MISCELLANEOUS I ' 21 % 



Bone Swallowed.— If a dog has swallowed a small bone, a chicken 

 splinter, for instance ,and shows signs of trouble, it is a good plan to give a 

 bolus of mashed potato or soft crumb bread. This will generally aid the 

 passage of the bone. 



*Age to Spay Bitches. — "At what age is it best to spay a bitch? Can 

 a person perform the operation himself? If so, shall be thankful for the 

 information on how to proceed?" 



Answer. — "The operation of spaying a bitch is usually undertaken at 

 the age of four to six months. I do not advise such an interference with 

 Nature, however. Upon maturity the spayed bitch or castrated dog becomes 

 unduly fat and lazy, and lacks enthusiasm, ambition and sagacity. Most 

 assuredly such an operation must be attended to by a competent veterinrian. 

 Clipping Overgrown Toe Nails. — Toy dogs that have little or no exercise 

 out of doors and do not get a chance to get their nails wore down by con- 

 tact with the street are often troubled with this, and neglected cases where 

 the nails curl around and grow into the flesh are very painful, fester, 

 causing soreness and lameness. Cut off the ends of the nails with a pair 

 of sharp nippers, that you can buy at any hardware store — but not too 

 close. Do this same as you do your finger nails, but with your dog do it 

 about every two weeks, avoiding cutting into the quick part, you can easily 

 do this right. by being careful. 



Dogs Killing Chickens. — Should your dog acquire this very bad habit 

 you can break him of it, which you should do at once, as he has no right to 

 do this, and perhaps cause trouble with you and your neighbors. Catch 

 him in the act, give him a good whipping and then take the chicken he 

 has killed and fasten it securely around his neck so he can't scratch it off, 

 and make him wear this chicken for a necklace for a week, or until the 

 chicken has become so decayed that the odor will cause him such an intense 

 dislike for fowl that anything else would smell more sweet. This is an 

 infallible cure if you can fasten chicken on so securely that he can't 

 get rid of it. 



Rheumatism. — Terrier dog, about four years, has gradually developed 

 great weakness in the hind-quarters. He shakes when he is standing and 

 can only just manage to get on to a low chair, dragging the back legs up 

 behind him. His appetite is good and he is in good condition, and his 

 bowels are all right. He can run quite well, but walks rather stiffly. He 

 sleeps a good deal. Rather small, weight about 20 lbs. 



Answer. — In all probability this weakness is due to rheumatism, and 

 I advise you to first give some medicine for this, say, a five grain tabloid 

 of aspirin three times a day after food. This may be continued for four 

 or five days or even a week, then afterwards give a nerve stimulant if the 

 dog is still weak in the legs, as two drops of tincture of nux vomica in a 

 dessertspoonful of water three times a day after food. Keep the bowels 

 open, and avoid meat for a time. See Rheumatism). 



Sore Feet in Hunting Dogs. — Dogs that travel much on hard, dry roads, 

 as Dalmatians often do, and sporting dogs hunting over rough ground, short 

 stubble, or stumpy heather, are apt to get the spongy, elastic pads of the 

 feet contused and worn thin. The treatment depends on the extent of 

 the injury. 



If the case is severe, first apply a poultice of half bran and half boiled 

 turnips. Sometimes the inflammation is great, and the feet become swol- 

 len, hot, and painful, so that the dog cannot stand, and the general health 

 suffers. Feverishness and loss of appetite reduce his strength, matter forms 

 in the feet, or the soles slough off. In such cases linseed meal should be 

 added to the other ingredients of the poultice, and a little olive oil poured 

 over its surface. The dog should have a mild aperient, a dose of fever 

 mixture three or four times a day, and be kept on a light diet. It may be 

 necessary, for the more speedy relief of the dog, to let the matter out with 

 the lanset, and in all respects these cases should be treated as ulcers. Dogs 

 long confined should not be at once run much on hard roads or worked 

 on rough ground, but their feet gradually hardened by daily increased 

 exercise. 



