]58 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



With respect to treatment, it is seldom medicine can be given by the mouth in 

 these cases, but when it is possible, a large dose of bromide of potassium say one 

 scruple for a bitch the size of a fox terrier, in a tablespoonful of water, should be 

 given. Great care must be used in giving the liquid, or the patient will be choked. 

 The bromide may be repeated in an hour. When it is impossible to give the medi- 

 cine by the mouth, an enema, containing hydrated chloral should be used. The 

 dose for a dog the size of a fox terrier, in an urgent case like this, should be half 

 a dram dissolved in about four tablespoonfuls of warm water and given when 

 tepid. 



Smaller dogs say spaniels and Yorkshier terriers may have a scruple of 

 chloral dissolved, of course in less water. When the attack has passed off. to 

 prevent a recurrence it is advisable to give a course of bromide say from three 

 to five grains for dogs the size of toy spaniels and fox terriers in a little water 

 three or four times a day, and feed on a light diet, as bread and milk, or the 

 latter thickened with Benger's food. 



If the convulsions do return the puppies ought to be weaned and means taken 

 to disperse the milk. Trouble sometimes occurs in doing this even when the 

 puppies have been gradually weaned, and such is particularly the case when 

 bitches have milk without having puppies. Aperient medicines should always be 

 given, castor oil being the best. A full dose should be administered about every 

 lour days. The glands should be rubbed twice a day with camphorated spirits, 

 or the balsam of Peru ointment. What suits one dog does not always suit another, 

 therefore when the milk does not seem to be dispersing as quickly as it shomd, 

 other external remedies may be tried, as rubbing the glands with whisky or 

 brandy, or even eau-de-cologne, and I have often had good success by dabbing the 

 glands frequently with the following simple lotion applied cold: 



Recipe. Methylated spirits (wood alcohol) one ounce; cold water eight ounces. 



The milk, unless it is secreted in very large quantities, and is causing pain, 

 or is becoming hard, should not be drawn off, as to do so only stimulates the secre- 

 tion. Sometimes these cases are extremely obstinate and will last five or six 

 weeks, or even longer. In such instances, iodide of soda is useful in doses from 

 half to two grains, according to the size of the bitch, given in a little water, and 

 repeated twice daily. The diet in these cases should be light and of a stimulating 

 character, as bread and milk, dry biscuits, milk pudding, etc." 



One never knows when some untoward circumstance will arise in parturition. 

 Pups come the wrong way, are too large, or something or other happens thai non- 

 pluses even the best of us sometimes. 



A bitch should be made to come out to empty herself, if only for a few mo- 

 ments on the first day, or if she whelps at night, then on the next day, as many 

 bitches through strong maternal instinct, love for their puppies, and through fear 

 that some harm may befall her children, will .often "hold in" and damage result 

 from no relief to the kidneys or stomach. 



The following is copied from the American Field, and is valuable on this 

 subject: 



"Bitches at such times often become a little distressed, when their labor is at 

 hand, and will crawl or creep into any hole or corner in order to seek relief, and 

 will sometimes whelp in the most unsuitable places on a cold floor, for instance. 

 The bench should be protected on all sides, so that the puppies are not subject 

 to the danger of being thrown "overboard," and the bench should not be too large, 

 for fear of the puppies getting pushed away from their dam and getting cold, 

 before they are properly dry. Dry, clean wheat straw makes the best bedding. 



