- Creation
-
Creator (Definite): Medicus (Our Dogs contributor)Date: 19 Jun 1931
- Current Holder(s)
-
- No links match your filters. Clear Filters
-
Cites Medicus, 'Notes for Novices: My Views on Feeding Dogs', Our Dogs 84 (12th June 1931), p. 787.
Description:‘I made a promise recently that I would write on the subject of hand-rearing of puppies. The matter is one of perpetual interest to novices, and if I repeat now a good deal of what I have previously said on the subject, regular readers of this column must forgive me, and bear in mind that there is a constant stream of newcomers into the fancy, and therefore, of new readers of Our Dogs who had probably not been reading these “Notes” for any considerable time.'
Relevant passage from previous article:
'W.C.S., the writer of a letter to Our Dogs asking for advice [on food]... suggests that “as his case is one of many he has heard about, a short article on this subject would be of great value to many readers.” The Editor has accordingly sent on “W.C.S.’s” letter to me, after replying to it in the usual way in the “Veterinary Replies” column, with a request that I should deal with the subject generally. Let “W.C.S.,” then, first state his own case:-
I have now in whelp a bitch who is rather shy. The last litter she had were all lost. She had plenty of milk and the puppies were all healthy and strong. I could not get her to lie down to enable the puppies to get near her teats. She simply stood over them, the consequence being that they died from the want of nourishment. If this should happen again I intend to hand-rear them. I should like to know the proper method and procedure in such a case, more particularly the milk used and quantity. How often to feed and any information that is likely to be of any use in such a case.
Well, obviously, the first piece of sound advice to meet a case of that sort has already been given – for I see that “W.C.S.” was told in the veterinary advice column to take steps to have a foster-mother ready in case of emergency. That goes without saying, because there may well be some particular reason why the bitch stood over her whelps in the manner described, instead of giving them access to their nourishment in the usual way, and that particular reason may operate again. But what “W.C.S.” apparently wishes to have some information upon – for his own and other readers’ benefit – is how to rear puppies by hand when no foster-mother is available. I think this was dealt with in this column not very long ago; but as it is a matter of general and of recurring interest, I will take an early opportunity of writing about it again.’
-
Quotes E. Mayhew, Dogs: Their Management. Being a New Plan for Treating of the Animal (London: G. Routledge, 1854).
Description:‘I made a promise recently that I would write on the subject of hand-rearing of puppies. The matter is one of perpetual interest to novices, and if I repeat now a good deal of what I have previously said on the subject, regular readers of this column must forgive me, and bear in mind that there is a constant stream of newcomers into the fancy, and therefore, of new readers of Our Dogs who had probably not been reading these “Notes” for any considerable time.
Now, in the first place, let it be clearly understood that almost everything about the future welfare of a puppy depends upon it having a good start in life. If this is to be insured he must not be a member of too large a family. Many dog owners make the mistake of allowing a bitch to rear, or attempt to rear, too many puppies, with the result that if they do not actually lose some portion of them, some are sure to be delicate, and if so, will remain a source of trouble and expense for a long time, and perhaps do no good at the finish. When puppies are expected, therefore, arrangements should be made to have a foster mother available, which can take over a share of the maternal responsibilities. There is usually not much difficulty in arranging this, as the advertising columns of Our Dogs will abundantly testify. The important thing is to get matters fixed up early, and when the exchange is effected, it should be done with care and prudence, so that the foster mother upon which the trick is being played does not have her suspicions aroused. Now there will often be one or more whelps that do not thrive like the rest, however well their own mother or their foster mother may look after them. In some cases it may be desirable, even if not actually necessary, to adopt a preliminary system of what may be called preliminary hand-feeding. This can be done on ordinary hand-feeding methods, which are sometimes desirable to adopt long before the puppies are actually weaned, and just merely by way of relieving a bitch which is struggling to provide for the needs of a big family.
...
