VEGETABLE FOODS. 47 



But throughout puppyhood the evil effects of too much 

 starch in the diet are more pronounced than in mature 

 life, and they are generally manifested by "bloating " and 

 diarrhoea, the results of delay in the process of digestion 

 and consequent fermentation and generation of gas. 



All this points to one of the most potent causes of the 

 terrible mortality among young puppies, which will only 

 lessen greatly when breeders learn that these little ones 

 should have in proportion a more generous quantity of 

 animal food — if not milk, then meat — than matured 

 dogs, and that while starchy foods are valuable accesso- 

 ries, only in extremely rare instances are they sufficient 

 for support. 



Starch is composed of solid granules which are not 

 digestible until after they have been long cooked and 

 softened down. And it is largely because this process 

 is incomplete that starchy foods so often prove failures in 

 feeding dogs. But let them be cooked thoroughly and 

 used judiciously — always with nutritive foods — and they 

 can but prove useful and wholesome accessories. 



Regarding the so-called " dog cakes " or " dog biscuits,** 

 since the first edition of this book their manufacture has 

 become such an industry and the competition so great, 

 they are not generally of a quality deserving commenda- 

 tion, as formerly. They are a very good accessory food ; 

 but the claim that any brand constitutes or is a near ap- 

 proach to an ideal food is a rank absurdity. They are 

 said to contain beef, and yet the writer has never been able 

 to find even a trace of any during his analyses. 



They are practically bread, and possibly have nearly the 

 nutritive value of what is known as " graham bread " of 

 the table. Over that and other breads they possess an 

 advantage, however, the result of their being so long and 

 thoroughly cooked. The starches of which they princi- 



