Foods and Feeding 



Cereals. — Cereals may be added to the diet only 

 when it is necessary to furnish a ration which is 

 fattening. For a thin and hard working dog cereals 

 may be given in large quantities, but for a house 

 pet they are best avoided except in very small quan- 

 tities as a variety. Since they are very fattening 

 much care must be used in selecting and appor- 

 tioning them. Their use must be discontinued as 

 soon as the dog begins to take on flesh. Farina, 

 Cream of Wheat, Shredded Wheat, and oatmeal 

 may be used in small quantities for the morning 

 meal. They are mixed with the meat and moistened 

 with a little broth. Com meal and rice are very 

 fattening and hard to digest unless thoroughly 

 cooked. Skin troubles are often associated with 

 their use. 



Vegetables. — ^Vegetables which do not contain a 

 large amount of starch can be added to the ration 

 in small quantities to furnish variety and bulk. Of 

 these, spinach is perhaps the best, asparagus, cauli- 

 flower, cabbage, and string beans rank next, while 

 onions, beets, carrots, turnips and squash are rather 

 high. Vegetables having a very high percentage 

 of starch are very hard for the dog to digest and 

 should be eliminated from the diet entirely. These 

 are potatoes, beans, com, peas and parsnips. When 

 vegetables are used they must be well cooked, finely 

 mashed, and mixed with other food. At no time 

 should they make up more than one-third of the 

 meal. 



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