FEEDING OF DOGS. 171 



cienlly nutritious for all common purposes, and form, in this 

 way, an economical and wholesome food. 



When circumstances render it absolutely necessary to feed 

 principally on either barley or oatmeal, the heating effects 

 may be also greatly obviated by mixing it with buttermilk. 

 In all cases likewise of foulness, as mange, canker, &c., but- 

 termilk will be found an excellent cleanser. When also it is 

 necessary or convenient to feed upon potatoes, if they should 

 not be relished, a small proportion of greaves or other fatty 

 matter may be added, which will commonly render them suf- 

 ficiently attractive. 



In the feeding of favourites much error is frequently com- 

 mitted ; for, their tastes being consulted, they are too apt to 

 be wholly fed on flesh, and this in great quantities too. In 

 such cases, although the evil is acknowledged, yet it is alleged 

 that the animals will not eat any other food. But it will be 

 always in the power of those who feed them, to bring their 

 dogs to live on vegetables entirely even: this however can 

 only be effected, in some cases, by great determination and per- 

 severance. If the usual quantity of meat a dog eats, be minced 

 extremely fine, and a small portion of mashed potatoes be 

 mixed with it, it is not possible for the dog to separate the ani- 

 mal from the vegetable portion : when presented to him, if he 

 will not eat the mixture, let it remain until hunger obliges 

 him to do it. At each meal, a very small additional quantity 

 of potatoes may be added, and this practice, if persisted in, 

 will bring the animal at last to live almost wholly on pota- 

 toes, or any other vegetable that may be selected. In a me- 

 dical point of view, a vegetable diet is often very important. 

 In many cases a complete change of food forms the very best 

 alterative ; and, in others, it is a most excellent auxiliary to 

 the medical treatment. The cases that require a change from 

 an animal to a vegetable diet are frequent : all eruptive dis- 

 eases, or other affections arising from too fall living ; coughs 

 likewise, and various inflammatory complaints, render this 

 change essentiallv necessary to the health of the dog. 



M2 



