420 Diseases of Dogs, 



DISTEMPER. 



Causes. — This is the most common of the dangerous 

 diseases of the canine species. It is usually believed to be 

 contagious, and to be induced also by cold and wet, sudden 

 changes of temperature, and the irritation of the later period 

 of teething, when the permanent tusks are about half-grown 

 and the temporary ones are still retained. Confinement, 

 with too little exercise, and a meat diet, also incline to 

 produce it, or at least to render cases more severe. 



Symptoms. — Dullness and loss of appetite, purging and 

 vomiting, are early signs. The eyes are red and watery, and 

 there is a short cough. The eyelids are red, the animal is 

 languid and shivering, and the pulse quick, 110 to 120 beats 

 in the minute. Later on, a mattery discharge flows from 

 the eyes and nose, the cough becomes severe and frequent, 

 the coat is staring, and the paws and nose are hot. 



Should the disease grow worse, the eyelids become glued 

 together, and the nostrils choked up by an accumulated, 

 thick discharge, the body rapidly becomes thinner, there is 

 constant shivering, the breath is very offensive, blood ap- 

 pears at the mouth and nose, palsy, beginning at the hind 

 legs, creeps over the body, and finally the animal lies on its 

 side, unable to rise, uttering short, sharp, yelping cries, until 

 death relieves it from its sufferings. 



Sometimes all the symptoms disappear for two or three 

 weeks, and the dog is supposed to be well ; when, suddenly, 

 they return with increased violence, and it dies with violent 

 dysentery or in a fit. This deceptive appearance of recovery 

 can be detected by looking at the eyes and weighing the dog. 

 If he has not gained in weight, and the eyelids are red, he 

 is still in danger. 



Generally speaking, young dogs are most liable to the 

 disease, and those which have had it once are less apt to take 



