Chapter II: Part 2

_Diet_: Liquid food should only be given, as milk with Benger’s food, egg and milk—the yolk of the egg should not be given if there is much diarrhœa; some mutton broth or Brand’s essence may be allowed occasionally. In severe cases a blister or seton at the back of the neck should be applied.

=Chalky Stones=:

_Symptoms_: Affects principally the knees, hocks, and stifle joints occasionally of old dogs—the result of the deposit of urates.

_Treatment_: From a quarter to two grains of iodide of potassium three times a day, or from five[1] grains to two scruples of the boro-citrate of magnesia in water thrice daily. This medicine may be given with the food. Vichy water to drink instead of plain water.

=Choking=:

_Symptoms_: Dogs frequently choke themselves when eating bones, especially chop or cutlet bones; also occasionally with a large piece of meat which may become impacted in the gullet. But this is not so serious, as it can easily be pushed down into the stomach if it cannot be pulled upwards. When an offending bone or other matter becomes lodged in the back of the throat the dog coughs and retches violently, and may even die from asphyxia. But as a rule the bone does not stop there, but passes down until the gullet passes over the heart, where it is rather smaller, and then the bone is stopped, which causes the dog great distress. He keeps gulping as if trying to swallow, and occasionally retches. In a day or two the distress passes off and the patient seems fairly well and often ready to eat, but if any solid food is taken directly it reaches the part where the obstruction is it is brought up, and this continues to happen so long as the obstruction remains, but the dog as a rule is able to swallow liquids as milk, egg and milk, beef teas, etc.

Dogs, especially puppies, often swallow needles and pins, which generally become embedded in the back of the tongue, but sometimes they reach the gullet and pass through, causing a bad abscess to form in the throat just behind the angle of the jaw.

_Treatment_: When the bone or meat or other matter becomes lodged in the back of the throat, it is generally easily removed with the finger. Failing this, forceps must be used; but the symptoms are often very distressing, and prompt relief is necessary. When the bone has passed far down in the gullet and become fixed just over the heart, relief is much more difficult. Sometimes if the dog can be induced to take a few pieces of meat it will force it on. If this fails, forceps must be tried, and if the bone cannot be removed with them, then one must try to push it downwards into the stomach with a probang. Too much force must not be used or the gullet may be ruptured, which is fatal. If it cannot be removed, the dog must be fed on liquid food, and in time the points of the bone may become dissolved, and then it will be easier to push it down with a probang.

In removing needles from the back of the tongue or fauces, which is best done with forceps, care must be taken not to break them. The tongue should be drawn well forward out of the mouth by taking hold of it with a cloth so as to bring into view the back of the tongue and fauces.

=Chorea, St. Vitus’s Dance=:

_Symptoms_: Irregular contraction of the muscles. Almost any part of the body may be affected, and even the tongue, the dog poking it out of the mouth constantly. But the disease more often affects the limbs, perhaps one fore leg and one hind leg, or the muscles of the shoulder and neck; occasionally the muscles of the abdomen, the dog always appearing to be suffering from hiccough. The temporal muscle is a common seat of chorea, and in such cases the dog is constantly snapping his teeth together. It is almost invariably the result of distemper.

_Treatment_: In bad cases the disease is incurable, though often with time—in the course of months—the twitching becomes less, but never entirely disappears. There is no specific for chorea; what appears to do one case good seems to do harm in another. Small doses of arsenic with bromide is sometimes a useful remedy, as the following mixture:—

_Recipe_:

Bromide of Strontia, 1 drachm.
Fowler’s Solution of Arsenic, 48 minims.
Water to 3 ounces.

_Dose_: From half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] three times a day after food.

In other cases Easton’s syrup answers better.

_Dose_: From three or four drops to half a drachm,[1] in a little water, three times a day after food. Later, especially if there is much wasting, cod-liver oil should be given.

=Coins, etc., Swallowing of=:

_Symptoms_: The dog has a big swallow, and it is astonishing what can pass down his throat into the stomach. I have known small dogs as fox terriers to swallow coins the size of a penny, and smaller dogs still to swallow brooches, ear-rings, and finger-rings, and also keys, without even seeing any bad results to the dog, though the owner has been much alarmed as to what was going to happen; but corks are dangerous, as they block up the intestines, and so are big round stones, but small stones dogs swallow with impunity. Dogs, even small ones like pups, swallow occasionally meat skewers, but even such things as these do not always prove fatal. I recently had under my care a small puppy who swallowed a hat-pin ten and a half inches long, the head passed into the stomach all right, but the puppy was too small to take the whole length of pin, and the point, piercing some of the vital parts of the throat, killed him.

As a rule, a dog does not show much discomfort after swallowing things like coins, bones, small stones, etc., when they once have reached the stomach, though with young puppies the latter often cause severe colic; but large round stones and corks often cause serious mischief by blocking up the bowels, inducing inflammation, which, if not relieved by operation, soon causes death. Skewers and long hat-pins when swallowed seldom pass beyond the stomach, where they often remain for some considerable time, but sooner or later the point generally pierces the stomach, and peritonitis follows, which quickly terminates fatally; but sometimes the sharp point passes direct from the stomach through the walls of the abdomen and skin, and it may be seen sticking out and can be removed. The dog seems none the worse after a few days, as the wound soon heals.

