CHAPTER VII 



TREATING SICK ANIMALS 



THE sick animal should have the benefits of good 

 nursing. By good nursing is meant the proper care of 

 an ailing animal. Its aim is to hasten recovery from 

 the ill effects of the disease. Most veterinarians of large 

 experience, if required to choose between medicine and 

 good nursing, would in a great majority of cases prefer 

 to do without medicine, counting the nursing more 

 important. A good nurse for ailing animals is one who 

 understands them thoroughly, who can supply their 

 needs, who is careful and attentive, studying always 

 the well-being and comfort of his charges. 



In all cases of disease in animals, one of the first 

 things to be done is to look for the cause of the trouble, 

 and if possible to remove it. This is not only for the 

 benefit of the ailing animal, but for others which may 

 be equally susceptible to the disease but have not as yet 

 come in contact with it. There should be a careful ex- 

 amination of the surroundings of the animal, the work 

 it has been doing, the food, water, general care, exer- 

 cise, exposure, possibilities and sources of infection with 

 contagious diseases, and other circumstances. It is true 

 that in many cases there are severe and acute symptoms 

 that require immediate and vigorous attention, such as 

 colic in horses or bloating in cattle; but even in these 



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