BEFORE WHELPING. 23 1 



tion, premature whelping might occur in consequence of 

 the twisting and squeezing. And of all experiences likely 

 to cause this accident there are but few more potent than 

 fights — not so much because of such injuries as bruises 

 and lacerations, but because of the great shocks inflicted 

 upon the nervous and circulatory systems. 



While these precautions are imperative in every instance 

 where signs indicative of pregnancy are present, they may 

 properly be instituted in all cases, and persisted in un- 

 til it is plainly evident that they are unnecessary, — the 

 mating having been unsuccessful. And the reader who 

 has yet to acquire an experience in breeding will do well 

 to bear in mind the fact that doubtful cases are not infre- 

 quent ; also, that in occasional instances^it will be impossi- 

 ble for him to determine with positive certainty before the 

 end of the ninth week whether or not pregnancy exists. 



The assertion has been made that in most bitches there 

 occur changes in demeanor which are suggestive of preg- 

 nancy, yet the writer has never been able to detect any of 

 the slightest diagnostic importance, and in his experience 

 the first sign of value is a modification in the size of the 

 uterus. This is scarcely ever appreciable to the touch of 

 a skilful examiner before the third week, and frequently 

 difficulties are encountered v/hich deny it to him until a 

 much later period, while in the most favorable cases he 

 who is inexperienced can scarcely ever make out an en- 

 larged uterus before the fourth week ; and very generally 

 he finds it impossible to do so before the fifth or sixth 

 week. 



To those unfamiliar with this means of diagnosis the 

 earliest sign of value is an enlargement of the abdomen ; 

 and this is generally manifested near the fifth week, al- 

 though it may be delayed for a week or more, and it may 

 even be unappreciable to the ordinary eye up to the date 



