562 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



pass through a perhaps already congested rectum and anus, and cannot fail to produce piles by 

 the tension they exert on the veins of the areolar tissue. 



Feeding of a rough and careless kind is another fruitful source of the disorder. Some people 

 labour under the idea that dogs can digest anything and, indeed, the dog himself seems to 

 fancy that the swallowing of any fancy tit-bit is the principal part of digestion ; at all events, 

 once down, he has nothing more to do with it. Want of regular exercise is another predisposing 

 cause of piles, because it tends to render the liver sluggish. Constipation is an exciting cause, 

 and the abuse of drastic purgatives, and there are many others which need not here be 

 specified. 



Symptoms. The dog will generally, if not invariably, manifest some uneasiness which will 

 draw the attention to the seat of mischief perhaps a straddling gate and stiffness. Pain while 

 sitting at stool should at once arouse suspicion, or he may be observed to frequently lick the 

 regions under the tail, or sit down and trail the anus along the ground (although some healthy 

 enough little dogs have a trick of this sort). 



However, upon examination which the animal does not always submit to with an easy 

 grace the anus will be found to have lost its usual healthy contracted appearance, it is puffy 

 and swollen, and probably the piles may be seen protruding. There are seldom external 

 piles without internal as well. There is always more or less pain, but if, however, the dog is 

 firmly held, and the anus gently pulled open, you will not fail to see the congested mucous 

 membrane. The stools, too, will often, especially if the dog be constipated, be found tinged 

 with blood. Old dogs are more frequently troubled with piles than young ones. 



Treatment. This must, of course, be both local and constitutional. First and foremost 

 we must see that the dog gets proper food, and also see that he gets a judicious amount 

 of exercise. The food ought to be of a non-constipating nature, and contain a due amount 

 of flesh. Boiled greens ought to be given once a week at least, and occasionally a piece of 

 raw bullock's liver. Exercise is most essential. At the same time any bad habits he may 

 have formed, such as eating wood, or even too much dog grass, must be corrected. Gentle 

 purgatives may be required, just enough to keep the bowels moderately free, such as a little 

 sulphur in the food, or a little castor-oil given the last thing at night. If he seem very 

 dull, with a dry nose and little appetite, and vomits some yellow fluid sometimes of a morn- 

 ing, a ball, consisting of a little sulphur, with from five to fifteen grains of the extract of 

 taraxacum, should be given every morning. 



Locally. Cleanliness of the parts and the frequent application of cold water cannot fail to 

 do good, and we must also make use of some astringent injection. We have a good one in 

 sulphate of zinc, three grains to two ounces of water, injected at night. An ointment will 

 also be of great service, and ought to be not only well smeared on twice or oftener every 

 day, but a little inserted into the rectum. The compound ointment of galls, with a double 

 proportion of powdered opium, is very useful. Or the benzoated oxide of zinc ointment may 

 be used, but if there be much tenderness the dog does not like it so well. 



This treatment is simple but effective : it must not be forgotten that local treatment must 

 go hand in hand with constitutional. 



12. Fistula in Ano, 



Fistula in ano, or anal fistula, is sometimes found in the dog as the result of long- 

 neglected or badly-treated piles. Dogs who suffer from fistula are mostly those animals who 

 have led inactive lives, been pampered, and overfed, and consequently whose portal system 



