242 KENNEL SECRETS. 



paralyzed. A familiarity with this fact has doubtless led 

 to the inference that constipation from the same cause 

 must necessarily exist in bitches in pup and as urgently 

 requires treatment. Yet no intimate knowledge of canine 

 anatomy is necessary to detect its fallacy, and certainly 

 experience tells that severe constipation is very rare in 

 pregnant bitches that are healthy and have been well 

 cared for. 



Therefore let the reader put away this frozen notion 

 that the bowels of all about to whelp demand interference, 

 and that delivery will be difficult unless they are emptied 

 by artificial means. He can accept as a fact that only 

 when they are impacted with dry, hard waste, or, in other 

 words, only when very severe constipation exists will they 

 obstruct the birth of the puppies ; also, that all ordinary 

 accumulations will be readily expelled in the violent 

 straining induced by the labor pains long before the 

 first little one is sent into the world. He can accept, 

 moreover, that no sound mother that is allowed ample 

 exercise, is properly fed and has free access to good whole- 

 some drinking water is likely to be troubled with consti- 

 pation sufficient to retard labor. But should one so suffer, 

 an injection of half a cupful of warm sweet oil or a pint 

 of warm water is the only remedy he will be required 

 to use. 