It is often difficult by manipulation to detect things that have been swallowed, for as a rule, as before mentioned, they remain in the stomach for a considerable time before passing into the intestines. I have known coins to remain there for five or six months before being passed; however, with the Röntgen rays coins, keys, jewellery, stones, etc., can always be detected.

_Treatment_: Unless the foreign body swallowed is doing the dog visible harm, it is best left alone. Feed on solid food as suet puddings, rice, bread, meat and such like foods, so as to distend the bowels as much as possible and to cause big motions, and the foreign body, in all probability, will pass out safely; _do not give purgative medicines_, which only cause contraction of the bowels and do harm, but if there is pain give from two[1] to ten drops of laudanum in a little water, three or four times a day, or oftener.

When the substance swallowed causes real obstruction in the bowel, the laudanum may be given a trial for two or three days, but as a rule an operation becomes necessary, which consists in opening the abdomen, finding where obstruction is, and opening the bowel and removing the offending matter. It is an operation requiring aseptic precaution and some care, and the sewing up the incision made into the bowel wants carefully doing or a stricture may result.

=Cold in the Head=:

_See_ CATARRH.

=Colic=:

_Symptoms_: Generally affects puppies from eating rubbish, but may also affect adult dogs, especially after receiving strong medicine as worm medicine. Restlessness, crying and whining, or even howling when pain very severe; abdomen tucked up and muscles feel hard and rigid. The attack may be accompanied by severe vomiting and diarrhœa.

_Treatment_: Give immediately, if there is no diarrhœa, a dose castor oil, which should be followed by an enema if it does not operate in about an hour. The enema may consist of half[1] to two teaspoonfuls of glycerine, mixed with one[1] to eight tablespoonfuls of warm water. Also, give following mixture:—

_Recipe_:

Chloric Ether, 1½ drachms.
Laudanum, 1½ drachms.
Water to 3 ounces.

_Doses_: From half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] every two, three, or four hours until pain relieved.

=Collapse=:

_Symptoms_: The dog lies in a semi-unconscious condition; the body feels cold; the membranes are pallid, eyes glassy; the breathing slow and heavy; pulse weak. This condition may arise from shock, and is often seen in dogs after being run over. It may also occur as the result of hæmorrhage.

_Treatment_: Allow the dog to lie perfectly quiet on his _right_ side. Give stimulants, as brandy, with from one[1] to ten drops of tincture nux vomica if given by the mouth, but only half if injected under skin. If this cannot be done, give an enema of milk and brandy, or strong black coffee. If body very cold, put hot-water bottles round it.

=Coma=:

_Symptoms_: Entire loss of consciousness, heavy breathing, pupils dilated, etc. This condition may result from injuries to head; sometimes follows a severe attack of epilepsy, apoplexy, and it is the last stage previous to death of many illnesses.

_Treatment_: This entirely depends on the cause. If as the result of epilepsy, the patient is best left quite alone for many hours; if the body becomes cold, hot-water bottle may be placed under it and also to the back. After some time, if there are no signs of return to consciousness, the body and limbs may be well hand-rubbed, and brandy injected subcutaneously. If the result of injuries to head, should the skull be fractured an operation may be necessary; but if there is simply concussion of the brain, you must give the animal time—the condition may last three or four days, and yet the dog may recover. Besides quietness, there is not much to do. Should the dog be very restless, apply an ice-bag to head; and to maintain strength give about every four hours an enema of peptonised milk, from one tablespoonful to a cupful,[1] or one or two meat suppositories. When coma is the result of the last stage of illness, there is little to be done. The inhalation of oxygen may be tried; brandy or strychnine, ⅟₃₀₀th to ⅟₁₀₀th of a grain[1] may be injected under the skin, and an enema of strong black coffee given.

=Condylomata=:

_See_ WARTS.

=Conjunctivitis (Sore and Weak Eyes)=:

_Symptoms_: The conjunctival membrane lining the inside of the eyelids is much congested, and of a dark red colour, there is a constant flow of watery discharge; in bad cases there is a discharge of white pus which causes the lids to adhere together. The hair falls off around the lids, and the cornea, or front of the eye, may become cloudy and ulcerate.

_Treatment_: In simple cases an application of boracic lotion, made by dissolving half a teaspoonful of boracic acid in half a pint of water, which should be applied often, is generally sufficient to effect a cure. In bad cases when the discharge is purulent, the following should be used:

_Recipe_:

Chinosol, 3 grains.
Water to 6 ounces.

Apply several times a day, letting a little run on the inside of the lower lids. Iodoform dusted on the inside of the lower lid is also useful.

The edges of the eyelids should be kept smeared with vaseline to prevent them from sticking together.

=Constipation=:

_Symptoms_: The motions are big, hard, and dry, and difficult to pass; and instead of having an action at least once a day, the dog may only have one every two or three days.

_Treatment_: A good deal can be done by diet. Spratt’s biscuits have a tendency to keep the bowels open and regular; for small dogs the Pet-Dog biscuits should be given, and for large dogs the big biscuits. They should be broken up and soaked in some soup, and mixed with a little meat and some green vegetable added; this makes a very good principal meal. For a second or evening meal the biscuit may be given dry. For a change of diet give meat, brown bread, and green vegetables in equal parts moistened with soup. In obstinate cases some laxative may be necessary. Milk of sulphur answers very well; from sufficient to cover a threepenny-piece to half a teaspoonful[1] may be given daily for a fortnight, or a teaspoonful[1] to two tablespoonfuls of Dinneford’s fluid magnesia may be given every morning in a little milk. In some cases salad oil answers best, from half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] mixed daily with the food. In chronic cases a course of the following pills is useful:—

_Recipe_:

Ext. Belladona, 1 to 6 grains.[1]
Powdered Rhubarb, 3 to 18 ”
Reduced Iron, 4 to 24 ”
Powdered Nux Vomica, 1 to 6 ”

Mix.

