Care of the Matron—Rearing the Puppies 117 
them much better than could be clone by human 
hands. The whelping nest is also looked after by 
the mother, and so is the placenta, or afterbirth. 
Leave her alone and when you return to her after 
the puppies are all whelped you will find everything 
clean and in as satisfactory condition as might be 
expected. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt 
to wash or handle the puppies. All the care that 
they need will be given them by the mother. After 
all is over, perhaps it might be well to sponge the 
mother off and dry her thoroughly, for the escape of 
the waters (liquor amnii) may leave her in an un¬ 
suitable condition. When left to shift for herself 
and the mother selects a place under the barn or 
some other similar place, the dampness will be 
absorbed by the dry earth, hence no attention is 
necessary or possible; but where it takes place under 
the supervision of the master, it is well to change 
the bedding, in which a little disinfectant may be 
used in order to ward off fleas or other vermin. 
In sponging off the mother, luke warm water, in 
which a few drops of any of the creosote prepara¬ 
tions have been poured, should be used ; but as pre¬ 
viously stated, she must be thoroughly dried and 
then allowed to return to her family. 
Usually the flow of milk begins several days 
before the puppies are born, but very frequently it 
stops during the time of whelping. This is due to 
the strain, excitement and other conditions, but this 
need not worry the owner. The milk will come 
in due time and there need be no artificial methods 
resorted to; unless febrile symptoms are apparent, 
