DOGS AND THEIR DISEASES. 



DOGS, Distemper in. — If the animal 

 is a watch dog (such are usually con- 

 fined in the daytime), the person 

 who is in the daily habit of feeding 

 him will first observe a loss of appetite ; 

 the animal will appear dull and lazy; 

 shortly after, there is a watery discharge 

 from the eyes and nose, resembling that 

 which accompanies catarrh. As the dfs- 

 ease advances, general debility super- 

 venes, accompanied with a weakness of 

 the hind extremities. The secretions are 

 morbid; for example, some are consti- 

 pated, and pass high-colored urine; oth- 

 ers are suddenly attacked with diarrhoea, 

 scanty urine, and vomiting. Fits are 

 not uncommon during the progress of 

 the disease. 



If the animal is supposed to have 

 eaten any improper food, we commence 

 the treatment by giving an emetic: 



Powdered Lobelia, (herb, ) . . I teaspoonful. 



Warm Water I wine-glass. 



Mix, and administer at a dose. 



(A tablespoonful of common salt and 

 water will generally vomit a dog.) 



If this dose does not provoke emesis, 

 it should not be repeated, for it may act 

 as a relaxant, and carry the morbid accu- 

 mulations off by the alimentary canal. If 

 the bowels are constipated, use injections 

 of soap-suds. If the symptoms are 

 complicated, the following medicines must 

 be prepared : 



Powdered Mandrake ...I tablespoonful. 



Powdered Sulphur I teaspoonful. 



Powdered Charcoal 2 teaspoonfuls. 



Powdered Marshmallows ....... I tablespoonful. 



Mix. 



Divide the mass into six parts, and ad- 

 minister one in honey, night and morn- 

 ing, for the first day; after which, a single 

 powder, daily, will suffice. The diet to 

 consist of mush, together with a drink 

 of thin arrowroot. If, however, the ani- 

 mal be in a state of plethora, very little 

 food should be given him. 



If the strength fails, support it with 

 beef tea. Should a diarrhoea attend the 



malady, give an occasional drink of hard- 

 hack tea. 



DOGS, Fits. — Dogs are subject to epi- 

 leptic fits, which are often attended with 

 convulsions. They attack dogs of all 

 ages, and under every variety of man- 

 agement. Dogs that are apparently 

 healthy are often suddenly attacked. The 

 nervous system of the dog is very sus- 

 ceptible to external agents; hence what- 

 ever raises any strong passion in them 

 often produces fits. Pointers and setters 

 have often been known to suffer an attack 

 during the excitement of the chase. Fear 

 will also produce fits ; and bitches, while 

 suckling, if burdened with a number of 

 pups, and not having a sufficiency of nu- 

 triment to support the lacteal secretion, 

 often die in convulsive fits. Young 

 puppies, while teething, are subject to fits : 

 simply scarifying their gums will generally 

 give temporary relief. Lastly, fits may 

 be hereditary, or they may be caused by 

 derangement of the stomach. In all 

 cases of fits, it is very necessary, in order 

 to treat them with success, that we en- 

 deavor, as far as possible, to ascertain the 

 causes, and remove them as far as lies in 

 our power: this accomplished, the cure is 

 much easier. 



Whenever the attack is sudden and 

 violent, and the animal is in good flesh, 

 plunge him into a tub of warm water, 

 and give an injection of the same, to 

 which a teaspoonful of salt may be added. 

 It is very difficult, in fact improper, to 

 give medicine during the fit ; but as soon 

 as it is over give 



Manna ...I teaspoonful. 



Common Salt half a teaspoonful. 



Add a small quantity of water, and-give it at a 

 dose. 



Another. — Make an infusion of mul- 

 lein leaves, and give to the amount of a 

 wine-glass every four hours. With a 

 view of preventing a recurrence of fits, 

 keep the animal on a vegetable diet. If 

 the bowels are constipated, give thirty 

 grains of extract of butternut, or, if that 



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