18 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



ASTHMA. This is a common disease and a most distressing complaint its 

 victims being mostly found among house pets and toy dogs that have been overfed 

 with a too rich diet, and lack of exercise as well. Almost every toy dog so improper- 

 ly cared for and fed will develop asthma as they get along in years. The grossness 

 of body induces and fosters it and often causes as well a kind of scurvy mange, the 

 coat feeling harsh and dry with a rough and dirty look. The symptoms are dis- 

 tressing paroxysms of coughing with great difficulty in breathing, which occur 

 frequently. The symptoms exhibited are due to thickening of the mucus lining of 

 the trachea and bronchial tubes which by lessening the calibre of the respiratory 

 tract interferes with the act of breathing which is attended by a loud, wheezing 

 noise. The blood is imperfectly aereated and the visible mucous membranes con- 

 gested and dark in color. Pugs and aged spaniels seem predisposed to asthmatic 

 troubles, which, while not usually fatal, do not prove amenable to treatment. 



An important feature of the treatment is attention to the diet, which should be 

 of a non-stimulating character. First relieve the animal by giving the following 

 antispasmotic drops: Compound spirits of sulphuric ether and tincture of opium, 

 equal parts, which keep in a cool place and well corked. The dose for a 15-lb. to 

 30-lb. dog would be a small teaspoonful in a couple of tablespoonfuls of gruel or 

 milk. This, however, only relieves and does not cure. The dog must now have 

 frequent doses of a brisk aperient, and a pill of the following prescription will be 

 found very beneficial given every night lor a while: 



Podophyllin 6 grains 



Compound extract of colocynth 30 grains 



Powdered rhubard 48 grains 



Extract of henbane .... 36 grains 



Mix and divide into twenty-four pills. 



Small breeds such as pugs or toy poodles give half of one of these .pills. 

 A little warm broth after the pill will assist its action. Feed rather oftener 

 than you do your well dogs but in small quantities. Make dog take more exercise 

 every day, which will cause him to more readily eat coarser food. The chance of a 

 complete cure i not encouraging in a confirmed or chronic case, but the regular use 

 of the following pills will have a wonderful effect in counteracting severe parox- 

 ysms: 



Powdered ipecacuanha 6 grains 



Powdered opium 6 grains 



Compound squill pill 24 grains 



Powdered gum ammoniacum 24 grains 



Powdered licorice 24 grains 



Powdered rhubard 12 grains 



Mix and make into twenty-four pills. 



The dose for a 15-lb. to 40-lb. dog must be cne pill morning and night. Smaller 

 than 15-lbs. half a pill. 



Whenever severe fits of coughing with difficuty of breathing occur, if the 

 antispasmodic drops mentioned in first of article are not handy, chlorodine may be 

 given in the same way as the drops, the dose being from twenty to thirty drops. 

 Much relief can be given to asthmatical dogs by confining them in a close box or 

 kennel and filling it with the smoke of thorn apple. This may be done twice a day, 

 but care should be taken with such patients that they are not exposed to any sudden 

 change of temperature, whether from heat or cold, or the reverse. 



