Saint Bernard: 9 things you should know about the large dog breed
If you are considering a Saint Bernard as a pet, you should know a few things about the large dog breed.
Weight: Saint Bernard weights typically range from 140-264 pounds (64-120 kg), but there are many that fall outside of that range on the high and low side.
Where: Originally from Italy and Switzerland
Colors: The most common color combination is red with white, and black is common on the ears and face.
Height: Height is typically between 27½ inches and 35½ inches (70 to 90 cm) as measured at the withers.
Length: The longest Saint Bernard was reportedly (read unsubstantiated) at 8 feet 5 inches.
Other Names: St. Bernhardshund and Bernhardiner, as well as Alpine Mastiff
Records: In the mid-19th century, a famous Saint Bernard named Plinlimmon weighed 210 pounds (95 kg) and 341/2 inches (87.5 cm). An American bought Plinlimmon for $7,000.
The famous New York Times newspaper reported in 1895 that Major F, a Saint Bernard, was measured and the astonishing results were a length of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m). If this claim is correct and the measurement was done correctly, Major F. would still hold the record for the world’s longest dog, even over Zorba, who is currently in the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest dog ever. at 343 pounds and stands 8 feet 3 inches (251 cm) from nose to tip of tail.
Benedictine V Schwarzwald Hof (wow, picture begging you to come in!), a massive St. Bernard officially weighed in at 315 pounds (143 kg) and was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1981.
Related Breeds: Newfoundland and English Mastiff
Temperament: Special care is required with any breed of large dog so that it is well socialized, both with other dogs and with people other than their owners, and especially with children who are almost always much younger. The Saint Bernard breed is very loyal and friendly.
Unfortunately, the Saint Bernard is prone to some health problems. A common problem is an autoimmune disease; which can cause large amounts of mortality and debilitating disease in dogs. Within autoimmune diseases, there are three diseases that must be monitored. Those are canine diabetes, immune-mediated thyroiditis, and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.
Canine diabetes is when a dog is deficient in or insensitive to the hormone insulin. Diabetes in an animal is not life threatening, however if left untreated it can be. When a dog has canine diabetes, it is given an injection of insulin which is a hormone.
When a dog has immune-mediated thyroiditis, that’s when cells in the dog’s body begin to attack the thyroid cells. In most cases, the dog is given a daily dose of thyroxine; which will bring the thyroxine levels back to normal.
Lastly, when a dog has hemolytic anemia it is when the immune system destroys red blood cells prematurely, faster than the rate at which new ones can be produced. In most cases, when a Saint Bernard has hemolytic anemia, as long as he does not die (it is a very life-threatening disease), they are given corticosteroids or other types of medication and, in the worst case, transfusions. of blood.