THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3329, 2 January 1918, Page 43

THE KENNEL.

By Tbbrob. Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially t»> rited to contribute to this column. "Terror" wffl endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this h« must have the co-operation of hie readers, Uer.ee he trusts this invitation will bss ahecriulty (eapouded to. Dog-owners leaving town for tho Christmas and New Year holidays should take their dogs with them if possible. I have heard dog-owners say that they never like leaving their dogs behind when travelling, and I imagine that if the dogs could speak they would do so very feelingly in respect to this question. Dogs are, I should say, fonder of their owner than ho or she can possibly be of them, and one need only see the canine demonstrations of joy when

master or mistress returns to be sure of this. In cases—and they arc many —where the dog cannot bo taken from home, particular care should be taken to arrange for its proper care, and tho dog should be introduced to its temporary caretaker in the presence of tho owner on ono or two occasions, so that he may not be left to an entire stranger. Dogs as'a rule don't like strangers, and sometimes will refuse food from thoir hands. once. Bitches have been known to eat their first litter and that only; but if they do it a second timo they are said to have acquired the habit, and tho matter is serious. When bitches have been fed generously on meat during gestation, tho chances aro many against their eating their puppies; but still all will bear watching during the first 12 hours at least and then those that have never exhibited the tendency with previous littera can be considered quite safo from it. But a bitch onco guilty should be held in suspicion until the second day. Ashmont, in his valuable work, " Kennel Secrets," says that many breeders are strong in tho belief that, once tho habit of eating pups is indulged in, it will persist, and be ever afterwards worthless for breeding purposes. This, however, is a mere fiction, for tthe. tendency can be overcome by a meat diet and careful watching, and if one litter is saved tho subsequent litters will generally escape, the habit having been cured by tho break. —An English authority recommends the following treatment of puppies troubled with worms:—Diet lightly on milk or broth the day before, omitting the evening meal. Tho next morning on an empty stomach givo tho puppy a tablet composed of one grain each of santonin and calomel, and two or three hours later administer a tablespoonful of castor oil. -At noon givo a light, meal of broth. Repeat the 1 treatment in throe days. Tie more meat products you feed your pups From weaning-time on to six months the bigger and stronger dogs they will make. The dog is naturally a carnivorous animal, and his stomach digests this kind of food more readily than foods of a starchy nature. Weaned on meat soup fats and an occasionl feed of milk, they make bigboned, strong, healthy youngsters. _ For a few days supplement tlie mother's milk with soup: after this begin to thicken with dry bread or rolled oats, soya bean meal, and bran. If is better to feed at first at about the temperature of the mother's milk. Keep adding more of the/bread and oats till the soup stock is only a dampening for the other feed. \ —ln cases of skin, irritation a nice cooling: lotion is very essential and most effective. About the best thing for the purpose is the " Glycerinum acidi earbolica," of the British Pharmacopoeia, which can easily be adjusted to proper strengths according to the requirements of the case. After using this the skin can be sponged with water and the dog can be rubbed dry with a towel, and then he will bo left very comfortable. A continual application in this way should sotm effect a cure. In bad cases of eczema it is advisable to use. a good antiseptic ointment as well; this keeps tho skin soft and cool after the lotion has been used, until another dressing is applied. Fowler's solution of arsenic is often given to dogs suffering from skin complaint, and it is a very good thing, but should be given with precaution because it is a poison. When it has once been given to a dog it must be discontinued gradually, not suddenly, or its s;ood effect will not be lasting, and the dog mav lose condition. Iron is an excellent thine; for the blood, and is a very useful tonic for all skin diseases, in that it enriches the blood and does away with all impurities. It may be isriven combined with tho arsenic in capsule form.