Divide into 12 pills—one to be given twice a day after food.

=Consumption=:

_Symptoms_: A rare disease in dogs. At first a dry cough, later becoming looser with expectoration of phlegm; wasting, though appetite may at first be fairly good; the patient gradually becoming very weak, and occasionally having diarrhœa. There is always present one or more degrees of fever, and the temperature is generally higher at night. If the phlegm be examined with a microscope the tubercle bacilli will be found if it is a case of consumption. In bad cases there is bleeding from the lungs, the blood coming as a rule through both nostrils.

_Treatment_: Seldom curable, but the best chances of a recovery are obtained by letting the dog live out of doors and giving cod-liver oil. Feed liberally, giving plenty of meat, also fish, milk, raw eggs, and cream.

The patient should be kept away from other dogs, and certainly should not be allowed to sleep in a room where there are people.

=Convulsions in Puppies=:

_Symptoms_: Young puppies, generally as the result of worms or during second dentition, often have convulsions. The immediate cause of the attack is generally due to excitement, more particularly on a hot day. The puppy, which may be apparently quite well, suddenly tumbles over on its side, kicks violently with its legs, champs the jaws, and froths at the mouth. In a minute it gets up, and looks about in a dazed manner; then, if not restrained, gallops off barking, not knowing where it is going. Sometimes one attack may follow another in quick succession until it dies from exhaustion.

_Treatment_: The puppy should be held to prevent it knocking itself about. (I may here remark that there is not the least danger from a bite of a dog when suffering from fits of any kind.) As soon as the puppy can swallow, a dose of the following mixture must be given:—

_Recipe_:

Bromide of Potassium, 1 drachm.
Hydrated Chloral, 1 drachm.
Water to 3 ounces.

_Dose_: From a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] to be given every two, three, or four hours, according to the severity of the symptoms. If the puppy is unable to swallow, double the quantity should be injected into the bowel, mixed with equal quantity of tepid water. In severe cases a hot bath is beneficial; also ice may be applied to the head. Keep the puppy in a dark room for some hours after the attack. To prevent a recurrence of the convulsions, treat puppy for worms. Feed on a milk diet for a few days.

=Corns=:

Horny elevations which form on the pads of the feet.

_Treatment_: They may be removed by cutting, or destroyed. The best way is by the application of a solution of chromic acid, one in four. It should be applied sparingly to the part with a glass rod about twice a week.

=Coughs=:

_Symptoms_: May arise from many causes; but a simple cough, the result of some irritation of the larynx caused by cold, is of a common occurrence during the winter and spring when the winds are cold.

_Treatment_: Give following mixture:—

_Recipe_:

Liquor Morphia, 2 drachms.
Syrup of Squills, 1 ounce.
Syrup of Lemon, 1 ounce.
Water to 3 ounces.

_Dose_: From half a teaspoonful to a dessertspoonful three or four times a day.[1] When it is difficult to give a mixture, the following pills may be tried:—

_Recipe_:

Hydrochlorate of Morphia, ¼ to 1 grain.[1]
Powdered Ipecacuanha, 1 to 6 grains.
Powdered Rhubarb, 2 to 12 grains.
Compound Squill Pill, 6 to 20 grains.

Mix and divide into twelve pills, one to be given night and morning. A dose of aperient medicine should occasionally be given.

=Cuts.=

_Symptoms_: Division of structure, generally described as a solution of continuity; there is generally more or less bleeding.

_Treatment_: Thoroughly cleanse the cut with a warm solution of boracic acid, Condy’s fluid well diluted, or one per cent. solution of Pearson’s disinfectant fluid. Stop bleeding by applying pressure with fingers, or a pad of absorbent boracic wool, and bandage. When very severe, apply a ligature to the vessel above the part.

After cleaning the wound and stopping the bleeding, the edges of the cut should be brought together with a few stitches, about a sixth of an inch apart; a pad of some disinfectant gauze applied, also a bandage. If no swelling or discharge, the dressing need not be disturbed for about six days, when the stitches can be removed. Afterwards re-bandage for another day to protect the part from dog’s tongue.

=Cystitis=:

_See_ BLADDER, IRRITABLE.

=Cysts=:

_Symptoms_: A sac containing fluid or semi-fluid substances, or even hair and other foreign substances. A form of cyst often seen in flap of the ear.

_Treatment_: Cysts can only be removed by cutting. In the case of the ear, it should be freely opened at the most depending part and a tube inserted, or at any rate the wound should be kept open for a few days, otherwise fluid will collect again. No other treatment required except keeping the parts clean. The dog must not wear a collar.

=Dandruff (Scurf)=:

_Symptoms_: Dryness of the skin and hair, and the rising of branny greyish-white scales from the former, and mixing with the coat.

_Treatment_: As a rule, a thorough wash once a week, using a tar soap like Sherley’s shampoo, and putting a little borax in the rinsing water, with daily brushing of the coat, will effect a cure in mild cases; but in bad cases greasing the dog all over with some such preparation as the following is necessary:—

_Recipe_:

Oil of tar, 1 drachm.
Almond Oil, ½ pint.

