Your Dog and Your Cat 



using the forefinger to smear the oil around the 

 cavity and over the pup. If this does not produce 

 results in a short time the bitch will require surgical 

 aid. Under no circumstances should the bitch be 

 allowed more than twelve hours for delivering her 

 puppies. It is much safer to summon the doctor at 

 the end of six hours. 



In case the bitch does not show signs of whelping 

 on the sixty-third day, there is no cause for worry 

 providing she is eating regularly, shows no distress 

 and has no discharge from the vagina. As the 

 sixty-sixth day passes, if there is still no disturb- 

 ance in her condition and no evidence of an opening 

 of the womb, it can safely be decided that the bitch 

 is not in whelp. On the other hand, if the appetite 

 fails, the bitch becomes restless, languid and fever- 

 ish, any time after the fifty-eighth day she, in all 

 probability, has an infection of the uterus or is 

 carrying dead puppies which she will not be able to 

 deliver without assistance. When the bitch is 

 neglected until the womb becomes inflamed, hope 

 of recovery is scant. But if she is taken care of 

 early, before she becomes exhausted or infected, 

 she may safely go through even a Caesarian section 

 operation, should this prove necessary. Under no 

 circumstances should the vagina or uterus be ex- 

 plored or instruments used by anyone not familiar 

 with the organs. 



88 



