1 88 Diseases of the Digestive System, 



after a dose of chloric ether in cold water. Its existence 

 in sporting and other dogs which require heavy food is a 

 serious drawback, the use of light and highly digestible 

 food only being tolerated. 



Inappetance, or absence of desire for food^ is often a 

 sign of being overfed and the beginning of serious 

 states, and may arise from decayed teeth, sore tongue, 

 mouth, or gums, choking, or muscular inability from 

 paralysis of the jaws. The treatment must be based on 

 the discovery and removal of the cause. 



Indigestion is a disease of common occurrence in 

 canine animals. The wandering mongrel alternately 

 suffers from absolute want and over-repletion with 

 unsuitable and highly indigestible food, and the highly 

 favoured pets are the victims of a depraved appetite 

 brought about by want of exercise, over-repletion, and 

 often most unsuitable aliment. Allied causes are disease 

 of the mouth or irregularities of the teeth, a torpid liver, 

 worms or foreign substances in the stomach. 



Symptofns. — A depraved appetite associated with 

 frequent vomition, the ejected material passing down the 

 nostrils. The bowels are constipated and distended by 

 air, the result of fermentation, giving rise to colicky pains, 

 dulness, and often excessive peevishness or unusual anger. 

 The patient is often sensitive to cold, and seeks absolute 

 quiet and warmth ; the coat is rough, harsh and staring, 

 and the temperature of the body irregular and unequal. 

 In old-standing cases the sufferer lays on much fat, the 

 hair falls off, and the state becomes one of general 

 debility or anaemia. 



Treatment. — Change of food and regular meals, sub- 

 stituting more digestible or less stimulating varieties as 

 may be needed. Fresh air, regular exercise on foot. 

 Purgatives are required for constipation and colic, assisted 

 by occasional enemas ; carbonate of soda or potash in 

 water to relieve acidity and irritability of the stomach, 

 and vermifuges to expel worms when they r.re known to 

 be present. 



Emesis or Vomition in the dog depending upon 

 special nervous endowment, under ordinary conditions is 