Mix.

To be thoroughly worked into the skin twice a week, and after a few days washed off, using the soap mentioned. A course of arsenic is useful; give from one[1] to eight drops in water twice a day for two or three weeks, but it must be discontinued if it causes sickness or diarrhœa.

=Deafness=:

_Symptoms_: In many cases, especially in white dogs, as bull terriers, it may be congenital. In ordinary cases it is often due to an accumulation of hard wax, or from growths in the canal of the ear. In old dogs it may be due to thickening of the drum of the ear.

_Treatment_: When congenital it is incurable. If result of growths in the ear, these must be removed by operation. When caused by accumulation of hard wax, a little warm almond oil should be poured into the ear, and the next day the ear should be thoroughly syringed with five ounces of tepid water in which has been dissolved a scruple of carbonate of soda. When the deafness is due to a thickening of the drum of the ear, which is often seen in old dogs, there is nothing to be done.

=Debility=:

_Symptoms_: May be due to constitutional causes, as is often seen in highly-bred puppies, or it may result from severe illness, particularly after distemper. The pulse is quick and weak, loss of appetite, and disinclination for exercise, poor condition, and membranes pale.

_Treatment_: For puppies, Sherley’s chemical tablets answer well. When result of illness, the following tonic may be given:—

_Recipe_:

Ammoniated Citrate of Iron, ½ drachm.
Tincture Nux Vomica, 40 minims.
Tincture Gentian, 3 drachms.
Water to 3 ounces.

From half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] three times a day one hour before food.

=Deformities, Congenital=:

These are numerous in the dog. Inverted eyelids: puppies are sometimes born without eyes, squinting small eyes, eyelashes growing in. Hare lip, cleft palate, pig jaw, deformities of the feet and limbs: particularly the stifle joint, the patella being out of its place, and the leg contracted or drawn up. Deformities of the chest: this condition is common in Japs, but seems to do no harm. Puppies are sometimes born without tails; though a good feature in schipperke and bob-tail sheep dogs, one does not like to see a pug or a dachshund without a tail, and when he is good in all other points, it is disappointing. A screw tail is objectionable in all breeds except the bulldog, and some people object to it in these dogs. Absence of one or both testicles.

_Treatment_: Many cases of deformity may be remedied by operation, but in others there is nothing to be done. Inverted eyelids can be cured by operation, an elliptical piece of skin and also the muscle underneath being cut out immediately under the lower eyelid, when that one is affected, or immediately over the upper eyelid, if it is that one that is turned. The cutting is best done with curved scissors, and should extend nearly the whole length of the lid. As the wound made heals, it draws the lid out.

In-growing eyelashes must be plucked out with forceps from time to time. Very often as the puppy grows older and stronger, the lashes assume a normal position, and cease to be a trouble, but if they continue to turn in after the dog is twelve months old, a similar operation as for inverted eyelids is recommended, but in these latter cases it is not necessary to divide the muscle, but only the skin. Squinting may be cured by operation, but it is not recommended, as the defect does no harm, and with Japanese spaniels, who often squint, it rather adds to their quaintness.

In cases of unnatural small eyes, which often occur in fox terrier puppies, an operation is not of any use; but with time, it may be months, perhaps a year, the condition often improves. Matters are helped by giving the puppy affected something to stare at, as, for instance, placing his food for a time behind some railings, so that he can see it, but cannot get at it. Anything, in fact, that attracts attention, and causes the puppy to stare. A stuffed cat behind the railings does for a change, a lump of raw meat or a bone. Hare lip can be cured by operation, but in consequence of the position, it is difficult to keep the edges of divided lip together after sewing them, as the puppy will rub his nose on the ground if he has a chance, besides constantly licking at the stitches. The operation should not be undertaken before the puppy is three months old, and then just before operation a good square meal of meat should be given; this will take some time to digest, and will satisfy the puppy for a long while; at any rate, nothing more should be given for twenty-four hours, by which time the healing has made good progress, and for some days after the operation the puppy should be fed from the fingers, piece by piece, certainly no dish should be given for him to rub his nose in.

As to the operation, the edges of the split lip should be freely scarified, and also be loosened from the gum by cutting through the mucus membrane, then the two edges of the lip should be brought firmly together with pin sutures, and a few layers of collodion painted over the external part, and dusted over sparingly with powdered iodoform. It is not necessary to give chloroform for an operation of this kind, a few drops of a 4% solution of cocaine injected into each side of the divided lip is sufficient.

There is no cure for cleft palate, and a puppy born with this condition should be destroyed.

Pig jaw is incurable.

As to deformities affecting the feet, a dog may be born without toes, or with only two or three toes; in such cases, of course, nothing can be done, but sometimes there may be an extra toe. If a show dog, it spoils the appearance of his foot, and interferes with his gait, and so must be removed.

Dew-claws are not a deformity, but they are a useless appendage, and should be cut off close to the leg about three days after birth; if left they are a constant nuisance, either through being frequently broken, or torn off at the quick, or else turning and growing into the flesh, which causes a good deal of pain.

Nothing can be done for deformity of the stifle joint, it causes no pain, though it renders the leg useless; but if the subject is a bitch, and well bred, she may be kept for breeding purposes. A screwed tail may be remedied, if not too badly twisted, by breaking, setting it straight, and applying an adhesive bandage.

