4.2 DISEASES OF DOGS. 



• Should a dog's nose at any time feel dry and 

 warm, it may be taken for granted tliat the animal 

 is, to use a phrase of the stable, amiss. In such 

 case it will be found that his sense of smelling is 

 very much impaired ; in fact, there is no better 

 -criterion of a dog's health than the state of his 

 nose. If it feel cold and moist to the palm of 

 the hand, it is more than likely that all is right ; 

 but if dry and vrarm, recourse sliould be had at 

 once to medicine. 



Dogs Avliich run loose, A\hich is by far the best 

 plan when practicable, occasionally gorge them- 

 selves with carrion ; they will scent it a very long- 

 distance, and often make a journey at night to 

 feed upon it. There is nothing v.ill sooner injure 

 the olfactory organs than feeding on carrion ; and 

 it has also a tendency to produce mange, as well as 

 otlier disease, by over-heating the blood. Besides, 

 Avlien dogs stray at night they arc sometimes away 

 from home -^hen their services are required, and 

 often get into mischief, especially in a country 

 where there are many sheep ; if a dog once cats 

 part of a dead lamb or sheep, it is a hundred to 

 one but he takes to worrying when temptation 

 comes in his way. 



Some dogs, even pointers, are fond of going 

 into water ; and some will swim about in it for 

 hours together. There is no harm whatever in 

 this so long as the -weather is warm ; but it is a 



