Summarizing briefly, for the purpose of emphasizing the first essentials brought out in the foregoing : The puppies should be put to the breasts and made to nurse if possible as soon as the whelping is over and the bedding has been changed. Duly considering the facts stated, an estimate should be made of the chances of having a goodly supply of milk, and if they seem poor everything needful should be at once obtained and kept in readiness to nourish artificially as soon as indications for such treatment appear.

As for signs manifested by little ones that are denied sufficient milk, their abdomens instead of being well rounded out and somewhat resistant to pressure are quite flat, the walls being relaxed and flaccid; they sleep much of the time and seem unwilling to make any attempt to nurse, and when taken in the hands are limp and feeble. These symptoms in the main are those of weakness and may be occasioned by a large variety of influences, yet the conditions of the mother's breasts being questionable they must point to starvation as the cause.

Breeders generally seem impressed with the idea that most canine mothers suffer from milk fever, yet this is by no means the rule where puppies are born alive and continue to live and nurse vigorously during the next forty-eight hours. And the reason why they so often escape appears in the fact that they begin to suckle their young very soon after whelping, consequently their breasts are seldom very much swollen even when the milk is abundant.

Where puppies that have reached an advanced stage of gestation are born dead or die shortly after delivery, usually, but not invariably, all the phenomena of milk fever manifest themselves, i.e., the breasts become much swollen and evidently painful, the skin is hot and dry and the pulse quickened; there are thirst, loss of appetite and a decided disinclination to activity. Of these symptoms generally the fever and acceleration of pulse are the first to disappear, and in the course of from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, at which time the breasts, although still greatly distended, are evidently less acutely painful. The rapidity with which the swelling in them subsides depends much upon the treatment, but even when none is applied the natural state of things is generally restored ere the end of a week.

The dangers of this and other fevers after whelping have been very greatly exaggerated, and in consequence the notion is prevalent that all mothers should be kept on low diet, and especially "sloppy foods," for the first two or three days at least, as a preventive measure; whereas milk fever is not in the slightest degree dangerous, and deserves consideration only where the puppies have been lost. And even then it occasions discomfort merely. As for puerperal fever, the only fever peculiar to the whelping state which need disturb the minds of apprehensive breeders, that is very rare in canine mothers, and a person may breed extensively for years without seeing a case of it.

Where the puppies are lost and milk fever occurs it is eminently right and proper that treatment be applied for the purpose of lessening the mother's discomforts. But "sloppy foods," which are so generally supposed to be the least favorable to inflammation and fever, are the very ones that must not be given in this instance, for they would surely tend to increase the secretion of milk and so intensify the existing trouble. And the same can be said of water merely. Consequently for several days the patient should have such foods as boiled rice, broken dog cakes or well-baked bread crusts, - in limited quantity always, softened by a little milk or broth, and be allowed water only at intervals of five or six hours, and then even but a little at a time.

If her breasts are badly swollen and what is popularly termed "caked," the mother should be quartered in the kitchen or other convenient, well-warmed place until her discomfort has abated. During the day hot, dry flannels should be applied to her breasts for fifteen or twenty minutes at a sitting, and the application be repeated as often as possible; while at night they should be gently rubbed with camphorated oil, the same being used generously.

Notwithstanding the notion that cathartics are always required in cases of this sort, neither these nor any other drugs need be given, for under the simple treatment advised very considerable improvement will take place within forty-eight hours, and the milk "dry up" as quickly as under dosing. And it is well to add that the breast pump must not be used in these cases, for while it would afford temporary relief it would greatly retard recovery.

Only rarely are mothers wholly destitute of milk in the first days after whelping, but not infrequently it happens that the supply is far from sufficient for all the puppies, and in no small number of instances the flow is abundant at first and then lost altogether in the course of a week or two; in which cases it is necessary either to provide a foster mother or nourish artificially - alternatives that are extremely vexatious and generally difficult to meet.

Those who have large kennels and breed extensively are to some extent fortified against these accidents, for very often they have two or more bitches come in at about the same time and if the milk of one is insufficient or lost she is assisted or her entire duty assumed by the fortunate mother or mothers. But in the absence of such happy conditions it is extremely difficult and more often than otherwise impossible to obtain a suitable foster mother.

If a mother lost her last litter because of failure of her milk supply it by no means follows that she will be as unfortunate with her next, still her owner should have a foster at hand to prevent this accident if again threatened. And he who has a bitch of great value and has paid a large price for "service" can wisely do likewise, for the chances are many that even were the assistant not an imperative necessity she might yet be used to very great advantage and prove a profitable investment, - results, by the way, that may confidently be expected where this provision is made for first litters.