DOGS 7 



foods should be withheld. Fresh, cool water, of course, 

 should always be within reach. 



The period of gestation in dogs is about sixty-three days. 

 The prospective mother should have a box or corner, 

 preferably in a darkened nook, where she will not be dis- 

 turbed. The puppies' eyes are closed at birth and do not 

 open till about the tenth day. When about four or five 

 weeks old, the process of weaning may be commenced, by 

 teaching the puppies to lap milk, an art which they soon 

 acquire. This may be augmented with cereals, or bits of 

 bread. Later puppy biscuits may be added and soon the 

 diet includes everything given to the mother. The quantity 

 of meat given to puppies, however, should always be re- 

 stricted, until they are well grown, although they may have 

 bones to gnaw on. When six or seven weeks old, they 

 should be gradually removed from the mother. 



Dogs are subject to few diseases, and when they do occur 

 a veterinary should be consulted. In most instances, it is as 

 useless for the amateur owner to attempt to treat a dog 

 as it would be in the case of a child. 



We cannot leave the subject, however, without some 

 reference to rabies or hydrophobia, that dread and mys- 

 terious disease, to which dogs, in common with many other 

 animals, are subject. Many persons have held that hydro- 

 phobia is an illusion, but its existence has been too well 

 established to admit of further doubt. Hydrophobia in 

 dogs appears in several forms, with varied symptoms. 

 Sometimes the victim is extremely thirsty, while another 

 will not touch water. The frothing mouth which to the 

 popular mind is irrefutable evidence of rabies occurs also 

 in epilepsy. Sudden changes in disposition, snappiness, 

 manifestations of unfounded fear, in fact almost any un- 

 usual action, may be the first indication of the disease. A 

 suspected subject should be isolated at once, where it can 



