4 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES .OF THE DOG. 



green vegetables once or twice a week, form the most suita- 

 ble diet for this class of dog. 



For those used in sport or kept on the chain, especially 

 the former, flesh-meat used with discretion is suitable. 

 Paunches or mutton are best adapted ; the former should al- 

 ways be thoroughly washed, otherwise worms or their larvse, 

 which are frequently present, are likely to be swallowed, and 

 develop in the dog into large tape-worms (see chapter on 

 "Internal Parasites"); horse-flesh is heating, causes the 

 animal to smell strong, and is a great producer of worms. 

 Liver cooked is like so much leather — indigestible and innu- 

 tritious ; and, from its liability to flukes, which in the dog 

 develop into the taeniae proper, is also objectionable raw. 

 Greaves I have observed frequently give rise to diarrhoea, 

 probably from the amount of tallow often retained, and other 

 foreign matters — as maggot-skins and mineral substances. 



Sheep-heads, trotters, and ox-noses form a highly nutri- 

 tious and valuable food, especially for invalid dogs ■; boiled 

 down, they form a glutinous jelly, of which dogs are particu- 

 larly fond. Whichever kind of flesh-meat is used, meal should 

 form the basis, and none is better than the coarse Scotch oat- 

 meal. 



Bones are of great Value to the Dog. — The dog has a nat- 

 ural fondness for bones, independently of which they are of 

 great value to him. One should always be allowed at least i 

 once or twice a week. They assist in cleansing the teeth and 

 aid digestion. The animal's instinct would appear to teacli 

 him this ; for however good and savory the meal may be, il- 

 there be a bone in it, he will immediately pick it out, strip it 

 of its meat, if there be any, and store it safely away for after 

 use. It is best, however, to give bones after a meal ; other- 

 wise, when hungry, they are apt to eat as much of the bone 

 as possible, to their own injury ; as portions may get lodges^j 

 in the oesophagus, and give rise: to asphyxia, or, from being 

 too hard to digest, cause gastric or intestinal irritation. 



A dog should never be induced to eat against its will, ex- 



