60 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



article. I wrote Dr. Abbott then, got him interested as to his remedies for kennel 

 use, to help save the dogs, and he' becoming interested, being as all good people 

 ure. lovers of dogs. He has prepared and put the tablets up expressly for dogs, 

 calling them Abbott's Diarrhea Cure. As a guide for proper dose, I will say 

 that I gave a pug puppy, two months old, half a tablet every two hours until the 

 proper effect had been obtained, 'the feces voided of a natural color, partly shaped 

 and devoid of the obnoxious odor present in dysentery. Col. Williams wrote me that 

 for adult dogs the size of a pointer or foxhound; he has given one tablet four 

 times a day, while for puppies a third 4 of a tat et, but I find a half tablet safe for 

 puppies every two hours: when bow r els getting better, give less frequently. 

 Directions on box read "Every two to six hours." And in using this remedy, as 

 in all remedies, watch the case and use judgment, the idea being to not overdo 

 the matter and bind dog up too -tight. I carry these tablets in stock and can 

 them by return mail. See their page advertisement elsewhere. 



DEW CLAWS. Darwin describes as "accidental monstrosities," yet a gen- 

 eral opinion prevails that dew claws are the peculiar inheritance of a few breeds 

 of dogs, and from this false idea possession or non-possession of these now utterly 

 useless, clumsy and ugly appendages has been set up as a test of purity or 

 impurity of breeding in specimens of the variety of which they are wrongly 

 ascribed ais being the peculiar property. The deg claw is attached to a rudiment, 

 more or less developed, of an additamentary phalange or toe situated on the inner 

 side, one to each foot, distinct fi?6m and considerably above the other toes. 



These additional toes are frequently unattached to any corresponding meta- 

 carpal or metatarsal bone, having only a ligamentary union, so that the term is 

 equally applicable to the extra toe often seen on the fore leg; and, as they are 

 neither useful nor ornamental, I would in all cases have them removed, being 

 only a disfigurement in any breed. This should be done when the pups are with 

 the dam, as she will take care of the wound and heal it up by licking it; and this 

 can be easily done with a pair of strong scissors. If left till the dog is older, 

 they are liable to bleed a good deal, and the pain, of course, is greater; in such 

 case, the wound produced by the excision should be at once well saturated with 

 friars' balsam. If it is thought well to remove the nail only, that can be done 

 by pulling it out with a pair of nippers. 



DEBILITY AND WASTING. It happens sometimes that a dog gradually be- 

 comes weak and wasting in flesh without any apparent cause. In such cases a con- 

 tinued treatment of Sergeant's Condition Pills, or Clayton's, are just what this dog 

 needs, and will be productive of good results. Add to his diet some raw lean meat 

 cut up fine twice a day, with a dose of pepsin porci sprinkled over each portion. 

 Also look for any symptoms of divergence from health which may indicate the coin- 

 ing of the trouble. 



DOCKING TAILS. While this is not a disease, yet it happens frequently that 

 puppies suffer not a little from this being clumsily done. It is not a painful opera- 

 tion if properly done and before puppy is weaned. Fox terriers, poodles and a few 

 other breeds should have their tails docked to conform to present bench show 

 requirements. An old superstition exists with some people yet that a tail must be 

 bitten off, which is simply erroneous and disgusting. Never use a shears or scissors 

 as the pinching before they cut would cause more pain than the cutting. Before 

 you are ready -to cut the tail get half an ounce of tincture of iron. Have a solid 

 block or table, have an assistant hold the puppy up to it with its tail laid on the 



