THE DOG. 



that discrimmation as regards feeding must be observed aa 

 sorupiilously now as at any other time. 



With dogs of value, especially " toy " dogs, there is a natural 

 desire on the part of the owner to save as many of each Ktter 

 as possible, and he need be in no fear but that the affectionate 

 parent will gladly second his designs,^frequently, however, with 

 lamentable results to all parties. Dogs of choice breeds, espe- 

 cially those of smaller size, are seldom particularly strong, and 

 cram them with as much nourishment as you please, they are 

 stiU unable to produce sufficient milk for the maiutenance of 

 the Kttle troop of gluttons. You may easily ascertain if her 

 strength is being over-taxed. While she is suckling, her coun- 

 tenance, instead of being expressive of unmistakable pleasure 

 and content, will wear a nervous, jaded air, and she will from 

 time to time " nose " among the restless suckers, as though 

 conveying the gentlest hint in the world that they have been 

 pulling a longish time, and now, perhaps, woiildn't mind letting 

 mother have a bit of a rest. She does not recline easily with 

 her progeny at her dugs, but lies along the ground and pants, 

 as though, as is actually the case, her very life was being drained 

 out of her. She will get up and go creeping about the house 

 in the most anxious and melancholy way, and maternal care 

 presently conquering bodily pain, back she will go to the kennel, 

 to be at once seized by the hungry pups, who, of course, pull 

 all the harder for there being little to pull at. The end of this 

 is that the poor mother has fainting fits. 



There is but one way of saving the poor animal. The fits 

 of themselves are not imminently dangerous, but they indicate 

 a state of such extreme weakness, that the dog may be said to 

 be bound straight for death, unless the existing condition of 

 things be altered. Tonics must be administered and the mother 

 at once removed from her progeny. As to the latter, you 

 must either bring them up by hand or provide them with a 

 foster parent. 



As a rule, the hand-raised puppy will at the eud of a month 

 be sufficiently estabhshed in life to be equal, in a certain degree, 

 to the business of self-feeding. Its tender mouth, however, 

 must not at first be too severely tasked. A mixture of finely- 

 shredded meat, mixed with soaked ship-biscuit or boiled rice, 

 IS as good food as any. 



