Pupping] 2 4" [Pupping 



of nourishment is required, if the bitch is to be 

 kept strong and the puppies fat. 



Very often, two or three days after parturition, 

 the bitch has diarrhoea. As a rule, it is not severe, 

 and passes off in the course of twenty-four hours. 

 Should it continue after this time, a dose of castor 

 oil and laudanum may be given. In small bitches, 

 as toys, a teaspoonful of the oil with three drops 

 of laudanum ; for terriers, a dessertspoonful of the 

 former and five drops of the latter ; collies, etc., a 

 tablespoonful, and ten drops of tincture of opium ; 

 and large bitches, two tablespoonfuls and ten 

 drops. The dose should be repeated in six 

 hours. If the diarrhoea continues after the oil has 

 worked off, from five 1 to twenty grains of bismuth 

 may be given three or four times a day, shaken dry 

 on the tongue. During the diarrhoea, the milk 

 should be thickened with arrowroot, and the soup 

 be given with rice instead of bread or biscuit. 



Some bitches, when due to pup, and though 

 in good health and fairly strong, have not sufficient 

 labour pains to bring forth their young ; the water- 

 bag may break and there is the usual green- 

 coloured discharge, but the throes are so slight 

 as to be of little use. Of course, once the foetal 

 membrane is broken, and the fluid escapes, the 

 puppy soon dies if not born ; therefore, it is 

 necessary to use means to stimulate the con- 

 traction of the womb — in other words, to induce 

 labour pains — and for this there is nothing better 

 than ergotine, which is a strong extract of ergot of 

 rye. Until recently the latter was used, the seed 

 1 According to the size of the dog. See p. 86. 



