Sunday, July 19, 2009

Saint Bernard Medical Dog For Your Family

Saint Bernard Medical Dog For Your Family
By Pertic Brendon

If you heard the words “medical dog” you could have a number of
different thoughts. Some people might look confused, others
might look amused thinking you’re pulling their leg. Yet others
might try in vain to find out what it really means, and some
people might even believe you’re referring to the growing
popularity of using medical dog tags as jewelry. For my part
however, if I hear the words medical dog mentioned I immediately
think of the giant Saint Bernards who gained fame by rescuing
unfortunate travels from dangerous snow bound situations.

Probably no one has ever called the Saint Bernard a medical
dog, though that is the picture that always comes to mind. These
gentle beasts are popular with many people and have long been
considered a family dog. They love children, and can live
peaceably with other animals as well. They love as much
attention as they can get and are very affectionate.

As a medical dog in the present day, the Saint Bernard isn’t
much utilized, but in the days when they were bred especially
for the purpose of coming to the aid of people in need, the
Saint Bernard was in full demand. The greatest and most well
known of these dogs was a Saint Bernard medical dog named Barry.

The earliest Saint Bernard breed was bred with a short, glossy
coat which made it easier for them to stay in the freezing
weather conditions, whereas the latter breed of Saint Bernard
with the Newfoundland mix sported a longer coat. This was
unsuited to the prevailing weather conditions as their shaggy
coats would always be full of icicles. This ruled them almost
instantly as a good breed of medical dog, and the original short
haired Saint Bernard was kept for this purpose.

If you’re getting a Saint Bernard medical dog for your family,
you need to realize that they grow very large and very fast. So
you’ll need to have somewhere that your dog can stay without
tearing your house up into shreds. You’ll also need to be able
to give it enough nutrition during its formative growth years as
these medical dogs need to be kept nourished constantly to help
in their massive bone growth.

As a family dog, the Saint Bernard loses much of the need for
it to be a medical dog, but don’t close that door just yet.
These dogs are very intelligent and will rush to your aid if
there is something amiss. Much as they used to in the early days
of the 17th century.

You can picture it in your mind. The great Saint Bernard making
his way through the treacherous snowed in passes to save unwary
travelers from a plight of certain death. And don’t forget to
add the small cask of brandy around the Bernard’s neck. That
adds the finishing touch to your mental picture of the great
medical dog, the Saint Bernard on his medical rounds.

About the Author: Author's Sites:
http://dogi-food-recipes.blogspot.com ,
http://cat-food-recipes.blogspot.com ,
http://www.easyhomeremedy.com/pet_care/natural_pet_care_index.html

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=185762&ca=Pets

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Grooming your Saint Bernard

Grooming Your St. Bernard

St. Bernards are enormous and lovable dogs. As members of the working group of dogs, they were originally bred to help with mountain rescues in Switzerland. They are loyal, good-tempered dogs that are wonderful with children and make great pets if you have the space.

However, don't buy a St. Bernard unless you are prepared to spend some time and/or money on grooming. Since these dogs originated in snowy and cold Switzerland, St. Bernards have a thick dense coat.

There are both longhaired and shorthaired varieties of the breeds. The grooming is a little easier for the shorthaired type. A bristle brush is a good all-purpose brush for the breed but the St. Bernard coat can also benefit from some specialized brushes.

A slicker brush can be used to remove matting and dead hair, especially during the shedding season. Your dog will shed its under coat twice a year. To stimulate your St. Bernards circulation and remove a maximum amount of loose hair, try brushing the coat opposite to the way it lays naturally.

Brushing your St. Bernard every day is key to managing shedding and keeping your dog clean. The process, once mastered, should only take about 5 minutes a day.

Bathing your St. Bernard can be a daunting task. Unlike other smaller breeds, St. Bernards must be bathed outdoors or in a full sized bathtub. Use a hot water hose and gently soak your dog's coat. Once the coat is thoroughly wet, shampoo your dog with a mild pet shampoo.

You want to avoid using anything too harsh, no matter how dirty your dog gets. A gentle shampoo will not strip the natural oils from your dog's hair. It is recommended that you wash and rinse your St. Bernard with the shampoo at least twice.

Rinse thoroughly to avoid any residue left in the dog's undercoat. You can dry your dog to a damp dry state with towels and, depending on the season, let the dog air dry or blow dry the coat.

Many St. Bernard owners use special varieties of shampoo to help brighten the white part of the dog's coat. The white parts of the coat can be stained by dirt of other debris. These products can be added to the normal shampoo, or used in replacement of a regular dog shampoo. Certain varieties of whitening shampoo need to be left in the coat for five to ten minutes before rinsing it out.

