EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS 



DISEASES 



Administering Medicine. — It is foolish to force medicine down a dog's 

 throat if he can be "tricked" into taking it naturally, without even being 

 aware that he is doing so. Even when force is necessary there is no need 

 for opening a dog's teeth when liquid is to be given, for if poured into the 

 patient's cheek it will drain through the teeth. When a dog refuses to swal- 

 low whatever is placed in his mouth — as he is liable to do — all that is neces- 

 sary is to hold his head up and close his nostrils and jaws for a couple of 

 seconds. 



Giving pills to some dogs is a more difficult matter. Hold the dog's 

 head well up, open mouth with your left hand, and place the pill well down 

 his throat on the base of the tongue, quickly close his jaws for a second 

 and slightly chuck your hand or finger agaist his throat and he is bound 

 to make a gulp and swallow it. Some dogs are very cute and will keep the 

 pill inside or on one side and when you are not looking will quickly spit 

 it out, so watch them for a minute or so to be sure the pill has gone down. 

 Pills can also be given hid in a piece of meat (providing the dog is not so 

 sick that he has refused food), but if you give them pills this way, fool 

 the dog by giving him first a few pieces of meat one at a time, having your 

 prepared piece handy when he will not suspect and will take it, following 

 it up with a few more pieces of meat. 



A great many dogs will take — when not too sick — castor oil, cod liver 

 oil, syrup of phosphates, and many powders even, in a little savory broth or 

 porridge. When powders are refused in food, mix them in a little butter, 

 honey or syrup, and place well back on the tongue. With large and pow- 

 erful dogs the mouth can be held open by twisting a towel around the 

 upper jaw, and an assistant is generally necessary except with small toy 

 dogs, which can be held tightly between the knees while giving the med- 

 icine. As soon as the medicine is placed on the tongue, close the mouth 

 and hold it shut till dog is seen to swallow, but must not be held so as to 

 interfere with his breathing through the nostrils. The best way to give 

 liquid medicine is to gently raise the dog's head and form a pouch or pocket 

 by drawing outwards -and slightly upwards the lower lip at the corner of 

 the mouth, and gradually pouring into the funnel thus formed. 



Gelatine capsuls are very handy in administering powders. If the 

 dose is bulky it is better to divide it up among several small capsules than 

 it is to try to inclose it in a single large one. Powders are also adminis- 

 tered by mixing with butter, syrup or glycerine. 



Injections. — Use a rubber syringe, never a glass one, as they are dan- 

 gerous. A bulb syringe with a flexible tube two or three inches long I find 



