CARE OP LIVESTOCK 13 



and should be left in the body of the animal for three minutes at least; 

 It is most conveniently inserted in the anus or vulva and should be held 

 in place about three minutes. Here is a table for normal temperature 



Horse 99.5-101 F. 



Cattle 100 -103 F. 



Sheep 101 105.8 F. 



Dogs . 99.5 103 F. 



Swine 100.9 105.4 F. 



A rise in temperature indicates fever, i. e. inflammation. A rise of 

 six degrees is dangerous and in any disease a rise of four degrees is serious. 

 On the other hand a sudden fall below normal is serious, showing loss of 

 the animal vitality, and if not quickly corrected, may result in death. 

 Always sterilize the thermometer, dipping it in Conkey's Nox-i-cide Dip and 

 Disinfectant solution, before using it on the next animal. 



OTHER TESTS Breathing is another test of an animal's condition. A 

 horse breathes irom twelve to fifteen times a minute 



when in health; a cow from ten to twenty-five times; a dog about twenty 

 times. Rapid breathing may be caused by exercise, heat or some excite- 

 ment. Also, breathing is faster after eating when the lungs are crowded by 

 the digestive organs. But these are all healthy conditions. 



Short, rapid or labored breathing shows disease of the lungs. Snoring 

 shows some stoppage of the air passages of the head; or snoring may 

 come from brain disease, and is often noticeable when death approaches. 

 In horses, a peculiar double contraction and expansion of the abdomen 

 shows heaves. Coughing shows obstruction or irritation in throat or lungs, 

 and may be of two kinds, moist or dry. The latter, the "dry, hacking 

 cough," shows some irritation of throat or lungs, while the moist cough 

 is accompanied by mucous, which shows an unnatural secretion and accumu- 

 lation of fluids in the air passages. 



Mucous is a secretion of the mucous membrane, the peculiar body 

 "lining" which covers all openings of the body, lining the entire alimentary 

 canal and all organs where air may enter. Inspection of these mucous sur- 

 faces aids in determining the animal's condition. If red, there is congestion 

 of blood from some irritation; if pale, weakness from impoverishment of the 

 blood; if blue or gray in color it shows the blood supply lacks oxygen; if 

 yellow trouble with the animal's liver. 



Excretions come next. The natural rejectment of the body is in solid 

 feces or dung, and liquids and vapors, especially the urine and perspira- 

 tion. As with all animal life, the appearance of these is an indication 

 of the working of the animal's body and the owner should know the 

 general indications. For instance: in horse dung a coating of mucous 

 shows intestinal catarrh; bloodiness, inflammation; paleness and foul odor, 

 a torpid liver; in fever the urine is scant and highly colored. When a 

 horse has azoturia (excess of nitrogenous matter) the urine will turn to 

 a light brown and later to a dark brown color. In Texas fever or south- 

 ern cattle fever the urine is red. 



Often you can tell a sick animal from its position and action of 

 body. An animal always tries to place itself in a position that will 

 relieve any pain or distress of body. Note this carefully as it will help 

 in diagnosing the trouble. Disturb the sick animal as little as possible and 

 of course make all approach to it quietly. If the hair stands up 

 the animal is suffering from chill, or may be hidebound. The skin, 

 if harsh and hidebound, shows poor nutrition, though the trouble may 



