274 KENNEL SECRETS. 



them out with the fingers and press them into the little 

 ones' mouths. 



In extremely rare instances a teat is so much shorter 

 than usual the fingers cannot grasp it, and the following 

 means — often resorted to in like cases in human mothers 

 — must be employed: Take a beer or ginger ale bottle 

 and rinse it with very hot water. Dip the neck, merely, 

 in cold water and allow it to remain in the same for about 

 ten seconds ; then surround the depressed teat with the 

 mouth of the bottle and maintain gentle but firm pressure 

 against the breast. As the bottle cools the teat will be 

 drawn up into the neck, and after being fixed there for 

 ten or fifteen minutes it will when released very generally 

 project enough to Enable a puppy to obtain a firm hold. 



Extremely long and misshapen teats are sometimes en- 

 countered, and with these nothing can be done in the way 

 of treatment. Fortunately, however, seldom more than 

 two or three such are found on the same mother ; and 

 although the puppies may refuse them at first, as a rule 

 they take kindly to them in the course of a few days — 

 that is, unless, as is sometimes the case, the breasts from 

 which they project are incapable of secreting milk. 



About the third week, in consequence of being bitten 

 and scratched by the puppies, the teats as well as the 

 breasts often become quite sore, and in fact with some 

 Varieties the mothers generally require much persuasion 

 at this period before they will allow themselves to be 

 nursed, so painful is the operation. 



In such cases weaning should be effected as soon as 

 possible consistent with the welfare of the puppies ; and 

 until then the treatment should be the application of the 

 so-called apple-butter, which can be made as follows. 

 Remove the skin and core of an apple of medium size. 

 Slice and crush in a mortar, and put into a frying-pan. 



