The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-23
THE KENNEL.
How Dogs Feet Should Be Hardened-A
Remedy for Fleas.

Remedy for Fleas.
Although it is only few weeks since the
season for Guail-shooting opened, several
disappontments have occurred in the field
owing to dogs having quit work early in the
day.
The general cause is sore feet and poor
condition of body.
OF course, if the dog is in good condition
and has had plenty of exercise, his feet will
stand many miles of hill-clm bling.
Some people Imagine that few days ex-
ercise sh0nld be en- ough to harden dogs
feet SO that they will stand the work required
of them at this season OF the year when the
surface OF tho hills is as hard as flint.
1t must be remembered that dog Bept in
the city and taken out for spin once a day
over rocks and boarded sidewalks will soon
give out when let loose on side hill unless
his feet are first hardened up and gotten in
shape for the exercise he must take when
quail hunting.
How many times sportsmen have noticed
their dog to limp after an hours run on the
upands. On an examination of the CANNES
foot il will be frequently observed that
while the outer part of the foot is in appar-
ent good order the parts between the toes
will be iEfamed and sore to touch; the pain
is generally very acute and 1t Will be no
ticed that if an attempt is made to examine
the foot the animal will generally whine
with pain.
1t may be as we'll to state here that as
soon as the slightest symptoms Of lemeness
appears the dog should at once be taken up
and the feet carefully examined for the
presence of buried thorn or a sprain, and
the cause, If occasioDed by the former, re-
moved Immediately and with as little cut
ting as possible.
If the pain should be the result Of
spran it is far better 10 forego the pleasure
of hunting any longer than take chances Of
having your charge crippled for life.
Ac haf cfato h M 6nO ic top nd
to run at liberty in the fields, he will gen.
orally be able TO keep up his work without
injuring his feet; but the tOwn-kept dog
must go through a course Of foot-hardeni
for some time before being taken TO the fields
for regular hunt.
One Of the best preparations for this pur-
pose is mixture of fannie acid and water
IL should be applied TO the feet every day
for at least two weeks. and if it Is possible
the dog should be run more than usual for
the purpose OF hardening the muscles OF the
feet and legs.
Ii the pavement does not wear away the
toenails as fast as they grow they should be
filed off. and care taken not 10 file too close
TO the quick The use Of the knife is not
advisable as it is not natural in this case.
and it is more probable that the tender part
Of the nail may be touched and the animal
famed in consequence.
Sometimes it Will be observed that a sore
ness appears in the feet.
When dogs are not being exercised the
feet will become fevered, dry and crack,
and peculiar Tedness will be noticed up
in the feet Sometimes growth takes
place between the toes that resembles fun
gus. This is very annoying trouble which
frequently takes considerable care and time
to remedy.
The diet should be changed and a purga-
tive given, the bowels kept regular and The
feet washed often in fannie acid. At night
bag containing fiaXseed poultice should be
applied to each affected foot.
After the fever and redness has partially
disappeared the fungous growth can be
clipped off and the affected parts painted
two or three times q day with fiaxseei oil
in which few drops of carbolic acid has
been added.
Care must be taken, however, to use a
very small percentage of the acid. as it is
liable to produce toxic condition in the
animal If used except in very diluted
state.
it is a pretty safe rule to observe In the
care OF dogs to medicate them as little and
as infrequently as possible, and pay great
attention to their exercise and diet Ex-
ceptlng accidents, the average dog should
require no medicine at all.
All that is necessary is TO keep his feet as
well as the rest OF his body aud organiza-
ton in good order.
Now that dogs are so much ANNOYED with
feas, the following item from correspond
ent may prove of value to sportsmen. The
correspondent says: For a number of
years my dogs have been greatly troubled
with fleas, and Notwithstanding the fact
that my kennels have been frequently
whitowashed and disinfeced, and insect
powders freely used. the feas remained
just the same.
'By an accident fortunately hit upon a
very simple remedy 4 barrel OF carbon
oil was received one day and put In the ken
mel temporarily and left there for two
weeks. Some of the oil leaked out and
saturated the floor and soon 1t was observed
that there were no f1eas about the kennel or
on The dogs. Since then l have kept some
Oh the oil and am pleased to say that am
less troubled with flcas than any other man
who owns dogs. The kennel has a slight
odor OF Kerosene, hut the dogs do not seem
to mind il. If your readers will give car
bon oil a trial | know that they will be
hichIv m "a cad ywit ba