The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-28

How They Should Be Fed-Composition and
Quality of Their Food.

Hugh Dazel, in Harper's Monthly.
The puppy, when just weaned, should be- fed
four five, or even six tirces day, and from two
months to four months of age, four times; after
that three times, to the age Of nine or twelve
months according to the breed-the smaller va
rletles reaching maturity soonest; after that
twice day is enough, full meal being given
each time, until maturity is reached. Regularity
as to time is important in feeding, both because
it assists health and is considerable help in in
culcating orderly and clearly habits. Minute
calculations have been made as to the amount
Of food required by dog, with the result of con-
fiicting statements Of opinion ranging from one
twentieth to one twelfth of his own weight per
day, and is often stated in this form-one ounce
OF food for every pound the dog weighs Elk
perience convinces me that in the matter of
quantity of food the scales are better dispensed
with, using instead the dogs appetite the cor
rect measure. / therefore always advise that a
dog should have as much at meal as he will eat
freely. and that when he stops to turn it over
and pick out bits here and there, tho dish should
be removed.
The composition and quality of the food is the
next point claiming consideration In reference
to the first point think it necessary to refer to
theories propounded by DR.. Billings, V. S., of
Boston. Mass, in two lectures delivered in that
city, and reproduced with>apparent approval by
that section of the American press which special
ly deals with canine matters 1 have not the
text before me, so cannot quote with verbal ac-
curacy out, briefly stated. DR.. Billings, found
Ing MS argument on the admitted ract That the
dog Is carnivorous animal, declared that he
should be fed entirely on flesh. and even went so
far as to say that farinaceous food was poison to
the dog The English practice for centuries
from the time Of that excellent huntsman and
discourser on dogs and their treatment, Edmund
de Langley, of the early part of the fourteenth
century, confirmed by such practical writer's as
Turberville and Gervase Markham of the six
teenth; Cox, Jacobs, and others, of the seven
teenth, and all the masters of hounds. huntsmen,
game-keepers kennel men, and every other per-
son who has kept dogs since-is dead against
DR.. Billings's theory, which, indeed, should
rather be named ''crotchet." For dogs there
is no more wholesome food than the mixed
scraps from the table, consisting of meat bones,
bread and vegetables, and when there are moro
dogs kept than there are bones and scraps for,
the broken vituas should be taken as the stand
ard Of the component parts of that which has to
be further provided.
In regard to pet dogs kept by ladies, the great
mistake often made is to overfeed and feed too
richly. 1t is a mistaken kindness to feed dogs
on rich, fat-producing Diet and to give sugar
and sweet cakes and buildings is to certainly de.
stroy the powers of the digestive and assimila-
tive organs and any thing that produces excessive
fairness will bring on asthma, to which disease
pugs and other short-faced pets are especially
prone. Occasionally we meet with, in all breeds,
a dog that is dainty feeder. These have to be
coaxed to eat, little at time being given, and
a tonic of iron and quinine with gentian given
daily for week or two at time.