ABDOMIXAL DROPSY 101 



in the extremities, or we may find a general dropsy, the digestion 

 is impaired, and the bowels disturbed. In the majority of cases diar- 

 rhoea is present, with occasionally vomiting. AVhile it seems very 

 easy to make a diagnosis when the above symptoms are present, still 

 the following diseases may present several or all of the symptoms above 

 described. 



1. Acute or Chronic Peritonitis. — "\Mien one reads the sj'mptoms 

 of acute peritonitis the diseases can be readily separated, but in the 

 latter part of the disease, when the effusion has collected, or where the 

 chronic stage of peritonitis is present, it is a little difficult to separate 

 them, the only positive means being to puncture the walls with a small 

 trocar (hypodermatic) and obtain a small quantity of the fluid, and it is 

 rather common to see ascites associated with chronic peritonitis. 



2. Fatty Deposits in the Abdomen. — This disease is quite frequently 

 present in old dogs; but a differential diagnosis can be made from 

 the fact, that, where there are enormous collections of fat present, the 

 abdomen is round in appearance, but does not become pendulous, whether 

 the clog is standing or recumbent. It is well not to puncture in these 

 cases, as it gives no information, and may cause internal hemorrhage. 



3. Abnormal Collections of Urine in the Bladder. — In these cases we 

 feel a ball-shaped body in the posterior portion of the abdomen; this 

 swelling does not follow the changes in the position of the body, and is 

 not indicated by percussion. A good way to make a differential diag- 

 nosis is to lift up the animal by the posterior extremities, and if it is as- 

 cites the liquid will settle on the diaphragm and interfere with respira- 

 tion; if the bladder is filled, we do not have the dull percussion sound. 



To further confirm the diagnosis pass the catheter. 



4. Distention of the Bowels with Gas (Meteorismus) . — In this in- 

 stance, there is an absence of the fluctuation and the clear tympanic 

 sound all over the abdomen. 



5. Collections of Urine in the Abdomen after Rupture of the Blad- 

 der. — On the passage of the trocar, the clear urine is passed which can 

 easily be recognized by the color and odor, with absence of urine on cathe- 

 terization, and ursemic fever, or convulsions. 



6. In Advanced Gestation. — By careful manipulation the foetuses 

 can be easily distinguished in the abdomen. 



Besides the above conditions, we may also have to distinguish be- 

 tween ascites and tumors of the abdominal cavity (hydrometra, pyome- 

 tra). All these affections can be recognized by carefully considering 

 the history of the case and the accompanying symptoms. 



It is always well to carefully study the exciting cause of the disease, 

 as the course of treatment depends on it. This, however, is rather 

 hard to do, for, as a rule, the collection of fluid is caused by the dam- 



