596 THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



4. Chronic Rheumatism. 



This is a disease which is not very easily diagnosed in the dog. For we must not 

 forget that dogs, especially sporting dogs, are liable to go lame from many other reasons 

 besides rheumatism sprains, for example, blows and falls, and myalgia and neuralgia. This 

 myalgia is often seen in hounds and in Pointers that have been over-worked. It consists 

 only in a partially inflamed state of some of the muscles, and a little rest puts it soon to 

 rights. 



Now dogs suffer at times from rheumatic gout, and have swellings about their joints, 

 and even bones, that point significantly to a rheumatic diathesis. Such dogs should be care- 

 fully fed and not overworked, and their kennels or sleeping-places always kept warm and 

 clean and dry. An occasional dose of castor-oil when needed will also do good, followed 

 up by a fortnight's course of tonic medicine iron and bark. 



Chronic rheumatism is known by the name of chest founder and kennel lameness. It is 

 very often situated in the shoulder sub-scapular muscles or their tendons and in the chest. 

 It is common in the back and loins, when it is termed lumbago. It is less common in the 

 hind-quarters, but the feet are often affected. There is usually some degree of swelling if it 

 be in the limbs ; there is little or no fever, though sometimes the appetite is lost ; but the 

 animal is stiff and lame, and cries out when you handle the tender part, and even when 

 attempting to walk. But the disease is so well known that it is almost a waste of space to 

 describe its symptoms. 



Treatment. Attend to the cleanliness, the dryness, and purity of the kennels ; give the 

 animals liable to kennel lameness a good warm bed, and abundance of it. Give the dogs 

 their food regularly, and see that they are never allowed to lie out in the wet and cold. 

 Regulate the bowels, and give tonics, or arsenic may do good. Cod- liver oil cannot fail to 

 improve the animal's condition, unless he is gross. Avoid giving small animals sugar, or 

 indeed dainties of any kind. 



Locally. The flat iron. Do not make it too hot, but just as hot as the animal can 

 comfortably bear it. Pass the iron slowly along the affected part, and pass your hand aftel 

 it to see it is not too hot. Do this three or four times a day, and always at least a quarter 

 of an hour at a time. The bags of hot sand may also be tried. Another simple application 

 in lumbago is common sulphur well dusted into the coat and allowed to remain in, a flannel 

 roller being applied around the dog's body all night. It may, if desired, be brushed out in 

 the morning and more dusted in again at night. Other local applications, which may be 

 tried, are the liniments of opium, belladonna, or aconite. In some cases a blister does good, but 

 a veterinary surgeon should first be consulted. 



5. Rickets. 



This is a disease which is far from uncommon in puppies. 



Pathology. The growth of bone in dogs is completed in from one year and a half up to 

 two years and a half. During the period of its growth the bone may be acted upon either 

 for good or for evil. From some error in the blood-making process, sufficient earthy salts may 

 not be deposited, and ossification therefore retarded ; the bones, if bones they can be called, 

 will accordingly be unnaturally soft and yielding, and easily thrown out of plumb. The legs, 

 especially, become bandy and crooked, and seldom or never get straight again. 



Causes. Improper food is one great cause ; taking the puppy too soon from its dam, and 



