50 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



froth ; most dogs eat grass and soon feel better, re 

 quiring no medicine ; but if appetite does not return 

 quickly, give a bismuth-and-soda pill every four hours, 

 the proportion being three grains of bicarbonate of soda 

 to one grain of carbonate of bismuth. 



Indigestion is by no means uncommon among toy 

 dogs, and frequently leads to the odious habit of eating 

 horrible things in the street, about which dog owners 

 sometimes complain, and with reason. The presence 

 of worms leads up to this habit, too, and where it 

 exists they may be first suspected ; and then, if their 

 existence is disproved, indigestion comes in as the 

 likely factor. Its treatment is not difficult, but the 

 owner must make up her mind to persevere, and to 

 feed her dog herself no servant, no matter how care- 

 ful, possesses judgment enough to deal with a case 

 of this kind. Absolute regularity in feeding is neces- 

 sary ; the meals must be small, yet very nourishing, 

 and the dog should not be allowed to drink imme- 

 diately after eating. A digestive tonic containing 

 nux vomica is almost invariably useful, but it is not 

 a medicine which can be prescribed at large, for nux 

 vomica is in itself a dangerous drug, and acts much 

 more freely upon some dogs than upon others, making 

 it most unwise to prescribe " so much " for all dogs 

 alike. With this proviso, I will give a prescription 

 intended for a Yorkshire terrier weighing about 6 Ibs., 

 which may be safely tried upon toys between 5 Ibs. and 

 8 Ibs. weight, the quantity of this particular ingredient 

 being reduced by one-half for dogs between 4 Ibs. and 

 5 Ibs. and by two-thirds for toy puppies, upon whom 

 its administration must be watched with extra vigi- 

 lance : fy pulv. nucis vom., J gr. ; pulv. radix gen- 

 tianae, I gr. ; carb. bismuthi, 4 grs. ; bicarb, sodii, i J grs. ; 

 ferri carb. sacch., 3 grs. M. H. D. Exhib. cum cib. 

 bis vel ter die. A pill somewhat similar, but in some 

 respects superior to this, is sold as one of the Kanofelin 

 remedies. 