In cases of absence of one or both testicles in the scrotum, there is nothing to be done. A dog with both testicles absent is useless for getting stock, though he is able and will serve a bitch, but in cases where only one is missing, it does not prevent such a dog being useful for stud purposes.

=Delirium=:

_Symptoms_: Restlessness, constantly howling and barking. Dogs in this state lose flesh very rapidly. Delirium is seen in some bad cases of distemper.

_Treatment_: Unsatisfactory; bromide of strontia may be tried; from two[1] to sixteen grains in water three or four times a day. Ice bags should be applied to head.

_Diet_: Give easily digested food—as Benger’s with milk, kreochyle with water, and well-boiled tripe or fish, with rice or stale bread.

=Destroy Dogs, How to=:

There is no doubt that the quickest and most painless way of killing a dog is by shooting, providing it is done properly, and the man is a good shot and can be relied on. The best place to hit a dog is either behind the ear, or in the middle of the forehead; but there are many people who don’t like an old favourite destroyed in this way. Personally, I don’t like it. I consider a large dose of morphia, and then chloroform, is better. At any rate, it does not seem such a harsh way of taking an old favourite’s life.

To destroy a dog with morphia and chloroform, from half to two grains of acetate of morphia[1] should be injected under the skin; then after waiting until the dog is in a heavy sleep, chloroform should be slowly administered. It is necessary to do it very slowly indeed, or else the dog will wake up. In this case don’t place anything over the dog’s nose at first, but pour a trifle on a handkerchief or napkin, and hold it from six to eight inches away from the dog’s nose, then gradually get nearer and nearer until at last you cover the dog’s nose over with the cloth. The chloroform must be continued until the dog has _stopped breathing for five minutes_.

The administering of half[1] to a dram of prussic acid is also a very sudden and quick way of destroying a dog, but it is a debatable point whether this causes acute pain. At any rate, the dog invariably cries out loudly after it has been administered a few moments, and so he often does when going under the influence of chloroform. However, death by freshly prepared and strong prussic acid is very certain and sudden.

When administering this acid, one should be very careful never to stand in front of a dog, for if he coughs while it is in his mouth, and some goes into the eye of the person giving it, the consequences may be serious, as it is most deadly.

Winner of 2 Firsts and 8 Specials. The property of the Countess Sponneck Mayer.

_Photo. by T. Fall, 9, Baker Street_] [_face p. 60._]

=Diabetes Insipidus=:

_Symptoms_: Increased secretion of urine of a watery nature—great thirst. For a time the dog’s condition does not alter, but if the disease is not checked then he loses condition, the muscles waste, the legs become thin, the ribs prominent, and the abdomen distended as the result of the large quantity of water taken. This is a disease to which old dogs are particularly liable.

_Treatment_: Limit the quantity of water given the dog to drink; for a small dog, say half a tumblerful[1] to a couple of pints for a large dog. Feed on dry food. For medicine, give from half a drop[1] to two drops of Fowler’s solution of arsenic in water three times a day before food. If this does not benefit the case, give from an eighth[1] to a grain of powdered opium twice a day in the form of a pill. Treatment is often unsatisfactory.

=Diabetes Mellitus=:

_Symptoms_: Large quantities of urine containing sugar are passed; great thirst, voracious appetite, and gradual wasting of body. The tongue is dry and parched, and is of a red-brick colour; coat stares, and the dog looks generally unhealthy.

_Treatment_: Food containing sugar or starch must be avoided; meat given nearly or quite raw is the best diet. As to medicine, though it is practically an incurable disease, codeine does in some cases mitigate the symptoms. Of this medicine, give from a twelfth[1] to half a grain three times a day. After a fortnight or so the dose may be doubled.

=Diarrhœa=:

_Symptoms_: Frequent watery motions, which may vary in colour—white, slate, brown, black, and sometimes green—accompanied very often by great thirst and loss of appetite.

_Treatment_: In most cases a small dose of castor oil at the commencement of the attack does good, and in many cases effects a cure. Should the symptoms continue after the effects of the oil have passed off, give from five[1] to twenty grains of carbonate of bismuth three or four times a day before food, or the following mixture:—

_Recipe: The Mixture for Diarrhœa_:

Laudanum, 1 drachm.
Tincture of Rhubarb, 4 drachms.
Peppermint Water to 4 ounces.

From one teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls[1] three times a day. Or the following pills may be tried:—

_Recipe: Pills for Diarrhœa_:

Extract of Kino, 1 drachm.
Powdered Ipecacuanha, 12 grains.
Powdered Opium, 6 ”

Ex. cip. _q.s._

A sixth, fourth, half, or the whole[1] may be mixed and divided into twelve pills. One to be given three or four times a day. If the motions are very offensive, from two[1] to ten grains of salol may also be given three or four times a day.

_Diet_: At first liquid, as milk, thickened with equal parts of arrowroot and Benger’s food; after two or three days, raw beef cut up very fine may be given alone or mixed with equal parts well-boiled rice; rice water to drink. In chronic diarrhœa a liquid diet should be given for some time, and in addition to the milk diet previously mentioned, home-made beef-tea (with all fibrine removed) may be given slightly thickened with isinglass, and the following mixture tried:—

_Recipe_:

Diluted Sulphuric Acid, 2 drachms.
Laudanum, 1 drachm.
Water to 8 ounces.

_Dose_: From a teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls[1] three times a day. When there is much straining accompanying the diarrhœa, it is a good plan to give an enema consisting of one teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls[1] of thick-boiled starch, with from three[1] to fifteen drops of laudanum mixed. When the diarrhœa is due to disordered liver, which is generally the case when the motions are white or grey, from one[1] to six grains of grey powder may be given at first instead of castor oil.

