AILMENTS AND ILLNESSES 49 



and any temperature over 100 degs. or 101 degs. the 

 former the dog's normal one is suspicious. The 

 easiest way of taking it is by inserting the instrument 

 between the thigh and the body, and, as it were, holding 

 these together, over it. Puppies will often refuse food 

 simply because their gums are sore from teething, and 

 here, again, it would be extremely foolish to let them go 

 on in a state of semi-starvation. When a puppy is- 

 seen to pick up his food with his front teeth, shake 

 each piece, and turn it over indifferently, it is a pretty 

 sure sign that he cannot eat comfortably ; if the natural 

 process of cutting the teeth is in fault, all that need be 

 done is to give minced meat and soft though dry food a 

 sponge cake will nearly always be willingly negotiated 

 and keep a watch to see that he gets enough to maintain 

 him in good condition and pull him through the critical 

 time ; if, as is sometimes the case with an older dog, 

 a too-lingering first tooth is setting up irritation and 

 needs extracting, the vet's services must be requisi- 

 tioned, as it is not advisable for any amateur to try 

 his hand at canine dentistry. The main characteristic 

 of the " new " or Stuttgart disease, or of gastritis, by 

 the way, is inability to take food, the mouth being 

 ulcerated, in addition to stomach complications ; and 

 here, again, commencing loss of appetite must be re- 

 garded with suspicion. Simple biliousness is not 

 common among properly-fed dogs, but is sometimes 

 brought on in individuals by what I may be so techni- 

 cally medical as to call idiosyncrasy to wit, inability 

 to digest certain foods. Many toy dogs cannot eat 

 vegetables, which of course are to all unnatural and 

 very indigestible, and others are invariably sick if they 

 are given milk, and the dog can no more help these 

 peculiarities than human beings similarly afflicted. 

 Biliousness, brought on either by over-eating, a chill 

 on the liver, or some unsuitable food, is easily recognized, 

 and here abstinence for a while is advisable. The 

 patient will be chilly, probably having cold paws, and 

 may be sick several times, producing only a little yellow 



