Bronchial Asthma in the Dog. 27 r 



A change of diet or any disturbing cause may bring on a par- 

 oxysm. 



Symptoms. The disease is one of pet dogs, kept in towns, de- 

 prived of exercise, fresh air, and of the opportunity to relieve the 

 bowels at will, and gorged with highly spiced meats, and sweets 

 at least three times a day. Sluggishness and obesity are marked 

 characteristics of the dog when first attacked though in the ad- 

 vanced stages the violence of the paroxj'sms and their frequent 

 recurrence may have induced extreme emaciation. 



The affection is usually ushered in by a cough, at first slight, 

 but soon becoming frequent, hard and sonorous, as in the early 

 stages of bronchitis. The cough becomes very troublesome and 

 the breathing habitually labored, but at irregular intervals a 

 paroxysm comes on which threatens death by suffocation. The 

 dog stands or sits on his haunches with open mouth, pendent 

 tongue and staring eyeballs, panting for breath, and has his con- 

 dition aggravated by every change of position or other source of 

 excitement. By the frequency and severity of the attacks may 

 be estimated the danger of the patient. 



An examination in the intervals of the attacks detects some 

 disturbance of the digestive organs. The tense and distended 

 condition of the abdomen usually manifests the existence of over- 

 loaded stomach and bowels, of indigestion, tympany and consti- 

 pation. Piles are often present as a result of long continued 

 costiveness. The skin is dry and unthrifty, and often in patches 

 denuded of hair. The teeth are covered with tartar and the 

 breath foetid. 



Retching is occasionally seen to occur during a violent access 

 of coughing, but only a little glairy mucus is brought up. 



The cough, hurried breathing, and paroxysms of dyspnoea be- 

 come aggravated, the general health suffers largely, and death 

 often ensues in a state of great weakness and emaciation. 



On dissection of such cases the lesions of various old standing 

 diseases of the heart, lungs, or abdominal organs have been met 

 with at times, and such disorders have doubtless a.ssisted in main- 

 taining and aggravating the asthma. The mo.st constant lesions, 

 however, are emphysema of the lung, and accumulations of fat 

 in the mediastinum. 



Treatment, ist. During a paroxysm. This is confined to 