=Diarrhœa in Puppies=:

_Symptoms_: Very often the result of worms, but may be due to indigestion, the result of improper or too much food. Motion liquid and frequent, generally of a yellowish colour.

_Treatment_: If worms are suspected give Sherley’s worm tablets for puppies, otherwise first give a small dose of castor oil, and after it has worked off give from two[1] to six grains of carbonate of bismuth every four hours. If the diarrhœa is accompanied by colicky pains give also from two[1] to ten drops of paregoric in a little water three or four times a day.

_Diet_: If the patient has been kept on a milk food, discontinue this, and give scraped lean raw meat, a small quantity four times a day; but when a meat diet has been given and the diarrhœa continues, then give milk with Benger’s food or Plasmon. In very obstinate cases from a quarter[1] to one grain of grey powder once or twice a day for three days is often useful.

=Discharge from Ear (Canker)=:

_Symptoms_: The canal of the ear is red, inflamed, and painful; in slight cases there is often a brownish discharge; in chronic and severe cases the discharge is fœtid and generally purulent, and may be tinged with blood. In these cases the ears are very painful, and the dog cries when he shakes his head.

_Treatment_: In very mild cases cleaning the ears daily with a weak solution of Condy’s fluid will often effect a cure; but if the ears are inflamed after cleaning them the canal should be painted twice a day with the following lotion:—

_Recipe: Lotion for Ears_:

Benzoated Oxide of Zinc Ointment, 2 drachms.
Almond Oil, 1 ounce.

Well mixed.

Each time before dressing the ears they should be carefully wiped out with medicated cotton wool.

In bad cases, when the discharge is purulent, the ears should be syringed morning and evening with two tablespoonfuls of methylated spirits added to half-a-pint tepid water, and after letting the dog shake his head, wipe the ears out as dry as possible with absorbent cotton wool, and then fill with powdered boracic acid by the aid of a quill and a piece of indiarubber tube attached. If this treatment does not cure, then wash the ears out night and morning with peroxide of hydrogen—x vols.

Some cases of canker are very obstinate.

=Dislocations=:

_Toe, Dislocation of_:

_Symptoms_: The dog is very lame—in fact, cannot put the foot to the ground; the joint is swollen, and painful to manipulate. If the injured toe is compared with a sound one, it will be found that the lower bone which assists in forming the joint that is dislocated sticks up much more than is natural.

_Treatment_: As a rule, especially in a recent case, the reduction is not difficult. The toe should be pulled straight with the fingers of one hand, and with those of the other the projecting bone should be pressed into its place. In some cases it may be necessary to give chloroform. A padded splint extending from the back of the knee or hock to just below the foot should be put on, and a bandage applied to prevent the foot being used for a few days.

_Knee, Dislocation of_:

_Symptoms_: This generally occurs in conjunction with fracture of the radius, but it may happen alone. The dislocation generally occurs sideways, and the foot either turned outwards or inwards. The parts are very painful, and soon swell.

_Treatment_: The reduction should be attempted as quickly as possible after the accident, otherwise it will be necessary to wait until the swelling is reduced, and this can be helped by the application of crushed ice placed in a woollen bag and applied right round the joint.

It is best to give the patient chloroform before attempting the reduction of a dislocated knee; and when the dog is well under the influence of the anæsthetic the foot should be seized with one hand and pulled in straight direction from above downwards, and with the fingers of the other hand, during the pulling, the joint should be pressed into their place. As a rule, in dislocation of the knee the ligaments of the joint are often much injured, therefore when the reduction has been completed padded splints and bandages should be applied, as is recommended for fracture of the radius or arm, and be kept on for about three weeks.

_Elbow, Dislocation of_:

This does not often occur in adult dogs, but is not uncommon in delicate puppies as the result of some violence.

_Symptoms_: Lameness, and if the dog attempts to put weight on the leg, the elbow turns out. The joint as the result of the dislocation is wider than the one on the other side, but there is not much pain on pressure, as is the case of fracture at the elbow when the inner condyle of the shoulder bone (humerus) is broken off.

_Treatment_: In reducing this dislocation chloroform is not necessary. The arm should be flexed on the shoulder, and then by bearing pressure on the head of the bone and a twist of the head of the bone inwards the reduction is completed. The joint is to be afterwards fixed in its place with strips of adhesive plaister applied as depicted in the illustration annexed. If the bones cannot be kept in their place with the plaister, a splint cut out of thin zinc and of the shape of the elbow joint must be applied. The inside of the splint should be slightly concave to fit the leg, and of course well padded before being put on.

_Shoulder Joint, Dislocation of_:

_Symptoms_: Lameness; pain at the seat of injury, which is increased by putting leg forward; and some slight swelling, and the leg is perceptibly shortened. When there is any difficulty in diagnosing the case, all doubt is removed by making the dog stand evenly on both fore legs and comparing the sound shoulder with the injured one.

_Treatment_: In all cases I have seen of dislocation of the shoulder joint the head of the shoulder bone, which fits in a cup at the bottom of the blade bone, shoots upwards—of course only to a slight extent, as the bone is held in its position by strong muscles and tendons as well as by the capsule of the joint. Chloroform having been given, an attendant must hold the dog firmly by clasping his hands between the fore legs in front of the chest, or by fixing a towel in a similar position; and then the operator, seizing the paw with one hand, must pull the limb in a forward and downward direction, and at the same time with the fingers of the other hand press the head of the shoulder bone into its position. It is well afterwards to put a wide bandaging on round the chest over the shoulder joint, and keep the dog quiet for a few days.