The best advice I ever remember to have come across in regard to the hand-rearing of puppies was written many years ago by Edward Mayhew – a famous authority a generation ago. I think I have quoted his advice before in this column, but no apology is needed for repeating it. He says:-
A bottle such as is used for infants of the human kind, must have a sort of nipple made of wash-leather fitted to it. The leather is to be pricked all over with a tiny needle, and within it is to be placed a small piece of sponge, to give substance and form to it. There is need to do that because the pup, when it sucks, wraps its tongue round the teat, and unless the body it so grasps has bulk, it cannot extract the liquid.
This, therefore, being attended to, the little creatures very soon learn their lesson, and all that is subsequently to be done will be to hold them to the bottle, and the bottle to them.
Again, advocating the feeding of voracious puppies separately from the bitch in order to relieve her, he says:-
The small gluttons, though full of cow’s juice, will nevertheless find appetite for such a luxury as mother’s milk; but their energies being blunted, they will have power to do no more than prevent an accumulation within the glands. The little, however, they swallow, seems to do them much good, for after this manner I have brought up many pups, though when I have attempted to rear them wholly on cow’s milk success has not always been rewarded my care.
The explanation which probably lies in the fact that cow’s milk differs somewhat in composition from bitches’ milk... If to cow’s milk be added a small quantity of orange juice and a few drops of cod-liver oil, excellent results will generally be obtained, and motherless whelps can be reared quite easily – use being made of the ingenious feeding-bottle arrangement suggested by Mayhew.’
Relevant passage from Mayhew:
Hand-rearing 'is more troublesome than difficult to do. The pups want to be fed early and late; consequently, they must be taken into the bed-room; and when the feeding time arrives, the soundest sleeper will be reminded of his duty. A bottle, such as is used for infants of the human kind, must have a sort of nipple made of wash-leather fitted to it. The leather is to be pricked all over with a fine needle, and within it is to be placed a small piece of sponge to give substance and form to it. There is need to do that, because the pup when it licks wraps the tongue round the teat; and unless the body thus grasps has bulk, it cannot extract the liquid. This, therefore, being attended to, the little creatures very soon learn their lesson, and all that is subsequently to be done will be to hold them to the bottle, and the bottle to them. Each pup occupies from ten to fifteen minutes at a meal; and they may be allowed to decide the quantity that will do them good unless one should obviously be morbidly gluttonous, when the indulgence of its appetite should be restrained.
During the night the bitch must be kept away from her hungry tormentors; but in the day-time she may be allowed to go to them every time after they have been fed; and she may remain to enjoy their society for half-an-hour on each occasion. The small gluttons, though full of cow juice, will nevertheless find appetite for such a luxury as mother’s milk; but their energies being blunted, they will have power to do no more than to prevent an accumulation within the glands. The little, however, which they can swallow seems to do them much good; for after this manner have brought up many pups, though, when I have attempte to rear them wholly upon cow’s milk, success has not alway rewarded my care.' (221-222)
-
Quoted by T. Quick, 'Puppy Love: Domestic Science, “Women's Work,” and Canine Care,' Journal of British Studies 58 (2) (2019), pp. 289-314.
Description:'in his 1854 treatise on canine management, Edward Mayhew (brother of the renowned journalist Henry) recommended that bottles intended for human infants be adapted for puppies. Mayhew admitted, however, that in attempting to substitute cow’s milk for that of dogs, “success has not always rewarded my care.”... As “Medicus,” the anonymous medical columnist for the populardog-fancy periodical Our Dogs, would later report, “The explanation lies in the fact that cow’s milk differs somewhat in composition from bitches’ milk … Ifto cow’s milk be added a small quantity of orange juice and a few drops of cod-liver oil, excellent results will generally be obtained.” [note: 'Medicus, “Notes for Novices: The Hand-Rearing of Puppies,” Our Dogs, no. 84 (19 June 1931): 879.']' (294-295)