DISEASES 11 



ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION OF REMEDIES TO CANINE 



PATIENTS. 



"In the treatment of dogs or other domestic animals one great obstacle 

 to successful medication is the difficulty often encountered in the adminis- 

 tration of remedies. 



Dogs frequently refuse to swallow liquids or offer such strenuous ob- 

 jections that a portion of the medicine is spilled and the quantity admin- 

 istered becomes merely speculative. Hence it is not advisable to use liquid 

 medicines at all for dogs if it can be avoided. 



Hypodermic injections of alkaloidal "solutions are the most prompt, effi- 

 cient and reliable method of administration we have, but as it pre-supposes 

 the possession of a hypodermic syringe the plan is not feasible in the ma- 

 jority of instances. 



Other methods are to have the remedies incorporated in tablet or 

 granule form or given in gelatin capsules. For ordinary purposes this is 

 the most convenient method. The tablet or capsule can be placed toward 

 the back of the tongue and readily forced back with the finger far enough 

 so that to swallow is the only thing the patient can do. 



Always treat him kindly and give an approbative pat on the head 

 and when the time for the next dose arrives he will be ready for it. 



At times liquid medicines are necessary, especially saline laxatives, and 

 as they are decidedly of unpleasant taste and the dose necessarily large it 

 is frequently quite a difficult matter to convince the patient that it is "not 

 bad to take." Rochelle salts is the least nauseating of the saline laxatives 

 and when given largely diluted with water its action is increased and the 

 taste not so disagreeable. 



In giving liquids place the patient in a corner, but do not handle rough- 

 ly. Have the medicine in a bottle or hard rubber syringe. Take hold of 

 the fold at the angle of the mouth and pull out to form a pouch, then pour 

 in a small quantity at a time, repeating as it is swallowed. 



A dose of castor oil is sometimes required, especially to supplement 

 the action of a vermicide. If this is given in about four parts of milk 

 the taste will be largely disguised and the administration more pleasantly 

 effected. 



In applying lotions to the eye the lids can be separated by the thumb 

 and finger and the solution dropped in from a medicine dropper. 



When the nasal passages are occluded by adherent discharges, appli- 

 cations of warm water and steaming will be of benefit. For the latter, the 

 patient can be held with the nose over a vessel containing hot water (med- 

 icated if the case demands) and enclosing head and vessel with a towel. 

 Care must be taken though to allow sufficient air. 



In applying remedies to the ear the most useful implement is a blunt, 

 hard rubber syringe. If, however, it is necessary to apply dry powder a 

 "blower" will be found of great service. 



In treating wounds the watchword should be antisepsis, but in the 

 use of such preparations one must always bear in mind the danger that 

 may result from the patient licking the dressing. Of antiseptics iodoform 

 should never be used for the dog except in minute quantities, owing to 



