246 The Care of Animals 



SORE MOUTH 



Sore mouth in domestic animals usually results from 

 injuries, irritating foods, or germs of disease which 

 gain entrance, grow, and cause canker sores on the 

 membranes or tongue. Among other causes may be 

 mentioned irritating medicines that burn the mouth, 

 harsh bits, projecting molars, or diseased teeth. 



The first symptom of sore mouth is usually a dis- 

 inclination, or inability, to eat properlj', especially of 

 coarse food. The horse may "gaunt up," and in some 

 cases there is a discharge of saliva, either watery or 

 frothy, and sometimes the tongue is swollen so that it 

 protrudes from the mouth. 



The first thing to be done is to remove the cause, 

 if it can be determined. The animal should have soft 

 food, gruels, milk and mashes. The mouth should 

 be thoroughly washed out with warm water and a mild 

 healing lotion applied with a sponge or soft cloth: a 

 strong solution of alum, or tincture chlorid of iron, 

 two teaspoonfuls to one -half pint of water. These 

 can be applied three times daily. Allowing the animal 

 to lick a little salt three times daily is also excellent. 

 Corrosive sublimate or other poisonous remedies should 

 not be used, except under competent advice, as there 

 is danger of poisoning. 



Infectious Sore Mouth of Cattle 



This disease attacks cattle of all ages, and appears 

 to be contagious, although it does not spread rapidly; 

 often only one or two cases will occur in a large herd. 



