80 DIET OF SICK ANIMALS. 



best position for a cure. Often a little timely care 

 and nursing will save and restore an animal, which, 

 if permitted to run with the stock, and take its 

 chance, would unquestionably be lost. A sick animal 

 as truly needs attention as a^ sick child. Not always 

 /ill mere nursing restore a sick animal, but it always 

 r laces it in the best possible condition to effect a 

 cure ; and without it the best medical treatment will 

 often be fruitless. 



Diet of Sick Animals. 



In general, when animals are seriously ill, they are 

 without appetite, and will take little or no food na- 

 ture thus indicating the propriety of abstinence. But 

 in all cases the food given or allowed should be quite 

 limited in quantity one-half, one-third or fourth of 

 the usual quantity, and only that which is nourishing 

 easily digested, and generally relaxing. With these 

 general restrictions, the usual kinds of food may be 

 permitted, except in case of dogs, where only stale 

 bread and milk should be allowed in urgent cases, 

 and but little or no meat, and no salted or spiced 

 food in any case. After the more urgent symptoms 

 of disease have passed over, and the animal is recov- 

 ering, we should be careful and not give full feed, as 

 a relapse may thus easily be provoked, and prove 

 very stubborn and dangerous. 



At least half an hour or hour should intervene af- 

 ter taking a dose of medicine, before the animal 

 should be fed, as the system is more susceptible then 

 than at any other time. 



