148 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



that she shall not know what has become of her offspring. 

 It is important that the milk glands of the mother be 

 relieved from distention in those cases where it is found 

 desirable to remove puppies while the bitch is in full milk. 

 One at least had better be left. If not, the secretion of 

 milk should be limited by giving laxatives, dry food, etc. 

 At first, after the birth of puppies, there may be an abun- 

 dant and rapid secretion, and if this be not removed by 

 the nursing of a puppy, with or without aid by the hand, 

 febrile reaction may be severe, or even caking or inflam- 

 mation of the mammary glands may occur. 



The method of drying up the milk, which is really 

 preventing its secretion, will be considered shortly. 



THE CARE OF THE BROOD BITOH AFTER WHELPINQ. 



In anticipation of febrile reaction or milk fever, it is 

 well to feed lightly, both as to quantity and quality, for 

 the first twenty-four hours or longer, unless the bitch 

 shows great exhaustion, when easily digested but concen- 

 trated nourishment is demanded ; so that gruel, milk, 

 eggs beaten up with milk, stale bread and milk, etc., are 

 ordinarily indicated. But some bitches dislike such food 

 even when prepared in the nicest way, and^ as a rule, 

 unless there is positive fever or other contra-indication, 

 their tastes may be consulted with little risk — at all events, 

 in moderation. 



The stools should be especially looked to, as they are 

 an index to the state of the digestion. Constipation is se- 

 rious, and diarrhoea must be checked, or the strength of 

 the bitch will suffer and her milk possibly fail. However, 

 a relaxed condition for one or two days is rather to be 



