St. Bernard, also known as St. Bernard Dog, originated from Switzerland and has a long history. However, in the mid-19th century, the number of this breed has been decreasing and was on the brink of extinction.
This breed is huge in size and is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. It is also one of the heaviest dog breeds in terms of average weight, reaching up to 100 kilograms and nearly 90 centimeters in height.
Despite its massive body, it has a gentle and friendly temperament. It is loyal to its owner and very friendly towards children. It can withstand cold weather and has rescued countless people in the vast snowfield, making it a great companion to humans. It is also highly intelligent and easy to train. The care and maintenance of this breed are relatively simple, requiring enough space, food, and exercise.
St. Bernard dogs originated from Switzerland in the 11th century, but they also have a long history in Denmark. They are named after the St. Bernard Hospice in the Alps. It is said that the monks built a shelter at the Great St. Bernard Pass, which is at an altitude of 2449 meters, for travelers and pilgrims. Due to the high altitude and harsh climate, many travelers crossing the Alps encountered danger there. Since the 17th century, St. Bernard dogs have been used to protect and assist travelers. Illustrations from 1695 indicate that people were already recording their work at that time. In 1707, there were written records about the dogs in the hospice. St. Bernard dogs gained fame in 980 AD for their outstanding contributions in guarding, but there is no further information about earlier events. In the 18th century, the monks at the hospice kept these dogs to help search for missing people in the mountains and revive them. One St. Bernard dog named "Barry" saved the lives of 40 people and made great contributions before passing away in 1814.
Until 1830, all St. Bernard dogs had short hair. Initially, people thought that long-haired St. Bernards would provide better warmth, so they bred long-haired ones. However, it was later discovered that ice would freeze on their long hair, preventing them from effectively resisting the cold. Upon realizing this, the monks gave away the long-haired St. Bernards as gifts to friends and kept only the short-haired ones.
In 1833, writer Daniel Wilson first named this breed St. Bernard dogs, but the name remained unknown for many years. It wasn't until 1965 that the name became widely known, and the official name for this breed was only established in 1980.
Due to its enormous size, it is one of the largest dog breeds in the world, so it requires the owner's home to have a lot of space, convenient for the dog's life, and not suitable for keeping as a family pet.
1. Dog Infectious Diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, such as canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical manifestations include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, and other symptoms.
Generally, these highly contagious and fatal diseases are most common in dogs during the weaning period or around 1 year of age. Puppies have a high susceptibility rate, a low cure rate, and are prone to leaving sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through regular channels, vaccinate the dog on time, and regularly disinfect the home. Avoid taking the dog out for a walk before completing the vaccination, avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs, and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose casually.
2. Dog Skin Diseases
Dogs often contract various skin diseases while wandering outside. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi outside, there is a risk of long-term difficult treatment. Therefore, all owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of dog skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, suppurative discharge, hair loss, scabs, and more.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoid dark and humid places, and regularly disinfect the dog's living environment. Perform internal and external deworming for the dog, use special dog bathing products, brush the dog's coat regularly, and supplement with vitamins and fish oil.
3. Dog Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs. They can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, affecting the dog's quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are often thin and lethargic.
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How to prevent:
When feeding, owners need to be cautious and try not to give dogs non-sterilized raw meat or unknown meat sources. Internal deworming for dogs should be done once every 3 months, and external deworming once a month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating or licking indiscriminately and avoid grassy areas. After returning home, careful examination is necessary.
1.. St. Bernard puppies born between one and a half to three months old have a decreased amount of maternal antibodies in their bodies due to weaning, and their immune function is not fully developed. They are very prone to illness, so they need special care. Try to avoid bathing and going out to prevent them from getting cold or being infected by bacteria. In addition, this period is crucial for the growth of the puppies, so it is important to pay attention to the proper nutrition during this period.
2. Puppies should drink water before being fed. In the first few days, it is generally recommended to let the puppies eat until they are 70-80% full. It is best to feed them small meals multiple times a day and regularly deworm and vaccinate them.
3. The issue of bad breath in St. Bernard dogs is closely related to their dental health. If there is bad breath, it may be caused by other physiological diseases or a large amount of dirt or tartar buildup on the surface of the teeth. It could also be due to food residue fermenting under the action of oral microorganisms, resulting in a foul smell. Therefore, if a dog has bad breath, it is important to identify the cause and treat it promptly to avoid delaying the condition.
1, can't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it can't be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather, you can bathe a dog one or two more times, and in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2, grooming frequently
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. To make the hair grow well, frequent grooming is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific combs to help dogs clean the naturally shed hair, avoid tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening, around five minutes each time, is enough.
3, sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial to the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help sterilize. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dogs exercise, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4, deworming
Bad fur condition is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and steal nutrition, so deworming is indispensable. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. Deworming drugs can cause great harm to a dog's stomach, so it is recommended to feed probiotics together to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5, pay attention to diet
In order for dogs to have bright fur, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for dogs and provides sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can give dogs a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.
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