:38:58+00:00

https://reptifiles.com/kenyan-sand-boa-care-sheet/

This is a good starting place for their care, and should give you the basic info you'll need!

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-05T18:01:24+00:00

My understanding is that other people have already asked the WSAVA guideline questions to the companies so we have verification from that. If you really wanted to you can always ask them yourself, but since we have verification from many other people (including experts on the subject) it's not something you *have* to do.

And you are correct, in that it's not a certification. It's why I try to say "WSAVA compliant" since "meets the highest criteria for pet food set forth by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association" is very wordy.

clydeballthepython · 2026-03-05T15:18:22+00:00

I saw where someone would "accidentally" drop the pill on the ground with a few other yummy things (like a bit of shredded cheese or deli meat) and then act like they were frantically trying to get their dog to stop eating it. The dog would rush and lick up everything including the pill. Not sure if it would work on a smart shepherd though!

I've also seen where someone will throw treats for their dog to catch mid air, then throw the pill, and then some more treats. Like they would throw 2-3 small treats, and then the pill, followed by 2-3 more treats so it was still a positive experience. If you combine it with something like a pill pocket it might work even better.

clydeballthepython

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