INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH AND TEETH. 399 



INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH AND TEETH. 



Dogs wliicli are fed on strongly stimulating food are very apt to 

 lose their teetli by decay, and also to suffer from a spongy state of 

 the gums, attended with a collection of tartar about the roots of 

 the teeth. Decayed teeth are better extracted, but the tartar, 

 when it produces inflammation, may be removed by instruments if 

 it is considered worth the trouble. By carefully scraping the 

 teeth there is little or no difficulty in remo%dng it if the dog's head 

 is held steadily, but few people are handy enough with the neces- 

 sary tools to effect this, excepting those who make a business of 

 the art ; and, if the dog is so highly valued as to make it desir- 

 able to incur the expense, he should be taken to a veterinary sur- 

 geon. A lotion composed of 1 part of a solution of chlorinated 

 soda, 1 part of tincture of myrrh, and 6 parts of water will be 

 afterwards of service, if the teeth are occasionally brushed with it. 

 When puppies are shedding their milk teeth, it often happens 

 that these are not easily got rid of, producing a good deal of sore- 

 ness in the mouth which prevents the puppy eating. In such a 

 case the old tooth is better I'emoved with a pair of forceps. 



Blain is a watery swelling beneath the tongue, showing itself in 

 several large vesicles containing straw-coloured lymph, which is 

 sometimes stained with blood. When discovered, the treatment 

 consists in pricking them with a lancet or penknife, after which 

 the sores may be washed with the lotion given above. 



