DISEASES 69 



ous sores, and which should be treated the same as internal ear canker, 

 it is not found in dogs except in the ear. 



Causes. — First of all, and most common, is some injury, such as blows 

 on the ear or pulling the ears, a habit some people have as a method of 

 correction, and one that is most pernicious. Others, of which probably 

 the principal one is getting the cars full of water in diving, swimming or 

 retrieving from water, followed by lack of exercise; too rich food, dirty, 

 damp kennel to sleep in, and excess of fat, as it is often found in fat, lazy 

 dogs. 



Canker may be the result of exposure to cold, over-feeding, the pres 

 ence of insects; foreign bodies, or an accumulation of wax in the ear, are 

 also fertile causes, while the most common is the washing of dogs with 

 coarse alkaline soaps which are totally unfit for the sensitive skin of the 

 dog. The soap, during the washing, gains access to the ear, setting up 

 dangerous inflammation. 



Hugh Dalziel says: "Is there not another and frequent cause — whether 

 those sportsmen (?) do not often produce it who, instead of correcting 

 their dogs by the legitimate means of the voice and the whip, resort 

 to another method much to be condemned. 'Lugging' a dog is as cruel 

 as kicking him, neither is a fit mode of punishment and the former 

 very likely to produce canker." 



Ear canker is one of the nuisances of dog keeping, and when neg- 

 lected is a most obstinate complaint. The experienced dogman is always 

 on the alert, but the novice may not detect the trouble until the ear 

 discharges an acrid secretion. The careful kennelman will examine his 

 dogs' ears as a part of the daily grooming. 



Internal Canker is an inflammation of the lining membrane of the 

 passage to the ear, which if neglected turns into ulceration and suppuration, 

 and when of long standing a blackish, offensive discharge takes place, 

 accumulating in the air passage, and the interior of the ear will be found 

 red and inflamed. 



When you notice the following symptoms begin at once to treat him 

 for it, the sooner the better, to save your dog pain and yourself trouble: 



The dog thus suffering will be observed frequently scratching his ear 

 with his paw, holding his head on one side, giving it a violent shake, as 

 though to empty something out, the pain and irritation, causing him, to 

 thus shake his head, whereby the flaps of the y ear get bruised, ulcerations 

 form, the tips become sore, the inflammation in the interior lining mem- 

 brane extends to the outside and from the shaking and scratching is formed 

 external canker. 



When a dog shakes his head, scratches his ear with his paw, and 

 holds his head to one side, it is high time to investigate and apply remedies. 



The acrid discharges, if not cleared away will lead to irritation of 

 the flap of the ear, the flap swells and looks angry, often breaking out in 

 sores at the tips and edges. This is external canker. The peculiarly of- 

 fensive odor of the ear passage is a sure sign of internal canker. 



Treatment. — Wash out the ear with warm water and soapsuds, use 

 either Castile or Eberhart's Dog Soap; rinse with clean warm, water and 



