WHELPING. 141 



WHELPING. 



Natural instinct generally shows itself in tlie bitch, 

 leading her to seek retirement, to keep more quiet, to 

 eat less, etc. 



When the brood bitch is one of a kennel, her instincts 

 should be assisted. She should be allowed an entirely 

 separate abode, out of sight of all other dogs, and given 

 lighter food, especially if her appetite is capricious. A 

 meal of porridge and milk tends to open the bowels; but 

 if they are confined, a dose of castor oil is demanded, or 

 an injection of warm soap-suds with castor oil. 



The latter is preferable if the bitch's stomach is not in 

 first-rate condition. Medicine is to be avoided if possible, 

 as there is no sense in prematurely distui'bing a nature 

 that must soon be put to a great strain. Actual constipa- 

 tion should not be allowed in the brood bitch at any time, 

 above all toward the close, since a full bowel must prove a 

 great mechanical hindrance to the passage outward of the 

 young, not to speak of the general disturbance to health. 



Some bitches become very nervous, almost maniacal, 

 just before whelping. Soothing, quiet, even darkness, 

 help such ; but if these do not suftice, a dose of twenty 

 grains of bromide of' potassium may be gi\'en with safety. 

 However, medical treatment will be considered in another 

 part of this work. 



While a bitch should be allowed considerable freedom 

 in the choice of her whelping-place, there is a limit to this. 

 If the animal be left in a fair-sized apartment, such as a 

 " stall " or " loose box " in a stable, out of sight and out 

 of hearing, if possible, of other dogs, given some straw in 



