FEEDING THE DOG 



which may remain unbroken up in the 

 intestinal tract. 



We can say with certainty that a small 

 amount of potatoes fed now and then, 

 with plenty of meat and fat, is not in- 

 jurious to the dog's health. 



At least this can be asserted definitely 

 — cooked starches are preferred to those in 

 the raw state. 



"Starches" Reduce Food Costs 



The energy-forming food stuffs are 

 carbohydrates and fats. When carbohy- 

 drates particularly starches as presented 

 in such cooked cereals as oatmeal, wheat 

 (and bran), rice, barley and the like are 

 digested, they spare protein. In other 

 words, to feed more starches particularly 

 in the way of cereals (and this includes 

 dry biscuit food) reduces the burden 

 placed upon the digestive tract and does 

 not require so much protein such as meat. 

 Thus the feed bills are reduced in kennels. 



Carbohydrates — let us call them starches 

 — are the materials which unite with am- 

 monia, a waste product of the body, and 

 this union in turn forms one of the amino 

 acids. A result is an increased amount 

 of lactic acid or pyruvic acid or both and 

 consequently, an increased combination 

 of amino acids, a very desirable condi- 

 tion. 



Fight Bacteria in Colon 



The intestinal tract is crowded with bac- 

 teria ; these play upon protein with the 

 resulting decay or putrefaction and toxic 

 substances or poisons. The body does not 

 get the full value from the protein con- 

 sumed, on this account. However, when 

 carbohydrates are present, the bacteria 

 acts upon them also and slows down the 

 bacteria which act upon the protein ; con- 

 sequently the intestinal tr?ict is left in a 

 less bacterial condition. 



Certain carbohydrates are not absorbed 

 readily into the system. Consequently, car- 

 bohydrates in the dog's diet should be 

 limited to the two sugars and to cooked 

 starches for these are readily acted upon 

 by enzymes. When these are fed, with 

 sufficient protein, they form an impor- 

 tant plaee in the diet of the dog. 



Cellulose, hemicellulose and pentosans 

 should be avoided. 



Mineral Salts 



Calcium and phosphorus compose a 

 large percentage of the body. They are 

 needed in largest amount. If these two 

 and iron and iodine are present, the re- 

 maining ten mineral elements usually will 

 be found in sufficient quantities. Regular 

 diet usually furnishes the ten others in 

 sufficient quantity (copper, potassium, 

 magnesium, chlorine, fluorine, sulphur, 

 lithium, barium, manganese-aluminum, 

 and silicum). But in most cases the other 

 four must be furnished specially. 



Mineral matter is found in the ashes 

 after the body is burned. It constitutes 

 about six percent of the body weight. To 

 feed mineral salts direct aids greatly in 

 the dog's growth and health. 



Calcium is found in the bones chiefly, 

 phosphorus in the nerves, iron in the red 

 blood corpuscles. 



Common salt contains much sodium ; 

 iodized salt both sodium and iodine ; fish 

 much iodine ; calcium carbonate much 

 calcium ; eggs and milk furnish phos- 

 phorus ; egg yolk, raisins, and sipinach 

 supply iron. 



CALCIUM is contained mostly in bones, 

 teeth and the bloodstream. It fills up 

 bones and teeth, aids in contractibility of 

 muscles and response of nervous tissue to 

 stimuli ; it aids rhythmic heartbeat and 

 prevents over-excitability. If it is lacking 

 in the body, rickets, decayed teeth, ir- 

 regular heart action and softening of 

 bones may occur. 



Calcium is found chiefly in the following 

 foods, about in the order given: milk, 

 turnips, American cheese, cauliflower, car- 

 rots, navy beans, spinach and oranges. 

 Calcium lactate can be had at the drug- 

 store as a (Prepared product to supply 

 calcium deficiency. 



The calcium triplets are worthy of men- 

 tion. Calcium chloride being irritating, 

 is not as preferable as calcium lactate, 

 which perhaps in turn is not as prefer- 

 able as calcium gluconate, a salt of glu- 

 conic acid. It is useful in the treatment 



