13— PUPPIES AND THEIR CARE 



However, rabies can be contracted only 

 by an actual bite of a rubid dofif. It doe» 

 not come of its own accord. It is not con- 

 tagious and the dog's system does not con- 

 tain the germ or virus. The ordinary dog 

 bite carries no danger other than external 

 infection. 



Should Puppy be Spayed? 



Where a dog is not wanted for breeding 

 purposes, or where there is strong objec- 

 tion to the seasonal heat of the bitch 

 twice a year, a bitch can be spayed. This 

 should be done about the age of seven 

 months, just before the first heat. This 



age is true also of males (castration) as 

 opportunity should be given for the sex 

 characteristics to be developed before the 

 dogs are altered. On the whole, we do not 

 recommend sex alteration. 



Soda and Its Many Uses 



Ordinary baking soda is excellent to be 

 placed in the bath, especially where the 

 dog has dry itchy skin and there are no 

 sore spots noticeable. Baking soda is 

 excellent for cleaning the teeth and the 

 gums. Also it can be placed in a warm 

 solution for washing out the bowels by 

 enema. 



IX.— FEEDING THE PUPPY 



We come now to the most important 

 consideration in the care of the poppy. 

 Tiraining the pappy is important. Groom- 

 ing is important. Yet the dog's health 

 is more ritally connected with his diet 

 and his stomadi than with any other part 

 of the dog or any other consideration of 

 care. 



Puppies can be received in the best of 

 spirits and within two days be ill of diges- 

 tive trouble. A puppy eats everything, is 

 always seemingly hungry, and conse- 

 quently his young and tender stomach 

 revolts. 



Feeding the Puppy 



Much of the dog's pleasure in life is in 

 eating and half his health lies in his diet. 

 The puppy indeed is the world's most 

 pleading beggar. His tummy may be burst- 

 ing, yet he will look up at you with staring 

 eyes as tho he were starving to death. 

 You will do him a great disfavor if he 

 conquers you and you give him something 

 to eat. 



Gulping not a Vice 



First of all, the dog's saliva contains 

 little pitalin. Consequently, chewing is of 

 small value to the dog's digestive system. 

 Gulping of food is not a vice in the dog. 



If your puppy vomits, ordinarily it is 

 not a serious matter. Let him vomit — 

 and eat it if he wishes. 



How Often to Feed 



How often should a puppy be fed? From 

 six weeks, the weaning time, to ten weeks 

 old, puppies may be fed five times a day. 



From ten weeks to four months, four 

 times a day; from four months to eight 

 months, three times a day ; from eight 

 months to fifteen months, twice a day ; 

 thereafter, once a day. 



Small breeds seldom mature before the 

 age of fifteen months ; and large-sized 

 breeds, twenty-four months. 



If your dog does not have an appetite, 

 just let him miss a meal or underfeed him 

 for a few days. 



Regular Schedule Desirable 



The hours for feeding, whether the dog 

 be fed one or five times a day, should be 

 the same day after day. 



If the dog is excited and nervous, or 

 exhausted from exercise, let him rest 

 for a whole hour before feeding. 



Dishes for Food and Water 



Keep the food dish and the water dish 

 clean. A heavy flat dish with the outside 

 bottom wider than the top rim, cannot be 

 toppled over and cannot be moved easily. 

 Do not use the food dish as a water dish. 



Most important — remove the food dish 

 and all food out of sight as soon as the 

 dog has finished. Do not have food avail- 

 able at any time other than the regular 

 hours. 



It is well to pick up the water pan 

 immediately after the puppy has drunk. 

 There is a tendency for puppies to drink 

 too much and in turn their digestive system 

 is upset. A puppy should have water 

 about five times a day until the age of 

 six months ; thereafter, four times a day. 

 Milk can be substituted for several of these 

 but not all. 



Do not let your dog acquire the habit of 

 eating anywhere else except at home, out 

 of his own dish, and at the regular time. 

 Punish him promptly and severely if he 

 attempts to pick up anything outdoors. 

 This training may save him later from 

 the horrible death of poisoning. 



Bones and the Dog 



We do not care greatly to feed bones to 

 dogs, altho in this respect we are guilty of 

 rank heresy. Dogs like to chew and eat 

 bones ; yet in many cases these bones do 

 damage to the intestines. 



Bones should be well cooked and should 

 be large. Small bones should not be given 

 to the dog for he will gulp these down. 

 Chicken bones, rabbit bones and fish bones 

 should never be fed, regardless of size. 

 These break into sharp points ; they may 

 lodge in the throat or tear the intestines. 



Elements of Canine Diet 



What should a dog eat? Today the dog 

 is acquiring all the earmarks and mouth- 

 marks of civilization and like his human 

 examples, eats most anything. However, 

 the day has passed when the table scraps 

 or whatever is left over, form the com- 

 plete diet of the dog. 



There are three general food groups— 1. 

 proteins or nitrogen ; 2. carbohydrates or 

 starches ; 3. fats and oils. 



Do not pay too much attention to vita- 

 mins. Their scarcity has been exaggerated. 

 If one feeds the foods which are mentioned 

 hereinafter, all the vitamins will be con- 

 tained in the diet. However, conditioners 



