8 GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 



body, exerts an important influence on the solution of various other ingre- 

 dients with which it is associated, and the blood globules are maintained 

 by it in a state of integrity. Since common salt is so universally present 

 in all parts of the body, it is an important ingredient of food. It occurs in 

 all animal and vegetable food as well, though in smaller amount in the 

 latter, and acts in a favorable manner as a condiment, by exciting digestion, 

 and assisting in this way the solution of the food. 



In connection with the subject of feeding, reference to the appetite is 

 pertinent. Remember dogs will eat when hungry. For them to refuse a 

 meal occasionally, means nothing. Evidence is not wanting where they 

 have passed days and even weeks in confinement without food, and yet 

 recovered without injury from their long fast. If food is placed before the 

 animal and he turns from it, something else should be prepared to tempt 

 him. If he still declines, it should be removed and another attempt be 

 made at his next regular time of feeding. If a dog is in good health, 

 simply dainty, this method repeated again and again, if needed, will prove 

 effectual, and he will finally eat whatever may be offered him. 



Regularity in the hour of feeding should be observed. The number of 

 times to feed is a disputed question, with the weight of authority on the 

 side of once a day, at night, and all they can then eat. Owners must decide 

 for themselves, influenced by what has been their custom, the condition 

 of their animals, and the amount of work required of them. Where only 

 one dog is kept, no doubt in many instances it is over fed, especially if 

 allowed the freedom of the kitchen While the fact is apparent, that once 

 a day is all a dog actually needs to be fed, the question arises : would it 

 not be wiser to give him a little less at night, and a mere trifle in the 

 morning? It would seem thereby that the dangers of indigestion would 

 be lessened. 



It might be said that even of greater importance than good wholesome 

 food, is a constant supply of good fresh water. The system suffers more 

 rapidly when entirely deprived of fluids than when the solid food only is 

 withdrawn. Magendie found in his experiments on dogs subjected to 

 fasting, that if the animals were supplied with water alone, they lived six, 

 eight, and even ten days longer than if they were deprived the same time 

 of both solid and liquid food. 



Some will dissent from this theory of feeding, arguing that domestica- 

 tion has wrought changes in the canine race which make meat no longer 

 a necessity. To them be it said, that if the dog, since recalled from his 

 vicious life, has as the companion of man been so changed in nature, 

 instincts, constitution and habits , if he now, like man, is omnivorous, even 

 then organic substances found only in animal food are as essential to the 

 maintenance of the integrity of the body. 