If you'd like to soften your St. Bernard's coat you can use a small amount of human conditioner. As a final step, you can use a flea rinse. Generally, flea rinses protect your dog for 10 to 14 days after use.

Be very careful when administering the flea rinse. Read all instructions carefully and dilute the product properly. Avoid your dog's eyes when applying the rinse.

St. Bernards are prone to eye weeping which can cause staining on the face. There are special products available such as "Diamond Eyes" that can gently remove these stains. In between treatments, you can wipe away any reside gently with a washcloth.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ - Free Articles Directory

About the Author

Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website,http://www.mypetdog.org to help you find all the information you need about pet dogs, dog grooming and training.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Saint Bernard Dog: The Great Rescuer Barry

Saint Bernard Dog: The Great Rescuer Barry

Author: Ashish Jain

Dogs are great rescuers. We all know that, but some of them are better at the job than others. What could be nobler than saving lives. Barry, who lived and made history between 1800 and 1814, was one of the greatest rescue dogs the world has ever seen. Barry was a Saint Bernard dog who earned worldwide fame for the brave rescue operations he carried out during his lifetime. His painting by Salvatore Rosa still hangs in a hospice in the Alps of Switzerland.





Saint Benard dogs have such a keen sense of smell that they can smell out people burried deep in the snow. Barry, like other Saint Bernard dogs, was trained by the monks to rescue lost travelers in the Alps. The Bernards, on finding a man to be recued, lie on top of the person and start licking his face to wake him up. Simultaneously they bark out aloud calling the monks for assistance, hearing which the monks would come with a stretcher and warm blankets to keep the person warm. The fellow is then taken to the monastry and is served warm tea and food.





Barry was an expert rescue dog well versed with the rescue drill and amongst his famous rescue adventures there is this famous story about a young boy who was found stranded on an icy ledge, all covered with thick snow under an ongoing, heavy snowfall. It was not possible for any man to climb that icy ledge, but Barry braving all adversity crawled inch by inch to the injured boy. As the drill has it, Barry started licking the boy's face but the snowfall was too heavy and the ledge too difficult to climb for any monk to reach the boy. So, there was no help coming. The boy, however, woke up due to Barry's warm licks and wrapped his arms around Barry's strong neck. The dog pulled him carefully and bravely from the ledge and brought him to safety.





It is just one of the many gallant rescue stories of this great rescuer Saint Bernard. He lived from 1800 to 1814 and saved more than 40 lives in his lifetime.


About the Author:

To get more information on pet dogs, dog breeds and dog training and care visit http://www.thepetdogs.com/



Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Saint Bernard Dog: The Great Rescuer Barry

Friday, April 3, 2009

Grooming your Great Pyrenees Dog the Easy Way

Grooming your Great Pyrenees Dog the Easy Way

Author: John Williams

Large breed dogs pose special grooming dilemmas. The Great Pyrenees and other Bernard family members have cornered the market on that special combination of girth and hair. Without a regimented grooming routine the Pyrenees' flowing white locks can easily morph, soon resembling an electrocuted Komondor on steroid.



One obstacle to keeping large breeds in the peek of beauty is the difficulty in locating nail clippers, brushes and dental supplies suited to their substantial size. Substitution will have to be made. Still, with a little ingenuity grooming is a snap.



Body Brushing

Combing out the Great Pyrenees is a challenge. The high-stung nature of the breed makes them tend to wiggle around during grooming. In fact, these stealth dogs are apt to sprint off if not restrained, sometimes moving up to three centimeters in a single afternoon.



Your best bet for body brushing or raking is to work on your pet while he is asleep. Avoid active times such as 6:00 to 6:03 a.m. and the 30 minutes after sunset Pyrenees' devote solely to barking. This breed is known to sleep with its eyes open. When stalking them with grooming tools be cautious. Once you are with in 65 feet of your dog, listen for a train. This verifies your dog is snoring.



Work efficiently once you begin grooming a Great Pyrenees. You may only have 13 hours before he wakes up. When grooming 140 lbs. of fur bonded together by drool and the occasional tree branch, you must not dally. A weed eater is an efficient option for quickly working your way through the shrubs to the actual hair prior to brushing.



Nail Clipping

Clipping your Pyrenees's claws should be a regular part of your grooming routine. Before beginning this procedure head for the hardware store. Pick up a large metal rasp and bolt cutters. Once claws have been neatly trimmed call in HAZMAT to remove the clippings from your home. Don't forget the dewclaws.



Great Pyrenees' have a multitude of extra toes just kinda 'hangin' out' on their lower legs. Hiding amongst them are a total of six massive curly toenails. Each is so large it makes a valosaraptor claw look like a minute droplet of Chihuahua snot. Don't let the dewclaws go unattended more than a few weeks. Negligence will yield a clipping big enough to be used as a spiral staircase.



