Evening star., 1951-07-22
1D6G NOTES 4
~ by PETER <BpGGS
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| guess if you own a dog you
know the flea season has arrived
Canine coats usually ward off the
bites of mosquitoes and other
singing insects. But the flea bur-
rows deep and gets next to the
unprotected skin. 1t roams free
all over the animals body, breed
ing nests on the victims back, in
the region of the hips and tail
root.
If you have several dogs, the
problem is tough. Especially if
you live in the country or in the
suburbs. In summer, the grass is
infested with feas, all of them
ready and eager to hop aboard the
dog that happens to lie down or to
roll in such grass. Get rid of your
dogs f1eas and in a day or two he
may annex new lot of them in
this way. 1t is a matter of daily
vigilance.
Any of the regular flea powders
on the market if put on your dog
according to the directions on
their boxes or cans will rid your
dog Of his fleas, but if you are to
keep him free you must see that
he is busted at least twice a week.
Running fits have no connection
at all with rabies. and, believe me,
rabies is an extremely rare disease
among dogs in spite of what many
local authorities claim. Many a
canine victim of such fits has been
shot, as rabid. Actually these fits
are a form Of hysteria. Several
wise veterinarians have explained
their causes to me. The only catch
is that almost no two vets gave the
same reason for them.
\ Rather seldom are they fatal.
But they are contagious. I have
seen one dog start to run and yelp,
in such a fit, while several other
dogs looked on In mild amazement
at his antics. Then, one after an
other, I have seen those Unlocking
dogs dash away in the same kind
of fit. Just from watching the
first victim.
| Dogs like humans don't require
as much food in hot weather as
they do during the colder months
of the year. Actually the amount
OF food dog requires at any
time of the year depends on the
amount of exercise he gets. Dur
ingthese hot summer days dogs
1 lie about more and consequently
don't need cutie as much food as
\ at other times of the year when
| they are more active.
\ There are many dog owners
who believe that dogs shouldn't
be fed meat during the summer
months. This is wrong. Meat can
and should be the basis of any
dogs diet either in cold or hot
weather. However, remember to
feed your dog less food in the
summer. A very. very important
item of your dogs diet during
these warm days is water. Make
sure he has fresh water at all
| times.
A nelghbor of mine was COM
planning to me that his new puppy
kept biting his ankles or the
ankles of any of his friends who
came to call. All I asked him was
if the pup had any playthings to
chew on. He said that the pup
didn't.
You don't spank or punish a
human baby when he chews on
his teething ring. Yet when pup
cheWS rug or the corner of a
chair or at your ankles you pun
ish him. The pup is in precisely
the same condition as teething
human child, only he has AZ teeth
to cut instead of a baby's 20. I'll
is the aching and itching gums
necessarily teasing the pup that
cause him to chew at things.
All young pups should be sup
piled with an old shoe, from
which all metal has been re-
moved. as a canine teething
ring"
@. Our young cocker spaniel has
been shedding his coat continually
for almost three months. What /
can we do to stop this and what
is causing IT'D. H.Y
A. Normally, dogs shed their
coats during the spring and fall.
Many dogs shed right through the
summer. however. Unless this con-
dition continues unduly long, I
would not worry about it.
@. We are taking our dog to our
country place for the month of