_Hock, Dislocation of_:

This does not often occur except in conjunction with fracture at this part.

_Symptoms_: The dislocation occurs generally sideways, and may be either outwards or inwards, the foot being placed almost at right angles. The joint quickly swells, and is very painful.

_Treatment_: The reduction is carried out in a similar way as advised for reducing a dislocated elbow; afterwards the same kind of splints as recommended for treating fracture of the tibia are to be applied with bandages, and should be allowed to remain on for at least three or four weeks, and even after this it may be necessary to support the joint with a few strips of plaister for a time.

_Patella, Dislocation of_:

_Symptoms_: The patella is a small bone situated in front of the stifle joint, and is more liable to dislocation than any other part, especially in small dogs. With some dogs it is constantly slipping out of its place when running along, and then after a few steps it goes back again of its own accord. The bone almost always becomes displaced towards the inside of the leg, the dog in some cases being unable to put his foot to the ground; if he does attempt to put any weight on the leg, the stifle joint bends outwards. There is little or no pain caused by this dislocation.

A—Sticking-plaister Bandage

B—Linen Roller Bandage]

_Treatment_: The patella is easily returned to its place, but as often as not it slips out again. The best way of reducing this dislocation is to straighten the leg and draw the foot towards the elbow of the same side, and then with the fingers of the other hand push the patella into its place; afterwards, to keep it there, bind the joint with several layers of Mead’s plaister as depicted in the illustration. The plaister should be continued for some distance above the joint.

=Distemper=:

The first symptom of distemper is a rise of temperature—if a dog is dull and off his food, take the temperature. It is best to take it in the rectum, where the normal is 101 degs. to 101½ degs. F.; if taken under the arm or inside of the thigh it is 1 deg. lower. If the thermometer registers 2 or 3 degs. of temperature above normal, you may be sure there is something wrong, and the dog should be isolated at once; and by doing this the infection may often be prevented spreading. If the disease is distemper, other symptoms will soon develop, as a husky cough, loss of appetite and condition, and occasionally vomiting. The eyes are weak and sensitive to light, and there is often a little gummy discharge which collects along the edges of the lids; the breath is offensive, and the teeth become furred. Diarrhœa may, or may not, occur. If the illness is only some passing ailment, the temperature will soon be normal, and the dog assume his usual condition. But the temperature, even in distemper, after two or three days, may go down to normal; but do not be deceived by this, and think the dog is all right, but look out for some of the other symptoms mentioned, and if the dog is in for that disease they are sure to appear, and the fever will return again in a couple of days or so.

People often think a dog cannot have distemper unless there is a discharge from the nose; this is a mistake, but it certainly does occur in most cases, though it does not appear as a rule until the dog has been ill for some time. If the lungs become affected, the breathing is short and quick, not panting with the mouth open; the chest is tender on pressure. At first there is no cough, but after two or three days there is a suppressed painful cough, with retching. The pulse is often much accelerated, the beats varying from 110 to 140 per minute. In some cases the pulse is very slow, and may only be 48 to the minute; of course, this refers to a big dog. A pulse of this kind is worse than a fast one with pneumonia. When it is between 60 and 70 in a small dog, it is also serious with lung complications. The heart’s action in dogs is very frequently intermittent even in health. The eyes during distemper are often a source of anxiety, and in those dogs with prominent orbits, as spaniels, pugs, etc., there is always an inclination for ulcers to form, which are extremely painful.

The worst complications of all in distempers are those affecting the nervous system; the brain and its membranes may become inflamed, and fits follow, or the spinal cord and its membranes attacked, and paralysis or chorea, or perhaps both, occur. These complications of the nervous system may often be prevented by not letting the dog out too soon after distemper. The temperature should be regularly taken, and the patient not allowed to go out of doors or be excited in any way until the temperature has been normal at least ten days. Sometimes suddenly changing the diet from liquid to solid food will induce fits.

Occasionally in distemper a crop of pustules appears on the inside of the legs and over the stomach—in fact, in some cases all over the body. This is rather a good sign than otherwise, for they seem to relieve the system of the distemper poison.

To treat distemper successfully, good nursing and dry, warm, comfortable quarters for the patient are the two essential things. For outdoor dogs, a loose box in a stable makes a capital place, and in cold weather the temperature should be kept as near 55 deg. F. as possible. Dogs who are in the habit of living indoors should be put in a well-ventilated room, and the temperature kept up between 60 and 65 deg. F. It is a good plan to cover the floor with sawdust, which should be changed at least once a day, and oftener when necessary. The dog should not be let out of the box or warm room for _anything_. Very often at first there are difficulties with very clean dogs, but it can generally be overcome with perseverance. Sometimes a little soiled straw from a kennel thrown down in the room is useful. Some dogs may be taught to use a tray or box filled with sawdust or mould. Directly a dog shows signs of distemper he should be sewn up in a flannel coat to keep the chest warm.

As to diet, if it is only a slight case, a light meal of bread or crushed biscuit with gravy or milk may be given three or four times a day.

For a change, a little well-boiled fish with rice, or sheep’s head broth and rice, or bread. Milk may be given freely to drink.

