644 THE BOOK OF THE DOG 



eyes you can generally tell whether or not a dog is aged. But there is no certain method of 

 determining a dog's age from examination. 



The gums of the dog are hard and solid to the touch, and firmly embrace each tooth, 

 and more or less surround each separate tusk. The mucous membrane of both the gums and 

 the inside of the cheek, as well as the hard palate or roof of the mouth, is generally patched 

 with black and sometimes wholly black. 



The soft palate, or curtain that guards the entrance to the gullet, is in the dog broad and 

 short and has little or no uvula ; the opening from the mouth into the pharynx and larynx is 

 therefore capacious and freely admits either food or air; this latter being so extremely 

 necessary to the animal after a hard run, when he wants to do a deal of breathing in a short 

 time. 



The tongue of the dog differs considerably from that of other animals. It is very long 

 and soft, and extremely mobile. It is covered with long silky papillae, which give it its peculiar 

 smoothness, so different from the rough tongue of the cat, with its horny recurvent papillae. 

 Erectile tissue enters into the formation of the dog's tongue when the animal is heated or tired 

 and enervated, the nerves lose much of their power over the organ, and it lolls from the 

 mouth limp and flaccid ; but even then it is not without its use, for all the glands that open into 

 the mouth being for the time congested, there is a free flow of saliva, which trickles over the 

 tongue and drops quite clear away from the coat, thus cooling the animal. 



The lips in the dog are thin and pliant : sometimes tight, as in the Bull-terrier, sometimes 

 flewed, long, and pendent, as in the Blood-hound. Externally the upper lip is grooved in the 

 median line, and at the lower edge at the back parts is beautifully vandyked with long papillae 

 all along its free surface. 



I. General Treatment of tlie Teeth. 



We presume the dog is to a great extent happily free from what Burns well names " the 

 deil o* a' diseases," toothache. Probably at times he does suffer in this way, but he says 

 little about it. Loose and carious teeth are, however, of very frequent occurrence, often exist- 

 ing as one of the symptoms of either dyspepsia or intestinal worms, more especially in 

 pampered pets, who are allowed to eat what and when they choose. 



As a rule, puppies shed their milk-teeth without any trouble. Nevertheless, if any one has 

 a litter of valuable pups he will be consulting his own interest by occasionally having a glance 

 at their mouths. The milk-teeth, after getting loose, sometimes get fixed again. This is a 

 matter that wants looking to, for the presence of milk-teeth often deflects and renders irregular 

 the growing permanent teeth. Whenever, then, you find a milk-tooth loose, try to extract it ; 

 this can generally be done with the finger and thumb covered with the corner of a handker- 

 chief. If, however, the tooth has been allowed to remain so long in the jaw as to become 

 re-fixed, its extraction becomes rather more difficult, and requires instrumental assistance. Use 

 what you like to aid you; a handy man can work with any kind of tools. 



After extracting the tooth you may touch the gums with a solution of tincture of myrrh 

 and water, equal parts. As your dog grows up, if you want him to retain his dental apparatus 

 to a goodly old age, you must trust to regular and wholesome feeding, and never permit him 

 to carry stones, nor to indulge in the filthy habit of chewing wood. For show dogs powdered 

 charcoal should be used to clean the teeth, with a moderately hard brush, but tartar should 

 never be allowed to remain on the teeth of any dog one values. It ought to be scraped off, or it 

 will give rise to disease. 



