CHAPTER IX. 

 MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 

 1. Distemper. 



This is a very common disease in dogs from three to 

 six months old, but may affect them at any age. It is mostly 

 seen during the fall, winter and spring. This disease some- 

 what resembles distemper in horses. 



Causes. — It is caused by parasites, or germs, getting 

 into the blood and setting up the disease in the same man- 

 ner as distemper in horses. Allowing the affected dog to be 

 with other dogs communicates the disease to them. 



Symptoms. — The dog is very dull and sleepy looking, 

 tries to get in a quiet, dark place and refuses to eat. His 

 eyes run water, and after a time they become very sore. In 

 a few days his hair becomes dry and there is a discharge 

 from the nose, eyes, and sometimes from the penis. The 

 .bowels are costive and he falls off in condition. The symp- 

 toms gradually get worse, and if he does not get relief he 

 will go into convulsions or fits and soon die. Like other 

 diseases of this kind it must run its course, which should 

 last about nine days. 



Treatment. — The treatment is very simple. Give the 

 affected dog nothing to eat but new milk and the following 

 medicine: 



Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ]/ & pound. 



Sulphur y & pound. 



Ground Gentian Root % pound. 



Mix thoroughly together, and to a large dog give half a 

 teaspoonful of the mixture three times a day on his tongue 

 with a spoon or in his milk. Regulate the dose in proportion 

 to the size. Keep him in a quiet, clean place, wash the dis- 

 charge from his eyes and nose with lukewarm water, and 

 afterwards wipe dry with a soft cloth. If the bowels are 

 costive, give from a teaspoonful to a dessertspoonful (accord- 

 ing to the size of the dog) of syrup of buckthorn once a day 

 until the bowels move freely. After this give a dose once 



