298 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



It sometimes follows the dog's going into water, or a 

 washing when the ears have not been carefully dried. 

 There is a form of canker due to small parasites that irri- 

 tate the surface. Often these vermin may be seen as whit- 

 ish points. This form of the disease is contagious. 



Treatment. This should be prompt, to prevent exten- 

 sion of the disease. When the dog shakes his head much, 

 it is desirable to control the flapping of the ears by some 

 special form of covering, as a " canker cap." Some dogs, 

 however, worry so much under any such device that the 

 remedy is a failure. It may be more practicable in some 

 cases to cover the hind-foot of the same side, so that the 

 nails are ineffective. 



The first great object in all kinds of ear disease is to 

 remove all sources of irritation by cleanliness. 



In the stage of redness, bathing with warm water and 

 laudanum will do good. The oxide-of-zinc ointment is 

 very useful in this disease in all stages on account of its 

 soothing, drying properties ; and it can be rendered still 

 more useful, when the ear is red and painful, by the addi- 

 tion of a little morphia or opium. 



It will generally be necessary, when the disease has 

 got well inward, to use a good syringe and clean out the 

 ear with warm water. 



No unguarded probes or pointed instruments, and no 

 cold liquids of any "kind, must ever be used for the ear. 



The liquid used should be as warm as can be borne 

 against the human cheek. Often cleansing alone will ef- 

 fect a speedy cure. In all cases, however, when only 

 water is used the ear should be carefully dried out with 

 cotton-wool on the end of a blunt stick, etc. 