Dental Care

Dog owners often overlook the importants of good oral hygiene. Fortunately, in the Bernard breeds, their mouths offer plenty of room to work in. Take advantage of this trait. You can create ample access to the mouth by simply pulling their massive floppy lips up from both sides of the face. Then, use three clothespins to secure them to one another across the bridge of the nose. You may also secure a single lip to the opposing ear in a similar fashion.



Once the teeth are exposed insert a shop vac tube under your dogs tongue. This technique is identical to that of the 'spit sucker' used in a dental offices. A fifteen-gallon vac should suffice. Once the shop vac is fired up the Great Pyrenees will start to awaken. You will have about two hours to completely remove large pieces of sod stored along the gum line before your dog hits full cognitive thought. At this point he'll eat the vacuum prior to falling back asleep.



As a final touch, clean you canine's feet. Shinny up between the pads with a flashlight, some pliers and a bottle of WD 40. Remove stones, dried bats, milk carton children and anything else not belonging up there. Once this task is done your grooming regiment is complete. Wake your dog by simple uttering the word 'cookie.' By the time you get to 'coo' every Great Pyrenees in a six mile radius will be in your kitchen.



With a little work and a few trips to Home Depot, your Great Pyrenees, Saint Bernard or Newfoundland will glow with beauty. When you combine all this glamour with their high intelligence and magnetic personalities, your dog will be the envy of the neighborhood.

About the Author:

For more information on the great pyrenees or a complete list of dog breeds visit this Dog Behaviour website.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/grooming-your-great-pyrenees-dog-the-easy-way-463712.html

Monday, February 2, 2009

Is Hip Dysplasia Affecting Your Dog?

Guest Article

Is Hip Dysplasia Affecting Your Dog?

Author: Billy Baker

Some people often just assume their dog is getting old when he starts to limp or when there is some stiffness evident. Often enough this is Hip Dysplasia and you should take action to help eliminate discomfort and pain as soon as possible. It is most common in large dogs but is also found in smaller breeds from time to time.

What is canine hip dysplasia?

The area affected is in and around the dog's hips and it's called Hip Dysplasia. In a nutshell, sometimes the hips are not shaped properly which can leave the dog prone to hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia in dogs can occur in puppies from as young as 5 months, but the ensuing arthritis in the hips generally doesn't strike Spot until he is middle aged.

Dog breeds susceptible to hip dysplasia.

Some breeds of dogs are well known for being genetically susceptible to hip dysplasia. Mixed breed dogs can also suffer from hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices has seen a decline in hip dysplasia numbers, but these dogs still have a higher than average chance of having dysplasia:
* Rottweilers.
* Labs and retrievers.
* German shepherds.
* Great Danes.
* Mastiffs.
* Saint Bernards.
* Dobermans.

Hip arthritis can also be found in and medium sized dogs as well.

Signs of hip dysplasia include:

* early morning stiffness.
* behavioural changes and sometimes personality changes too.
* awkwardness or clumsy steps.
* unable to exercise as much as before.
* disinterest in fetching.
* problems getting up from lying down or sitting.
* limping, favoring one or both back legs, or stiff or unusual gait.
* opting to sleep away from others.
* pain when back leg is extended.
* discomfort or sensitivity when lower back or back legs are prodded.
* can't or won't jump into the car anymore.

Hip dysplasia treatments.

Dog arthritis can be treated in a myriad of ways icluding dog medicines, dog supplements and even aids to help make Rover happy again. One of the most popular options is glucosamine, which has been incredibly successful in aiding humans with osteoarthritis. Dog supplements containing glucosamine chondroitin have become one of the first treatment options. Don't underestimate a good night's sleep and other orthopedic aids as handy comfort providers such as special dog beds and ramps etc. For further information on glucosamine, treatments and aids click here.

Weight Management.

The most prominent element to affect or enhance hip dysplasia is the dog's weight. The more your dog weighs, the more strain is being placed on those hips. Keeping your dog in his healthy weight range could save him from immense pain and suffering down the track.

For further information on treatments and resources for the dog suffering from hip dysplasia click here.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/is-hip-dysplasia-affecting-your-dog-572374.html

About the Author:
Author Billy Baker has decades of experience with many breeds of dogs and has provided more information on Dog Health and Hip Dysplasia In Dogs .

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Back with Boomer and more to come

I've been gone a while due to illness. I'm back and blogging now. Here is a new picture and video of Boomer and I will be posting some articles soon about Big Dogs in general. I will also post about how Boomer almost died recently from playing with a toy that was from China.

The picture is Boomer with my husband and Boomer's best friend Pookie.







Kisses from Boomer (Excuse all the boxes, I am getting things ready for the donation truck)


Slurp