154 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



Very soon easily digested solid food, as boiled rice, 

 well-cooked oatmeal porridge, and stale bread, may be add- 

 ed to the milk ; and in a few days more a little broth, rather 

 weak and free from fat, may replace part of the milk, etc. 



But if the puppies bloat under any food, either they 

 have worms or the food is not agreeing with them in 

 quality or quantity. Gradual adaptation, with simplicity 

 yet some variety, is the key to successful puppy feeding 

 at this period. 



The weaning usually may be accomplished in about 

 ten days, and it is a critical period, during which many 

 puppies are lost. If the whelps do not seem to thrive as 

 they ought, the addition of a few drops of cod-liver oil 

 for each may prove very helpful. 



The difficulties of this and the period of the succeed- 

 ing weeks arise in part from the fact that the mother, 

 that up to this time has been a most faithful groom and 

 scavenger, begins to weary of this no longer very pleasant 

 work. The canine infants evacuate the bladder and bow- 

 els frequently, hence their nest is soon badly fouled, they 

 themselves get dirty, the air is poisoned, and a whole chain 

 of evils sets in, the end of which is not infrequently death, 

 though the average observer may not always see the con- 

 nection. 



One source of mischief, and among the greatest, has 

 received surprisingly little attention in writings on the 

 management of the dog ; but in the author's opinion it is 

 one of the gravest of all. 



All puppies, as soon as they begin to feed, and espe- 

 cially after they have left the dam entirely, get smeared 

 about the head parts with the food used. True, they will 



