May 25th, 2009 by admin

Despite the many precautions you may take, it’s inevitable that you dog will get sick at some stage of its life. There are many different canine diseases from which all breeds suffer. The first which all breeds suffer. The First steps to preventing these ailments is understanding the diseases to which your breed is susceptible. A St. Bernard that is well bred and well cared for is less likely to develop diseases and other health concerns than are ones that are poorly bred and neglected. For the most part, the St. Bernard is a very healthy breed for its enormous size.

BLOAT (GASTRIC DISATION)

This condition has proved fatal in many St. Bernards. Bloat involves a severe distension of the stomach, caused by the formation of too many gases. It usually occure in large, deep-chested breeds making the St. Bernard considerably susceptible to this deadly condition. Immediate veterinary treatment is essential. The faster the treatment the better chance the dog has of surviving. The best preventative measure is not to feed your dog large meals at a time or exercise it immediately after it has eaten. Bowl stands are also recommended, to avoid the dog craning its neck to eat. Never offer your dog water with its meals and always soak dired food before offering it to your St. Bernard.

HIP DYSPLASIA

Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common congenital defects in large dogs. Dysplastic dogs have an abnormal hip joint often causing lameness, or a limp or swaying of the gait. Many St. Bernards are affected by the condition. A dog with this disease commonly develops arthritis of the hip joint because of the abnormal stress on the joint. Maintaining the dog’s proper weight and controlling its exercise can usually prevent further Aggravation. St. Bernards that suffer from severs hip dysplasia should never be used in a breeding programme. Be certain that your chosen breeder has screened her dogs for hip dysplasia before planning the breeding.

CORRECTIVE SURGERY

Surgery is often used to correct genetic bone diseases in dogs. Usually the problems present themselves early in the dog’s life and must be treated before bone growth stops.

EXERCISE

St. Bernard need lots of room for proper exercise. You should make the time to exercise your dog on a daily basis. Long walks to a park or open field are highly recommended. The St. Benard is a hard worker known for its loyalty and dedication. Although they love children, be careful that the dog’s great size does not lead to an unintentional accident when playing.

ENTROPION

This condition affects the eyelid (typically the lower one) causing the eyelid to roll in towards the eye and irritate the cornea. It is typically more common in heavy- headed St. Bernards. Watery eyes, infection, and even a corneal ulcercan occur. Surgical correction by a veterinary surgeon is usually required for proper treatment.

ECTROPION

Ectropion is the opposite of entropion where the lower eyelid rolls away from the eyeball. This is a common problem with British St. Benards and seems to affect those with droopy eyes. The ailment commonly occurs in dogs with loose facial skin making the St. Bernard a primary candidate.

HEART DISEASE

This condition is quite common in St. Bernards. Sysmptoms usually involve coughing and shortness of breath, fainting, lethargy and sudden weakness of the legs. Fortunately, many heart conditions can be treated with medication

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in purebred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, its hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic.
Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an x-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your dog may have a hip dysplasia problem if it walks in a peculiar manne, hops instead of smoothly runs, uses his hind legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint). has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs together on one side of its body.
As the dog matures, it may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many dogs with hip dysplasia become cripples.
Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and only can be diagnosed definitively when the dog is two years old. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical. The removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one are all surgical interventions that are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advise of your veterinary surgeon.