NEMATODA 209 



Prognosis. If the condition is recognized early and treat- 

 ment administered, the prognosis is favorable. In those 

 cases showing extreme emaciation and exhaustion the prog- 

 nosis is bad. 



Treatment. Treatment in ankylostomiasis must be 

 directed toward the removal of the parasite. The common 

 anthelmintics used for intestinal parasites have little or 

 no effect on the strongylidse. Thymol (0.06-0.6) is prob- 

 ably the best for this species, and good results follow 

 its use in daily repeated doses. It is advisable to pre- 

 cede the treatment with a dose of Epsom salts to free 

 the intestines of food and the mucus with which the para- 

 sites are usually covered. The object of the treatment is to 

 have the finely pulverized thymol pass, only slightly dis- 

 solved, through the entire length of the intestines, and com- 

 ing in contact with the parasites, destroy, or so disable them, 

 that they may be evacuated. As thymol is very soluble in 

 alcohol, fats or oil, and serious results follow its absorption, 

 all medicines containing alcohol as well as all fatty foods 

 (fat meat, milk, butter, etc.) should be avoided during its 

 use. It must be administered in a capsule thoroughly mixed 

 with three times the amount of sugar to prevent the thymol 

 collecting in a mass, as it would otherwise do as soon as 

 liberated from the capsule and pass through the intestine 

 with little or no effect on the parasites. Should absorption 

 occur with the production of toxic symptoms, a subcutaneous 

 injection of magnesium sulphate (0.3) will often overcome it. 

 Nutritious and easily digested food (lean meat, rice soup, 

 cooked vegetables) may be given during the treatment after 

 which the best of food that the dog will eat should be allowed. 

 Stomachic tonics as iron, quinine citrate (0.2-0.3), tincture 

 gentian compound (1.0-4.0) are useful to stimulate the 

 appetite. These should be continued for some time. In a 

 few weeks make another examination for parasites or ova, 

 and, if present, repeat the treatment. Thorough disinfection 

 of the kennels is important. 



Trichinellidae. Whijnvonu. This parasite lives in the 

 cecum and large intestines, and is less common than the 

 species described. It is also much slower in development, 

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