14 DISEASES 



"Asthma is a very common ailment among sporting dogs, and is 

 brought on by repeated exposure, followed by" inattention. If the simple 

 duty of making a dog comfortable be attended to at the close of each day's 

 work, there need be little fear of anything like this ensuing. It is not 

 actually the exposure to the weather that causes a dog to have lung trou- 

 ble, because when a dog is out exposed he is constantly on the move, and 

 the circulation keeps up, so that it is not possible for him to contract a 

 chill; but the chill is contracted when the animal returns home and lies 

 down in a wet condition. Then the blood ceases to circulate as rapidly 

 as during exercise, and the animal becomes shivery and a cold develops. 

 This repeated a few times more or less will end in a cough, and asthma 

 will ensue. 



When once a dog has suffered from an attack of asthma there always 

 remains with him a predisposition to a renewal of the trouble. It is a most 

 distressing complaint, and in the case of an animal like the dog, which leads, 

 or should lead an active outdoor life, it is almost impossible to effect a 

 permanent cure. Asthma differs from bronchitis in several ways. It comes 

 on in paroxysms, which gradually get worse and worse, until finally the 

 animal is suffocated. The treatment usually adopted consists in placing the 

 animal in a room or chamber where a kettle is constantly boiling, so that 

 the atmosphere is kept continually moist — as moist warmth does as much 

 good as anything to give relief in such cases. As regards medicine, some 

 of the ordinary cough remedies may be tried, the best thing perhaps being 

 mixtifre of oxymel or squill and glycerine, in equal parts, to which a large 

 paregoric elixir is added. The dog should have this about three times a 

 day." 



Another very good thing to do in connection with any treatment you use 

 is, cut up an onion small and fine, anoint with a drop or two (no more or 

 it will blister) of kerosene is excellent for asthma and bronchitis. 



This, then put into a cotton cloth and tied around the dog's neck will 

 afford relief in breathing. The onion should be renewed by a fresh one. 



House dogs suffer greatly from over-indulgence, errors in diet and lack 

 of exercise, which causes them to put on flesh rapidly. These conditions 

 produce derangements of the heart, lungs and circulatory system that fre- 

 quently result in a morbid condition of the system, known as asthma. In- 

 flammation of the mucous membrane lining of the bronchial tubes also 

 produces this disease, so that colds and inhalations of noxious gases and 

 vapors are common causes. 



The disease is easily recognized and there is no danger of confounding 

 it with other affections of the chest. It is not liable to prove fatal, but 

 seriously affects a dog's usefulness and will unquestionably shorten the 

 animal's life. 



Symptoms: The patient shows great distress and difficulty in breathing, 

 particularly after slight exertion, and suffers more or less from suffocation. 

 Respirations are not increased in number, but are labored and jerky and 

 have a wheezy, croupy sound during expiration. There is generally a 

 peculiar cough. The nostrils are dilated and the expression is anxious and 

 pitiful. The coat of over-fed dogs suffering from asthma is rough and 



