46 KENNEL SECRETS. 



Dogs are sometimes given rye in the bread trimmings 

 from the table. Some breeders, also, have a meal made 

 of equal parts of this grain, oats and corn, and bake the 

 same in cakes ; and this combination is said to act well on 

 hardy dogs that are given a very great amount of exer- 

 cise every day. 



Alone, however, it is not a serviceable food except as an 

 occasional change, and small quantities at long intervals 

 should be the rule, otherwise obstinate indigestion would 

 be likely to result. Nor should it be considered a " cor- 

 rective " — to overcome constipation — for green vege- 

 tables are more efficient, besides far more friendly to 

 digestion. 



Barley greatly resembles rye in nutritive power and 

 solubility, and a little that has been well boiled is now 

 and then quite right for a change if it is served with meat, 

 boiled tripe or the like, but any considerable quantity and 

 often is not advisable. 



The starchy foods that are likely to find their way into 

 the diet of dogs have now been considered, but before 

 leaving them there are still a few pertinent facts to 

 be brought out, and some already given can properly be 

 reverted to for the purpose of emphasis. 



Notwithstanding dogs are capable of digesting these 

 foods their powers are not without limit, and beyond the 

 fact that they might starve while yet their stomachs were 

 full, if too much of them is given not only will a large 

 proportion pass out of the body undigested but the bowels 

 will be weakened in their efforts to dispose of them. 



During early life the power to digest starchy foods 

 increases with the age — that is, puppies can digest and 

 otherwise properly dispose of a larger proportion compara- 

 tively after they are four or five months old than they 

 could in the second and third months. 



