DIFFICULT PARTURITION {DYSTOKIA) 331 



fire until the last of the litter has arrived; they are then given 

 to the mother. This is a matter which must always be left 

 to the discretion of the accoucheur, and depends somewhat 

 upon the individual temperament of the bitch. Certainly in 

 some cases, especially with bull-bitches and others which are 

 often clumsy mothers, it is a wise plan to temporarily remove 

 each puppy after the bitch has licked and fondled it, and not to 

 leave them all with her until she has settled down and has com- 

 pleted her period of labour. Otherwise she will either crush 

 some of them or allow them to become cold and neglected. 



Fig. 198. — Tee's Artificial Foster-mother. 



When all are born, the sooner they commence to suck 

 the teats, the better. Some puppies take to it instinctively, 

 whereas with others a good deal of patience and persevering 

 effort is required to get them to make a start. The pup's 

 mouth should be held against a teat, and a little milk squeezed 

 out over the lips ; if they are not imperfectly formed, a little 

 perseverance usually brings about the desired end, and when 

 once they have started, as a rule, there is no great trouble 

 about inducing them to continue. 



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