30 THE CARE OF YOUNG PUPPIES 



wanted, and to obtain this we must exercise a good 

 deal of care. Some people add bone meal to the 

 food, without considering that it is by no means well 

 assimilated, and that a large proportion of it is 

 simply waste. Precipitated phosphate of lime con- 

 tains all the necessary constituents for the forma- 

 tion of bone, and it is not wasteful. I make a 

 practice of giving a level teaspoonful once a day to 

 the mother for at least a month before the puppies 

 are born, and when they are six weeks old I 

 administer the same powder to the puppies them- 

 selves, one teaspoonful being sufficient at first for 

 every four puppies, say, of collie size and upwards. 

 This may be gradually increased until the end of 

 three months, by which time each puppy should 

 be having half a spoonful twice a day in its food. 

 If the little ones are not thriving, a small quantity 

 of cod-liver oil will often work wonders, but as this 

 is relaxing in its effect, they require watching and 

 the dose regulating accordingly. Many people swear 

 by Parrish's Food, for, which there is undoubtedly 

 much to be said. 



Internal parasites are the chief plague of young 

 life, frequently making their appearance within three 

 or four weeks of birth. If a puppy becomes much 

 distended after feeding and shows signs of discom- 

 fort and is thin and unthrifty -looking, you may be 

 quite sure that a vermifuge is indicated, and that 

 unless it is given the little creature will die. Several 

 patent mixtures are sold which are quite efficacious 

 in their action, one of the safest I know being the 

 Ruby. If, however, you prefer to make up your own 

 medicine, I cannot do better than recommend to 

 you the prescription given by " Ashmont " in his 



