ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 



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these, and nurses well without fidg-eting the 

 patient, the dog ought to do well. 



Gastritis. Vide Dyspepsia. 



Genital Organs.— There are few troubles of the 

 genital organs that need attention in either dog 

 or bitch. What is called Balanitis is a slight run- 

 ning of pus from the organ of the male. The 

 general health needs seeing to, and the feeding 

 must be carefully regulated. The dog must not 

 have dainties, nor be pampered. Cleanliness of all 

 surroundings. If much discharge, syringing once 

 a day with nitrate of silver lotion, i grain to the 

 ounce ; or boracic acid, 3 grains to the ounce. 

 There is a disease of the scrotum sometimes called 

 " cancer " because it is not. If confined to the 

 skin, astringent lotions and washing twice daily 

 with cold water. Careful drying, and afterwards 

 the application of the benzoated ointment of zinc 

 will do good, or a mixture of green iodide of mer- 

 cury ointment with four parts of vaseline. If the 

 tissues underneath the skin be involved, a course 

 of liquor arsenicalis or iodide of potassium may 

 be needed. 



Prolapse of either vagina or uterus needs the 

 attention of a vet. ; but he must be a skilled one, 

 for an ignorant man has been known to take such 

 protrusion for a tumour and roughly operate. 



Gleet. — For these and all other such troubles 

 It IS best and safest to call in a vet., but good 

 feeding and perfect cleanliness of all surroundings 

 will ahvavs prevent such ailments. 



Goitre or Bronchocele. — This is swelling of the 

 thyroid gland, which lies in front of the laryn\. 

 It may come on very rapidly in puppies, to whom 

 it may be fatal. In older dogs more slowly. 

 Friction with a collar may cause it in some, and 

 it may cause great difficulty of breathing, brain 

 trouble, and death. Bulldogs seem to be especi- 

 ally subject to this complaint. If in a puppy, and 

 coming on suddenly, hot fomentations will do 

 good, and, indeed, there is little more to be done. 

 In old dogs, Terriers and Mastiffs, from ;_• to 

 4 grains each of the iodide and bromide of potas- 

 sium thrice daily, with a carbonate of iron pill, or 

 the syrup of the iodide of iron — suitable doses. 



Locally. — Rubbing in the official ointment of 

 iodide. Cut the hair short. Or tincture of iodine 

 may be used once a day. After swelling reduced 

 extract of milk and Virol after every meal. 



Harvest Bugs. — These are a species of fleas or 

 jiggers common in dry grass and vegetables of 

 many kinds.- Found only in summer and autumn. 

 They are so small that they are seldom visible, 

 but they burrow under the skin and cause much 

 annoyance by the intolerable itching they pro- 

 duce. The application of the ordinarv liquor 

 ammonia mav afford relief, and the dog should be 

 washed and a little oil rubbed in afterwards. 



Haematuria. — This means blood in the urine, 

 another disease that a layman should not attempt 

 to treat, as it may arise from stone in the bladder. 

 ]'id,- Cystitis. 



Hepatitis (Inflammation of the Liver). 



Syniptovts. — As we should naturally expect, we 

 will find all the symptoms of inflammatory fever, 

 with some degree of swelling in the region of the 

 liver, and considerable pain and tenderness. This 

 pain is often manifest when the dog gets up 

 suddenly to seek the open air. He will frequently 

 be found lying on his chest in dark corners, on 

 cold stones, perhaps, and panting. His eyes are 

 heavy and dull, his coat stares, he is dull himself 

 is frequently sick, with loss of appetite, and very 

 high temperature of body. About the second or 

 third day jaundice supervenes, the symptoms of 

 which will be considered presently. Very high- 

 coloured and scanty urine is another symptom, and 

 often there is dyspncca, especially indicative of 

 inflammation of the upper portion of the liver. 



The bowels are constipated, and of the colour of 

 clay. The disease soon produces emaciation, and 

 often dropsy of the belly. 



Treatment. — Subdue the fever by rest, cold 

 water to drink, with a little chlorate of potash 

 in it. .A dose or two of mindererus spirit and 

 sweet nitre. 



If ailment not complicated with or the result of 

 distemper, give after a day or two a pill at night 

 of from 2 to 20 grains of Barbadoes aloes, 3 to 

 30 grains of extract of taraxacum, in a bolus, 

 followed up in the morning by a dose of sulphate 

 of soda and magnesia, with a little nitre. Give 

 from 3 to 15 grains of Dover's powder thrice daily. 



In very acute cases a large blister will be 

 needed to the right side. Mustard poultices, hot 

 fomentations, and a large linseed-meal poultice 

 will be sufficient in sub-acute cases, and a little 

 mustard may well be added to the poultice. 



When you have succeeded in subduing the 

 symptoms, if there be much yellowness of the skin, 

 combined with constipation or scanty fseces, give 

 the following thrice a day : Powdered ipecac, li 

 to 5 grains; extract of taraxacum, 3 to 15 grains. 



The food, which was at first sloppy and non- 

 stimulating, must now be made more nourishing; 

 and good may be done by rubbing the abdomen 

 with a strong- stimulating liniment of ammonia, 

 while a wet compress is to be applied around the 

 belly, the coat having been previously wetted 

 with water well acidulated with diluted nitro- 

 hydrochloric acid, the compress being wrung 

 through the same solution. Great care must be 

 taken on recovery with the dog's diet, and moder- 

 ate exercise only should at first be allowed, and 

 tonics administered. 



Husk. — .A form of bronchitis, requiring similar 

 treatment. It is also associated with derangement 

 of the stomach. Worms are often the originating 

 cau^e. 



Indigestion. Vide Dyspepsia. 



Irritation of Skin. — Find out the cause. It 

 may be from parasites, lice, fleas, ticks, or har- 

 vest bugs. Washing and perfect cleanliness of all 

 surroundings. Fresh bedding for outdoor dogs. 

 Washing with mild but good dog- soap. 



Jaundice. — This is sometimes called the Yellows, 

 from the peculiar hue of the skin and conjunctiva 



