WEANING PUPPIES. 



153 



be helped in her duties after the third week. This should 

 be done very gradually, for the change from mother's milk 

 to any other food implies a grave strain on these delicate 

 stomachs. 



It now and then happens that an attempt must be 

 made to hand-feed puppies from the first, when a foster- 

 mother can not be secured. With one this may be man- 

 aged, just as an infant is fed from a bottle, but at best it is 

 of doubtful success, and with a whole litter it requires a 

 patience almost beyond human nature. 



The only suitable first food of the puppy is, of course, 

 that most like what he has had viz., milk and practi- 

 cally this must be cow's milk. Experience shows that 

 this can not at first be given undiluted, not because it is 

 richer than bitch's milk for the following table shows 

 that the latter far exceeds most other kinds of milk in 

 nutritive qualities but because the stomach, etc., can not 

 at once adapt itself to the new food. 



Percentage Composition of Milk. 



About one half water for a couple of days, gradually 

 strengthened to full quality, will suit best. Puppies soon 

 learn to lap milk, which should, of course, be made all 

 the more like that of the mother by being warmed, and a 

 little sugar added for a few days. 



