56 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



are those of an anaemic condition, as is fcetor of the 

 breath. Finally, the treatment of that over-rated 

 bugbear in the way of diseases, " Worms," is easily 

 summarised thus Meat feeding ; an iron tonic ; a 

 vermifuge after the tonic course, and not before. 



After male-fern capsules it is quite unnecessary to give 

 any aperient. Most inventors of " worm pills " and 

 the like order castor oil to be given after their boluses, 

 a terrible aggravation both to operator and patient. 



Aperients. Some people have an idea that it is desir- 

 able to dose dogs periodically, on the quaint old " spring- 

 medicine " principle, extended over all the year. No 

 greater mistake can be made. A dog should never be 

 given drugs of any kind unless really ill, and this it will 

 never be in the direction indicated, if it is properly fed 

 and regularly exercised. A dog's natural and proper 

 food is meat ; but the stimulus of distension must be 

 given to the intestine by adding some bulk of innutritious 

 food to the meat. We cannot give quite enough meat 

 to afford this stimulus constantly, because by doing so 

 we should overload the system. In a state of nature 

 dogs ate the fur and skins of their prey, like other 

 carnivora : now we must give them a certain proportion, 

 but only a small one, of biscuits made of wheat (not 

 of oatmeal or Indian corn meal, which are too indi- 

 gestible) or of brown bread, to provide bulk without 

 nourishment. They may, if any aperient be absolutely 

 necessary, have a meal of boiled liver, a teaspoonful 

 or two of pure olive oil poured over a little meat, or 

 given from a spoon, or some cod liver oil, which may 

 be voluntarily taken, and is equally efficacious. Milk 

 is very laxative, and sometimes, where there is no 

 'biliousness, a small saucerful makes a good aperient. 

 Always take a dog for his run at the same time of day, 

 wet or fine, and never lose sight of the fact that a well- 

 behaved clean little house-pet may bring upon itself 

 a dangerous attack of constipation by its good manners 

 if its appeal for a walk is ignored. 



