CHAPTER VII 
Care of the Matron—Rearing the Puppies 
HE period of gestation in the canine species is 
from sixty-three to sixty-four days, or in round 
numbers, nine weeks from the day she is bred until 
the day that she whelps. Occasionally it happens 
that the period is only fifty-eight days and again 
they go over time to sixtv-eight days, without bad 
effect; but should the time extend beyond that, then 
complications may be expected and an examination 
had better be made. Puppies whelped before the 
fiftieth day will not live, and the chances are against 
them even at fifty-one or fifty-two days. 
During this period, when the prospective mother 
is carrying her young, she should have more atten¬ 
tion than at other times; but it must not he sup¬ 
posed that constant interference with her is neces- 
sary. Eeed her well and let her alone, except that 
she should be washed several times during the early 
part of the pregnancy, and if she lias not been given 
a vermifuge before she was bred, it is well to do so, 
but not after the beginning of the fourth week. 
As a matter of fact, I prefer giving the vermifuge 
before the breeding rather than after. She should 
be fed more liberally from the beginning. Meat, 
broths, stale bread, over which broth or milk may 
be poured, occasionally raw lean beef or mutton, 
large bones to gnaw upon; and the meals may be 
given more frequently. That is, during this period, 
and especially toward the latter part, it is well to 
feed three times a day in smaller quantities rather 
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