604 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



What lesson are we going to learn from the fact that sheep-curs and hardy street dogs get 

 over the distemper with so little trouble, while high-bred animals and indoor pets only too often 

 fall victims to the disorder ? Surely it is this : that in the former cases Nature has more power 

 to do battle with the poison. And the following is our own experience, and probably the 

 experience of most practitioners : Whenever we get a case of distemper in a hardy constitutioned 

 dog probably one of no particular breed we find we can almost invariably bring the dog 

 through it with little or no medicine, by simple nursing and supporting the animal's strength. 



It is, in our opinion, a great mistake to begin the treatment by giving a strong emetic. 

 Emetics are very seldom, if ever, needed. If we think that the dog has need to evacuate the 

 contents of his stomach which, seeing he has not eaten anything signifying for days, perhaps, is 

 highly improbable we must let him out to the grass : he will find his own emetic. 



It is needless to caution the reader against the use of strong purgatives or cathartics, nor 

 against the use of the lancet, or, as a rule, the seton ; they are all lowering in their nature, and 

 that is precisely what we want to avoid. 



Let the treatment be simple and rational. Whenever we see a young dog ailing, losing 

 appetite, exhibiting catarrhal symptoms, and getting thin, we should not lose an hour. If he be 

 an indoor dog, find him a good bed in a clean, well-ventilated apartment, free from lumber 

 and free from dirt. If it be summer, have all the windows out or opened ; if winter, a 

 little fire will be necessary, but have half the window opened at the same time ; only take 

 precautions against his lying in a draught. Fresh air in cases of distemper, and indeed in 

 fevers of all kinds, cannot be too highly extolled. 



The more rest the dog has the better ; he must be kept free from excitement, and care 

 must be taken to guard him against cold and wet when he goes out-of-doors to obey the 

 calls of Nature. The most perfect cleanliness must be enjoined, and disinfectants used, either 

 permanganate of potash, carbolic acid, or iodine. If the sick dog, on the other hand, be one of 

 a kennel of dogs, then quarantine must be adopted. The hospital should be quite removed from 

 the vicinity of all other dogs, and as soon as the animal is taken from the kennel, the latter 

 should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and the other dogs kept warm and dry, well- 

 fed and moderately exercised. 



Food and Drink in Distemper. Our object is to support the system without deranging 

 the stomach, therefore, for the first three or four days let the food be light and easily 

 digested. In order to induce the animal to take it, it should be as palatable as possible. 

 For small dogs, milk or cream, eggs, arrow-root, rice, and beef-tea, may be given. For larger 

 dogs you cannot have anything better than milk-porridge.* At all events, the dog must if possible, 

 be induced to eat ; he must not be " horned " unless there be great emaciation ; he must not 

 over-eat, but what he gets must be good. If the appetite is quite gone, and he turns up his 

 nose at everything, beef-tea, eggs, milk and sherry in small quantities must be frequently 

 administered by the spoon. 



When the dog comes to be very low indeed, brandy may be substituted for the sherry. 

 It must be diluted with water, and the quantity to be given will depend not only on the 

 size of the dog, but upon the benefits that seem to accrue from it. As to drink, dogs usually 

 prefer clean cold water, and we cannot do harm by mixing therewith a little plain nitre. 



Medicine in Distemper Begin by giving a simple dose of castor-oil ; just enough and no 

 more than will clear out the bowels by one or two motions. Drastic purgatives, and medi- 



* Oatmeal porridge made with milk instead of water. 



