34 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



DISEASES OF MOUTH, TONGUE AND SALIVARY GLANDS. 

 Inflammation of the Mucous Membrane of the Mouth. Stomatitis. 



Clinical Symptoms. — The first symptom the animal will show will 

 be the slow, careful way in which it eats; it will leave any large, or hard 

 pieces of food untouched, and swallow small pieces without mastication. 

 The saliva is greatly increased in amount and frequently runs out 

 of the corners of the mouth in thin, glass-like threads or strings. On 

 making an examination of the mouth, all of the mucous membranes 

 Avill be found swollen, red, and inflamed; the gums are especially so during 

 dentition (gingivitis) ; the inner surface of the cheeks, the tongue, and 

 soft palate are also inflamed; as a rule, the tongue is coated and covered 

 with thick mucus and saliva. Ulcers sometimes appear in the different 

 parts of the mouth and particularly on the tip and edge of the tongue. 



The duration of the disease depends largely on the causes producing 

 it; as a rule, it is not of much importance and disappears without any 

 medical interference. In some cases, where it is caused by diseased 

 teeth, it is more obstinate, and if it becomes chronic it is apt to become 

 a case of stomacace. 



Therapeutics. — The animal should be fed lightly, the principal diet 

 being soup or liquid foods, beef extracts or juice of fresh meats, and the 

 animal given plenty of fresh water to drink. This washes out the thick 

 saliva and mucus off the tongue and between the teeth. Common salt, 

 carbonate of soda, or Carlsbad salts or some such saline waters as Hunyadi, 

 Apenta or Veronica, can be used with good results, and the mouth should 

 be washed out with any of the following disinfectant and astringent solu- 

 tions: 1 to 2 per cent, solution of boric acid, potassium chlorate, 5 per 

 cent, solution of alum, 5 per cent, solution of permanganate of po- 

 tassium, sol. of peroxide of hydrogen or red wine. Inflamed gums can be 

 rubbed with tincture of myrrh, tincture of catechu, or with a solution of 

 15 per cent, tannin in glycerine. 



Ulcerous Inflammation of the Mucous Membranes of the Mouth. Ulcera- 

 tive Stomatitis (Stomacace). Necrotic Stomatitis. 



Etiology. — This is an inflammation and necrotic ulceration of the 

 mouth, and is generally seen in delicate, weak and ansemic house dogs 

 and is associated with the presence of decayed teeth (tartar, caries). 

 It is seen, however, in a small proportion of cases where the teeth are 

 perfecti}' sound, and where the animal seems to be in fairly good health, 



