THE REARING OF YOUNG DOGS. 65 



the milk teeth give phice to the permanent set at six or seven 

 months. The testes do not descend into the scrotum till the third, 

 fourth, or fifth week, but they may be felt a week previously within 

 the abdomen, on each side of the penis. Dogs are often born 

 with supernumerary claws, among sportsmen called dew claws : 

 some of these have a corresponding metacarpal or metatarsal bone, 

 others are appendant only to the integuments. In either case 

 they should be taken off early. — See Operations, 



When many young of a litter are preserved, they should be 

 early accustomed to lap : milk which has been boiled and slightly 

 sweetened is proper ; when given raw it is apt to purge, and 

 sweetening it, makes it more nearly resemble the mother's milk. 

 Meat, also, cut fine may be early given, as it will materially save 

 the mother, and benefit the progeny also: clean litter, free 

 access of air, and room for exercise, are essentials to their well 

 doing. Young dogs should be early accustomed to restraint, with 

 a chain and collar ; otherwise, when they are accidentally tied up 

 it is apt to occasion great alarm : I have seen fits follow this. 

 Confinement, however, under any circumstance, should be only 

 occasional, and never long continued : thousands are rendered 

 weak, ricketty, and have their feet spread out into thin narrow 

 phalanges, by close and early confinement. 



Young dogs are liable to several diseases that are peculiar to 

 this stage of their existence. One of the most fatal of these is of 

 a tabid nature, and appears principally confined to some breeds, 

 particularly to terriers, pugs, the smaller kinds of spaniels, and 

 others of the diminutive races ; and more especially to such as 

 live luxuriously, and are closely confined. Among these, certain 

 individuals at each littering present young, either already diseased, 

 or with such a tendency to it, that the complaint alluded to soon 

 makes its appearance, and with greater certainty when they have 

 to combat with bad air, confined situation, and want of sufficient 

 nutriment. — See Diseases of Glands, Class V. 



Worms are very common in young dogs, perhaps few are 



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