He was so listless, Mr Herriot.He seemed to have no energy. I thought he must be suffering from malnutrition, so I have been giving him some little extras between meals to build him up, some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night to make him sleep — nothing much really
And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?
Oh, I did for a bit, but he seemed to be so weak I had to relent. He does love cream cakes and chocolates so. I can’t bear to refuse him.
I looked down again at the little dog. That was the trouble. Tricki’s only fault was greed. He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night. And I wondered about all the things Mrs Pumphrey hadn’t mentioned.
Well, he has his little walks with me as you can see, but Hodgkin,the gardener, has been down with lumbago, so there has been no ring-throwing lately
Are you giving him plenty of exercise?
Oh I will, Mr Herriot. I’m sure you are right, but it is so difficult, so very difficult.
Now I really mean this. If you don’t cut his food right down and give him more exercise he is going to be really ill.You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet.