Distemper of Dogs 387 



days. Distemper in dogs in some respects resembles 

 scarlet fever in the human family. 



There is no medicine that will interfere with its 

 course. All the treatment should be directed toward 

 making the animal comfortable and keeping up its 

 strength so that it may resist the disease. Vigorous 

 dogs of good constitution will usually recover; weak, 

 debilitated animals are likely to be overcome by the 

 disease or by various complications. 



In the early stages, castor oil in doses of half an 

 ounce, with two or three grains of boric acid added, 

 should be given every six hours until the bowels move 

 thoroughly. This may be followed by two -grain doses 

 of quinine, twice daily. The nose, mouth and eyes are 

 to be well washed out with warm water three times 

 daily, and the nose and eyes greased with vaseline. The 

 animal is to be given minced fresh beef, beef tea, sweet 

 milk, raw eggs and gruels, and allowed what cold 

 water he wants to drink. Dried blood in doses of one- 

 half to one teaspoonful three times daily is excellent 

 all through the disease. 



There are many complications that occur with this 

 disease: pneumonia, bronchitis, inflammation of the 

 brain or spinal cord, and paralysis, usually of the hind 

 quarters. When the dog recovers, abscesses are likely to 

 form in some part of the body. If these occur in the 

 internal organs they are often fatal. Another common 

 sequel is chorea, or St. Vitus' dance, as shown by a 

 jerking of some parts of the body. 



All infected quarters should be thoroughly disin- 

 fected and exposed to the sun and air for several 



