Lin. 



CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOGS. 



DISTEMPER. 



By this singular name is distinguished a febrile disease due to 

 the operation of a morbid poison, occurring spontaneously from 

 ordinary causes of disease, or as a result of contagion and infec- 

 tion. The disease is known throughout the world. Dogs of all 

 ages are subject to its attack, but it oftenest appears between the 

 sixth and twelfth month of the animal's life. If at an earlier 

 period, it generally proves fatal. Distemper, like all contagious 

 and infectious diseases, has an uncertain but short period of 

 latency. As a rule, it affects the system but once, and some- 

 times prevails as an epizootic. It varies in different breeds. The 

 shepherd is scarcely ill a day with it. The terrier comes next in 

 liability, the hound next, and after him the setter. The small 

 spaniel comes next, followed by the pointer. The pug is next in 

 order, and the Newfoundland suffers more than any other breed. 

 Should a foreign dog be affected, he almost certainly dies. The 

 delicate stallion grayhound has little chance when imported from 

 abroad. The disease differs not only in different species of dogs, 

 but in different breeds of the same species. 



Symptoms. — The primary symptoms are those of fever, asso- 

 ciated with those of catarrh. The dog shivers, is dull, restless, 

 the eyes are weak and watery, the nose dry, the appetite partially 

 lost, with increased thirst and frequent attacks of sneezing. In 

 the course of five or six days the nasal discharge becomes more 

 profuse. The eyes are weaker and the discharge from the eyes 

 is much increased. Yery often the eyelids are gummed to- 

 gether, and the animal is temporarily blind. A husky cough is 

 present, at first dry and husky, afterwards moist. The pulse may 



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