In all cases of distemper it is important to keep the eyes free of discharge by cleaning or bathing them frequently with some warm boracic lotion, made by dissolving half a teaspoonful of boracic acid in half a pint of warm water. When the discharge is very free and continues, in addition to keeping them clean with this lotion a little of the following may be run on to the eyes, especially on the inside of the lower lid:—

_The Lotion for Eye_:

Chinosol, 3 grains.
Water to 6 ounces.

To be applied three times a day after cleansing with the boracic.

In severe cases where the discharge is very profuse and offensive, a little powdered iodoform may be dusted over the front of the eye two or three times a day. If ulcers form they are to be treated the same way: and if the eyes are very painful, add to every half-pint of boracic lotion four grains of hydrochlorate of cocaine.

As the dog recovers from distemper, and the discharge ceases, if there is any opacity of the corners left, the following ointment should be used:—

_The Ointment for Eyes_:

Yellow Oxide of Mercury, 1 grain.
Vaseline, 1 drachm.

Mix.

A small piece should be placed between the lids, and then gently rub the upper eyelid over the eye for one minute so as to work the ointment in. Repeat twice a day. In some cases the opacity is very obstinate, and cannot be removed by the ointment, then the following drops may be tried:—

Divine Stone, 2 grains.
Solution Sulphate Atropine, 12 maximum.
Distilled Water to ½ ounce.

One or two drops to be placed in the eye twice a day.

The dog should be held for a few minutes after this lotion has been applied or he may rub the eye.

After distemper, eczema often follows as the result of weakness; tonics should be given and the disease treated in the ordinary way.

Some dogs during distemper, especially in bad cases, discharge a thin, purulent, offensive matter or pus from the skin around the mouth, head, under the neck, and inside of ears. This condition, which is more often seen in bloodhounds than other dogs, is a very bad sign.

The parts should be thoroughly cleansed once a day by being washed with Pearson’s Antiseptic diluted eighty times with warm water, carefully dried with soft cloths, and then freely dusted with some absorbent powder, as anylyform, or with the following:—

Powdered Burnt Alum, 1 ounce.
Powdered Boracic Acid, 1 ounce.
Powdered Starch, 6 ounces.

Mixed together.

Tonics, especially quinine, are indicated during this condition, as the discharge is very weakening.

When the appetite is very bad, the patient may be tempted with some giblet soup or a little well-stewed rabbit and bread, or rice. Very often, in bad cases, the dog absolutely refuses all food; he must then be drenched with strong meat tea, or with milk thickened with Benger’s food. When there is an inclination to diarrhœa, the beef tea and milk should be thickened with cornflour or arrowroot. One of the best ways of making meat tea is with beef, mutton, and veal, say half a pound of each cut up very fine; this should be gently simmered with a pint of water for three or four hours, and then strained off. Of this, from a tablespoonful[1] to a small teacupful may be given every three or four hours alternately with the milk food. In addition to this, if the dog will drink raw beef tea, which they will often do, it may be given freely. This is best made as follows: Half a pound of lean raw meat passed through a sausage machine; to this add half a pint of water, and place in an earthenware jar in front of a fire for two or three hours, stirring occasionally; then strain off through a cloth. Some pressure is required to get all the juice out of the meat. It requires to be made fresh every day. When the patient is very weak and exhausted, feeding is necessary every hour or two, as only very small quantities of food can be retained. Then strong meat extracts are required. Plasmon may also be tried mixed with milk, and Valentine’s meat juice with milk. Of this latter from fifteen[1] drops to a teaspoonful, with one[1] to four teaspoonfuls of milk. Invalid Bovril may be given instead of Valentine’s for a change in the same proportions, but fresh meat juice from raw meat is as strong as anything. As to stimulants, there is no doubt, when the dog is very low and the pulse weak, from ten[1] drops to a teaspoonful of brandy does good. When the dog is eating all right himself, it may be given in a little water after food, but when one is drenching the food it should be mixed with it.

There is no doubt that dogs who continue with a good appetite through distemper do much better, and have a better chance of recovering, no matter how severe the attack may be, than those bad feeders who refuse food and have to be drenched. A little food taken voluntarily does much more good than a lot forced upon the dog; therefore I advise tempting the patient with a variety of diet, so as to get him to eat something himself—of course, given in small quantities, particularly when the case is bad. I always commence with soup and milk alternately, mixed with bread, biscuits, or rice; as the dog gets tired of these, I add a little meat, say from a sheep’s head or stewed neck of mutton; for a change some fish, boiled tripe, or stewed rabbit, and if the dog goes off these I try scraped raw meat. I never commence forcing food if I can help it, for I find, once this is started, there is always a difficulty in getting the dog to eat anything himself.

As to medicine, the more experience one gets the more one finds this is quite secondary in treating distemper. I do not believe in specifics, and, do what one may, the disease under the best circumstances will run a certain course. In simple cases, where the temperature is not very high, an occasional mild dose of syrup of buckthorn and castor oil is often all that is required. This is necessary, as the dog cannot go out and take exercise; therefore the bowels often get constipated, and if this is neglected troublesome diarrhœa may occur. After the temperature is normal and remains so for a few days, and the dog does not feed well, then some tonic is useful, as the following:—

_Recipe: The Pills_:

Salicylate of Quinine, 12 grains.
Extract of Gentian, 30 ”

Mix, and divide into 24 pills.

_Dose_: From half to two pills[1] to be given three times a day.