256 USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING DOGS. 



tearing much more than crushing. Nearly all pet dogs living In towns 

 as they approach old age suffer from this collection of tartar, whereas 

 those dogs who live in the country and are used for sporting purposes, 

 shepherding, watching, etc., are almost, if not always, free from it. Again, 

 if the dog does not use his teeth for chewing, the salivary glands in the 

 mouth are limited or put out of action and in consequence proper digestion 

 does not take place, the chemistry of the mouth is upset, the secretions 

 form a suitable pabulum for microbes to act upon and manufacture tartar. 



Therefore, from what has been said above, if one wishes to prevent 

 the formation of tartar, one must feed a dog on tearing food that gives the 

 mouth and teeth work to do. If this precaution be neglected and tartar 

 should form, it ought to be removed by scraping off and brushing the teeth 

 with some suitable wash, or powder, or soap, daily after food. When 

 the mouth gives off a bad odor, five to ten drops of dilute hydrochloric acid 

 should be given with the food daily as it assists digestion and rectifies the 

 faulty secretions. 



The most serious diseases of the dog's teeth is inflammation of the 

 covering of the fang of the tooth, together with that of the tooth-socket or 

 alveoius, which brings about receding of the gum and loosening of the 

 tooth, the root of which is bathed in pus, particles of food, and saliva. The 

 gums are spongy, bleed on the least touch, and the mouth gives off a re- 

 pulsive odor. It may or may not be associated with tartar. It frequently 

 arises after distemper, typhus, or other debilitating disease. It may be 

 arrested for a time in young dogs, but usually the teeth fall out or have 

 to be extracted. As this disease is a progressive one, and mostly occurs 

 in dogs that have their food cut up finely or have soft puppy food given 

 them and teeth are not essential, should any of them become loosened 

 they should be extracted. If the gum has receded in young dogs after some 

 debilitating disease, it should be brushed with peroxide of hydrogen to 

 see if it will arrest its progress. Prevention should be aimed at by giving 

 dogs tearing food. 



The rarest disease of the dog's teeth is true dental disease, caries, or 

 properly called decayed teeth. As not one in twenty or more, thousand 

 dogs suffer from it, it need not be discussed, beyond mentioning, should 

 It arise, the tooth should either be stopped or extracted. 



An associated disease of the carnassial, sometimes precarnassial or 

 cutting molar or back tooth of the upper jaw is an abscess or swelling on 

 the cheek just below and a little in front of the eye, which bursts and gives 

 rise to a discharge and then heals up, to break out again and again, form- 

 ing a fistula, etc. As it is mostly due to some disease of the tooth or 

 teeth, which should be extracted, as no other treatment is of permanent use. 

 It is also seen in cats. 



There are several defects in the position of the teeth in the jaws, and 

 also defects of the jaw itself, so that the teeth do not meet properly; and 

 as these are not diseases, but only faulty or arrested developments, they 

 will not be discussed, but only mentioned here. The commonest defect 

 is undershot, where the lower jaw protrudes in advance of the upper jaw; 

 and overshot, where the upper jaw protrudes in front of the lower jaw. 

 All degrees of deformity are encountered, that of the upper jaw some- 

 times advancing several inches. In some cases of chorea, affecting the 

 head and jaws after distemper during youth, when the bones of the skull 

 are still yielding to pressure, the teeth protrude from the mouth outward at 

 right angles, so that the inner surface of the upper teeth meet the inner sur- 

 face of the lower ones, and not touching at the points. 



