586 THE BOOK OF HIE Doc. 



If suppression of urine continue for several days, the loins may be frequently fomented 

 with hot infusion of digitalis. This should be discontinued as soon as the dog can stale. 



Two things we must here warn the reader against, the use of diuretics and fly blisters. Both 

 are highly dangerous, although sometimes used. 



Diet and Drink. The diet must be low at first, low and sloppy ; but we must look out for 

 signs of weakness and prostration. Do not let the animal sink for want of nourishment, such as 

 beef-tea, eggs, a little raw meat, and a little port wine ; and lastly, cod-liver oil and tonics in 

 convalescence. The drink may be water, or milk-and-water, or barley-water. 



2. Cystitis. 



Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, is happily rather rare in the dog, and we believe 

 nine-tenths of the cases which we meet with can be traced to the effect either of cantharadine 

 blisters, or to some other irritant medicine administered internally. Youatt tells us that he 

 has sometimes seen the disease appear as an epizootic. Probably he refers to the disease among 

 horses, and not dogs. 



Symptoms. Attention is first called to the dog from his uneasiness and generally excited 

 condition. He pants, whines, and makes frequent efforts to pass his urine, which comes only 

 in drops and driblets, while he cries out with the pain the effort gives him. His appetite fails 

 him, he is feverish, and, if examined, the lower part of the belly will be found swollen and tender 

 to the touch. Just after the dog has made a little water there is ease for a short time, but as 

 soon as the urine collects the pain comes on again. Usually the bowels are affected, but 

 they may simply be bound up, or there may be straining, and slight diarrhoea of a mucous 

 character, sometimes stained with blood. 



Diagnosis is comparatively easy if we attend to the symptoms just related. Difficulty of 

 micturition is a symptom of calculus in the bladder, but in this disease it comes on more gradually, 

 and there are no inflammatory signs. 



Treatment. Our object is to abate pain, calm the excitement, and combat inflammation. 

 Hot fomentations of poppy-heads must be used not only to the loins, but more especially to 

 the abdomen. If a small dog, a hot bath will be found to give great relief. In order to relieve 

 pain and calm excitement, opium must be given in repeated small doses, and the bowels must on 

 no account be neglected, but the rule is, rot to give any irritant purgative like aloes or black 

 draught. However useful such aperients may be in some disorders and inflammations, they 

 simply mean death in this. Small doses of castor oil may be given if they seem to be needed. 



Some practitioners recommend emetics. We fail to see any advantage in such treatment ; 

 but on, the other hand, we see a danger in the practice from rupture of the bladder, especially 

 if there be retention of the urine. If the opium seems to bind the bowels too much, we recom- 

 mend hyoscyamus in its stead, or small doses of hydrate of chloral. 



N.B. Diuretics are to be avoided, but a little cooling mixture of Mindererus spirit, one 

 drachm to six in camphor-water, may be given every four hours. If the water cannot be passed 

 and the belly is swollen, with moaning and evident distress, a qualified veterinary surgeon 

 should be called in, who will no doubt pass the elastic catheter. The use of the catheter should 

 be followed up with nice hot poppy fomentations, and a large linseed-meal poultice to the region 

 of the abdomen ; and an opium pill may now work wonders, or the morphia suppository of 

 the Pharmacopoeia may be placed in the rectum. 



Food and Drink. Food must be light, tasty, and easily digested, but rather low, especially 

 at .first. Drink demulcent linseed-tea, barley-water, &c. 



