Why do dogs eat grass?

Dogs usually eat grass because they like the taste of it. Grass actually acts as a stomach irritant and a binding agent. The grass will bind itself to certain toxins found in a dog's stomach. This is a way of ridding the toxin from your dog stomach when they expel the grass. You should be careful of the grass your dog is exposed to; fertilizers and pesticides on grass can make dogs very sick or even cause death if they ingest the grass.

Garlic Does Not Prevent Fleas

Using garlic as a flea prevention for dogs is not a good idea. Garlic can be toxic to dogs, so why would you use it for flea prevention? Consult your veterinarian regarding flea products. There are more cases occurring with problems with topical flea control products. Keep in mind if you use a topical flea control product, you and your children will also be coming into contact with the product. Always wash your hands thoroughly after playing with your dog.

Warm Dry Nose

We are often told that if your dog's nose is warm and dry then they are sick. That is not the case. The environment your dog is in can cause their nose to be warm and dry. For example, your dog laying in the sun, or a warm heated room in your home. Changes in your dogs normal behavior are a better indication that they are not feeling well. You might notice a change in their activity level, loss of appetite, limping, coughing, vomiting, urinary or fecal changes; this could indicate your dog is not feeling well, consult your veterinarian.

What causes dog aggression?

The most common cause of dog aggression is, fear. Behavior problems are not always a display of dominance. Usually behavior problems come from the dog learning a bad behavior and our unintentional rewarding them for it. Many young dogs who have not received any training, demonstrate an in your face behavior to get attention. It is a good idea to take an obedience class with your dog. This is a class for you as well as your dog. They need to learn good behavior and you need to learn how to achieve this with them.

Hypoallergenic Dogs

You often hear people with allergy problems are looking for a hypoallergenic dog. There is really no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Some allergies are caused by the dog's fur, but most allergies are caused by a protein that is found in a dog's saliva. This protein in a dog's saliva sticks to the dried flakes of skin called dander. All dog's shed this dander, it doesn't matter what type of coat a dog has, they shed.

Your Dog's Tail

Did you know that your dog's tail is a continuation of their spine? Well it is, and it is made up of little bones that are acutally vertebrae. These vertebrae along with muscles and nerves allow your dog's tail to move and also control sensation in their tail.

Tail injuries occur when your dog's tail gets caught in a door, bitten on their tail, or your dog bangs it's tail against something very hard. A tail injury can be very painful for your dog. Indications of a tail injury may be a drooping tail, tail lying flat against hindquarters, it may even affect how your dog walks.

A broken tail usually occurs when your dog's tail has been shut in a door, or if your dog has a severe fall. A broken tail is very painful for your dog. Many times they heal on their own and leave a crook in the tail, where the break occurred. It is best to see your veterinarian if you suspect your dog's tail is broken.

A bruised tail can occur when your dog's bangs its tail against a very hard surface. You might notice drooping or sagging of the tail, and even swelling. Usually a bruised tail heals on its own. You should limit your dog's activity during the healing process. If you are concerned always consult your veterinarian.

Your dog's tail can suffer a wound, usually caused from a bite. If the wound is minor you should keep the area clean to prevent infection. More serious wounds will need to be treated with antibiotics from your veterinarian.

New England Saint Bernard Club

Middle Atlantic Saint Bernard Club, Inc.

Looking for a Saint Bernard Club in the Greater Philadelphia Area, go to their website.

2010 Saint Bernard Club of America National Specialty

Check out the website for the 2010 Saint Bernard National Specialty.

Saint Bernard Club of Finland