THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 56

THE KENNEL.

Bi 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 oTder to do this he must have the co-operation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. SHOW OATES. SOUTH ISLAND. Temuka—July 23 and 24. Grey mouth—July 23 and 24. “Sheep Dog.”—lf you look up Kennel Notes of two weeks back you will find quite a lot of information respecting distemper. However, seeing that yours is a sheep dog, perhaps the following, taken from Mr James Lilico’s “Fifty Years Amongst Sheep Dogs,” will enlighten you as to treatment. Mr Lilico says: “Whenever we see a young dog ailing, losing appetite, exhibiting catarrhal symptoms, and getting thin, with a rise in temperature, we should not lose an hour. If he he an indoor dog, find him a good bed in a clean, well-ventilated apartment, free from lumber and free from dirt. If it be summer, have all the windows out or opened; if winter, a little fire will lie necessary, but have half the window opened at the same time; only take precautions against his lying in a draught. Fresh air in cases of distemper, and, indeed, in fevers of all kinds, cannot be too highly extolled. The more rest the dog has the better. He must be kept free from excitement, and care must be taken to guard him against cold and wet when he goes out of doors to obey the calls of nature. The most perfect cleanliness must be enjoined, and disinfectants used. If the sick dog be one of a kennel of dogs, then quarantine must be adopted. The hospital should be quite removed from other dogs, and as soon as the animal is taken from the kennel the latter should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. Food and drink: For the first three or four days let the food be light and easily digested. In order to induce the animal to take it, it should be as palatable as possible. You cannot have anything better than milk porridge—that is, oatmeal porridge made with milk instead of water. At all events the dog must be induced to eat; he must not be ‘horned' except there be great emaciation; he most not overeat, but what he gets must lie good. As to drink, dogs usually prefer clean cold water, and we cannot do harm by mixing therewith a little plain nitre. Medicine: Begin by giving a simple dose of castor oil—just enough and no more

than will clear out the bowels by one or two motions. By simply getting the bowels to act once or twice we shall have done enough for the first day. and have only to make the dog comfortable for the night. The discharge from the mouth and nose is to be wiped away with a soft rag wetted with a weak solution of carbolic. The forehead, eyes, and nose may be fomented two or three times a day with moderately hot water with great advantage. During convalescence from distemper, and from various other severe ailments, I find no better tonic than the tablets of Phosferine. One quarter of a tablet thrice daily, rolled in tissue paper, for a toy dog lip to two tablets for a dog of Mastiff size.” There is other information on this and other subjects relative to doggie troubles in the book, and you should procure a copy. Distemper in Australia. —The writer of kennel notes for the Melbourne Leader says: “Everyone will agree that it is absolutely essential that a veterinary surgeon should be in attendance at every show to inspect dogs before they are allowed to be benched, and that this examination cannot be too rigorous.” This is exactly as I (“Terror”) have been contending for many years, and I am, naturally, glad to see “Chnega” arguing for the same thing. He remarks that at a recent show in Adelaide Mr O. H. Gyiffin’s English setter Braeleigh Shot was not allowed to compete because a veterinary surgeon said it was “running a temperature of 104 deg” (slightly above normal). There was no sign oi an infective or contagious disease, and those who had charge of the dog during its stay 6aw no reason to believe that the dog was not in good health. Since its return to Melbourne, two days after the show, it had not developed any illness, and was in good form. This was a case of bad luck for the showman; but in view «f the fact that Adelaide fanciers have had a bad time lately with distemper the veterinary surgeon was certainly justified in his action The terribly destructive influences of filth on the health of dogs must be duly appreciated by every dog owner, and provision made for free drainage in the near neighbourhood of the kennels, and every means- adopted for easy and thorough cleansing. A hard surface is absolutely necessary, otherwise it must soon become loaded with impurities, the emanations from which are in a high degree poisonous. There is an absurd, idea abroad that puppies of the first litter must necessarily be less strong and healthy than , those .of subsequent litters. As a matter of fact, all conditions being favourable, the first puppies are likely to be a trifle the best, provided always their mother had fully matured before she was bred.—Ashment. Dog owners and especially breeders should appreciate the fact that water is quite as indispensable to the . welfare of young puppies while on so-called sloppy foods as to Jhose further advanced in life. It is a mistake to assume that milk, broths, porridge, etc., are capable of satisfying thirst. It appears that the French army, especially the colonial troops, have real difficulties in assuring the different services of guarding their sundry stores, so that, the French Ministry of War has just authorised the use of patrol dogs. It is well known that during the last two years of the Great War, a service of guarding and protection had been organised in France by patrol dogs. This organisation was due to the “Service des Chiens de Guerre,” which was under the direction of Commander Achille Malric, whose aide-de-camp was Lieutenant Paul Megnin, the editor of L’Eleveur. To the above end, training kennels were estalv lished, under the management of wellknown French specialists, at which kennel dogs were also trained for guarding the frontiers and they were very useful to the Customs officers. A recent true tale which came the writer’s way is worth retelling. As a rule dogs’ tales are to be discounted a little, save when we tell them of our own dogs, when, of course, they are entirely to be relied on. Well, this was told me by a vet. himself. It appears a certain fancier had a very valuable bitch, which, unfortunately, was rather delicate. So he save it to his wife as a present fhaving been detained on business rather late the n 'ght before). His wife was delighted with the gift, and in order that her new pet should have every chance of a clean bill e *lth she took it to the narrator’s (the vet. in question) freauently. This is how he told the tale: “She brought the animal time and time again, even if it only sneezed, till at last I got tired of it sick o’ the sight, o’ the beast. So I told her one day that there wasn’t anything the matter with it that I could cure. As she d omitted to nay mv account for a r} n vi- * in ? e » anc *. there didn’t seem any likelihood of seeing my money, I told her k°, f take the brute away and doctor it hersen. She turned on me. and said if anything happened to it she would lav the blame at my door, which she slammed as she went out. Bure enough,” he added impressvely, “something did happen to the thing. Just as the lady was walking home with her pet a motor car dashed round the comer. Just in front of it was a little child playing in the road. The lady screamed, end the dog nobly rushed * t . re9CUO - With a bound she reached the child, and dragged it almost from under the motor car’s wheels. The car was just upon them ’’ “And the poor dog who so bravely saved the child ” I queried. “Oh nothing happened to it just then, but the next litter of puppies it had were all born with wheels instead of legs.