62 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



dogs is eczema, which for purposes of rough, or popular, 

 classification, may be divided into two forms, wet and 

 dry. Weeping eczema is decidedly uncommon, but is 

 the only form of skin disease offering open sores and 

 raw surfaces likely to affect comparatively well-cared- 

 for toy dogs. In this, as in the dry, severer forms of 

 eczema, it is useless to attempt cure by mere outward 

 applications. The mischief is in the blood, and until 

 the blood is put right the external symptoms will 

 continue, unless, indeed, strong mercurial lotion or 

 ointment be used, which may fatally drive the disease 

 in, and by clearing up the skin and so depriving the 

 body of the safety-valve of outward lesions,eventually 

 kill the animal. Such a proceeding is occasionally 

 resorted to by unscrupulous persons whose only desire 

 is to sell their mangy or eczematous dogs, for the im- 

 mediate effect of dressing with mercurial ointment 

 is often almost miraculously good to the eye. There- 

 fore, my advice to the amateur is, under no circum- 

 stances to purchase a dog which is known to have 

 suffered from any severe form of skin disease. Even 

 if the complaint has not been doctored in the way 

 described, and has been cured by honest methods, it 

 may always break out again, for it is in the constitu- 

 tion. I must, of course, except cases in which con- 

 tagious eczema has been given to the victim by some 

 other dog, but in dealing with strangers, shops, or pro- 

 fessional dealers, it is wisest to avoid a purchase where 

 skin disease has existed. . 



Some breeds are very much more subject to skin 

 trouble than others, and all long-haired dogs are apt to 

 suffer from simple eczema and erythema, the latter 

 especially when young ; while distemper of a severe 

 kind is often followed by a disease of the skin, closely 

 resembling mange, for which it is often unfortunately 

 mistaken. It should be simply treated with a mild 

 antiseptic ointment, while the constitutional weakness 

 is the focus for attention. 



Puppies often teeth with a rash, called puppy-pox, 



