THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 61

THE KENNEL.

By Terror

Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially invited to contribute to this column. "Terror’ will endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this he must have the 00-operation of his readers hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

A very pleasant evening was spent last week, when the committee of the South Island British Bulldog Club met to bid farewell to their late secretary, Mr W. J. Munro, who has been transferred to the North Island. The president, Mr J. G. Adair, spoke in appreciation of Mr Munro’s great services to the club, and hoped he would meet with success in his now sphere of business. These sentiments were endorsed by several other members of the committee, and the rest of the evening w? 6 spent in a social way. Among the toasts proposed were “ The King,” by the president; “The Army and Navy,” by Mr Hutton and responded to by Mr Graham; “ The Bulldog,” proposed by Mr Proudfoot and responded to by Mr Foley; and “Our Departing Guest,” proposed by Mr Griffiths. Mr Munro, in responding, spoke of his appreciation of the goodwill shown and the amicable manner in which the committee had worked with him during his term in office. Among those present was Mr Billett, an engineer on one of the Home boats. Mr Billett gave some very valuable information regarding the work that the navy was doing around Great Britain. He mentioned that it was true that the Admiralty had caused a steel net to be spread across the Channel from England to France, and that this had been the means of not only capturing a number of submarines but of safeguarding to a large extent, the mercantile shipping of the Allies. Mr Billett further confirmed the glowing reports that have been received from time to time of the magnificent work which had been carried out by the navy. The new secretary for the Bulldog Club is. Mr O. A. Hutton, who has received during several months past a series of what may be termed Irishman’s rises—viz., from president to vice-president, and now to secretary. I am sorry to record this last appointment, because it is ominous of yet another change; the fact being that the Bulldog Club has already lost three secretaries by their transfer to other centres in the Dominion. It is to be hoped that Mr C. A. Hutton, not believing in omens himself, will firmly oppose what certainly appears to be a general tendency. —Mr S. Devercux, who has been laid up for some time with an injured knee, is steadily recovering, and hopes soon to be in harness again. He speaks very highly of two wire-haired fox terrier puppies ho is rearing. They are now throe months old, and their breeding is by Wire Result ex Jetta. Mr B. Ellis has already picked one of these. Speaking of Mr Ben Ellis, I may remark that he has a fine litter about six weeks old by Wire Result ex Champion Moreland Mistress. He has also two litters which are very promising by that young smooth-haired dog which won at the last Dunedin show and by Kaikorai Kazan, which won a challenge certificate. The bitches are Kaikorai Kit and Kaikorai Kilmeny. Coming from parents which have all won in hot company, the puppies should develop into something pretty good, particularly as the matings have been arranged by one who knows what he is about. Some time ago I reported that Mr J. W. Thomson had bought a winning bitch puppy at the last Napier show, and referred to it in error as being a smooth-hair. It is a wire-hair, and since coming into Mr Thomson’s charge she has had a litter by Westpoint Farmer. I hear that a number of fox terriers are going up to the Christchurch show this month, and that the bulldog men are also sending a strong team. Mr G. W. MTntosh is sending a young dog which won at our last show, Dunedin will' be well represented at Christchurch. The Bulldog Club has allotted its usual trophies to be competed for at the Christchurch show. Mr Pattillo won outright at the recent Timaru show the trophy for the best bulldog in the show (value 3gs) with Tam o’ Shantcr, which won at the last Dunedin show. He also won the bronze medal tor the best New Zealand-bred bulldog, and got a log-in for a special trophy of three guineas for tho best bulldog fin .show presented by Mr R. Raridle, Other trophies wore won by tho following:—Best bullbitch in show (2gs, to bo won twice), by Mr B. M'Knight’s Lady Lansdowne, which also won the bronze medal for best Now Zealand bull-bitch; best bull-bitch puppy, Mr C. A. Hutton’s Lady Halsey; best novice bitch, Mr Hutton’s Lady Halsey; best dog puppy, Mr Campbell’s White Baron. There were a number of other specials competed for amongst other breeds, but information of these has not reached me at time of writing. The late Mr Dalziel, writing on “Indigestion.” said: “Indigestion means that the food taken into the stomach is not digested or made fit for tho nourishment of the body, showing that tho stomach, from some cause or other, has altogether or partially lost its power of performing its most important office. This state of things is brought about in various ways, such as want of exercise, improper food, or the giving of food irregularly. An over-plenti-ful meal after too prolonged a. fast will bring it on, which will surely follow neglected cases. Derangement of the bowels is almost inseparable from it. Attacks of diarrhoea occur sometimes, alternating with fits of constipation, or confirmed constipation may exist. Sometimes tho dog becomes excessively fat, and suffers from asthma and asthmatic cough. As a secondary symptom, skin disease in one form or other often occurs. During tho attacks the dog’s temper is generality fitful and snappish. In treating for indigestion the most important thing is to remove the probable cause or causes; but the cause or causes must bo of some standing to produce a serious attack. The symptoms of indigestion are a vitiated appetite, the dog turning up his nose at wholesome food, or eating it mincingly and slobbering it about, and giving a preference to filth and garbage. Flatulence is often an accompaniment

of indigestion. There is generally considerable thirst, and the disorder is often attended with vomiting. When of long standing the gums become inflamed and the breath foul and offensive. Indigestion is the cause of many other forms of disease. Give a sufficiency of only plain, wholesome food, and keen within the dog’s reach a supply. of clean, fresh water. Remedies must be administered according to existing circumstances—diarrhoea, for instance, being treated as recommended under that head. The one main object, however, must not be lost sight of—namely, to give tone to the stomach, and bring that organ back to a proper discharge of its functions. To this end, give to a 201 b dog a compound rhubarb pill every night for a week. When the bowels have been freely acted upon give the following twice a day until health is restored : —Stomachic bolus : Take powdered rhubarb, 1 scruple; powdered ginger, 1 scruple; extract of gentian, 4 scruples. Mix and divide into 24 pills. Dose for a 201 b dog, one twice a day. If there is much flatulence put a little bicarbonate of soda on the back part of the tongue, and let the dog have water; or give occasionally 20 drops of spirit of sal volatile in water. These means, with careful diet, and exercise, will be found successful.”