312 WASHING OF DOGS. 



be sprinkled with equal parts of crude sal ammoniac and 

 powdered savine ; which commonly effects their removal. 



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Washing of Dogs. 



This becomes, under some circumstances, a very necessary 

 practice, and, when judiciously manag-ed, is salutary: but, 

 when otherwise, it is productive of more mischief than per- 

 sons are aware of. There is not a more fertile source of dis- 

 ease to dog-s, than suffering* their coats to remain wet after 

 washing- or bathing*. In the first place, it subjects those who 

 are unused to it to colds, which end frequently in distem- 

 per, inflammations, or asthma ; and in those to whom the 

 practice is common, it is scarcely less pernicious ; for, thoug-h 

 it may not occasion immediate illness, it nevertheless, in the 

 end, frequently produces canker or mange. It may be ob- 

 served, as a proof of this, that dog-s who often go into the 

 water are seldom without some affection of this kind. Can- 

 ker, particularly, is almost confined to dogs who swim much, 

 or who are washed often, without being properly dried after- 

 wards : it should, therefore, be most attentively observed, 

 when dogs are washed, that they are also carefully dried 

 after it. Very small dogs, for this purpose, may be wrapped 

 up in a blanket: large dogs, after being well rubbed, may 

 be permitted to run into a stable among clean straw, which 

 is a very excellent means of drying them, and, from its 

 warmth, a very safe one. 



It should be remembered that, in ascertaining the proper 

 warmth of the water for the washing of dogs, the heat, 

 which appears trifling to the hand of a servant always used 

 to dabbling in suds, will scald an animal unused to any thing 

 but cold water. Washing should not be repeated oftener 

 than once a week, even with the best care ; for it certainly 

 promotes mange and canker. Rubbing the skin with a flan- 

 nel and dry bran is better. In slight rednesses of the skin. 



