14 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



nervous organization the dog resembles man, but his digestive organs differ so 

 radically that medicine does not act on each alike. As an instance, common salt 

 has no particular effect upon man. On the dog, in small doses, it is an emetic; in 

 large doses, a poison. Castor oil is a mild laxative on man; on the dog it is an 

 active purge . Epsom salts act only mildly on man: on dogs it acts violently, 

 producing copious, watery stools. Aloes and rhubarb, recognized as purgatives on 

 man, have no particular effect on dogs, and so with numerous other drugs. 



"The dog is particularly susceptible to the action of chloroform. This is on 

 account of the irregular heart action previously mentioned. His sensitive nervous 

 system responds quickly to the smallest doses of strychnine, and a minute quantity 

 of mercury produces profuse salivation. These drugs should only be administered 

 by an expert. Opium is not particularly dangerous in its action on dogs. 



"Between human exclamations, canine howling, coughing and gasping and 

 occasionally biting, the dog generally escapes without the medicine. Kindness and 

 strategy are the only safe methods for giving medicine. Aim to get the dog to 

 take his medicine without knowing that he is getting it. This can be accomplished 

 by having the medicine in pill .form. One of the pills can be introduced into a 

 filit made in a small cube of meat. Disarm the patient of suspicion by preparing 

 several similar cubes of meat without the pills. Toss him one of these. He may 

 examine it, but finding it all right, will swallow it. Another should be tossed him. 

 If he swallows it without examination, toss him the cube containing the pill and 

 it will follow its predecessor. Do not use fluids if it is possible to avoid them. 

 Gelatine capsules cau be had in various sizes to accommodate all drugs. It is 

 better to give two small capsules than one large ones. To give a capsule have an 

 attendant take a small dog in his lap; a large dog should be gently backed into a 

 corner. Stroke the dog's head and face gently: then with the left hand held over 

 the head just in front of the eyes, press the lips against the teeth just enough to 

 cause him to open his mouth. Moisten the capsule, place it as far back on the 

 tongue as possible, which can be inserted well down the throat without danger to 

 either the dog or the physician. Close the mouth quickly and the capsule will be 

 swallowed." 



The following was published in the Dog Fancier, written by their veterinarian, 

 Dr. D. H. Dell, and is worth publishing, containing many good ideas: 



ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION OF REMEDIES TO CANINE PATIENTS 



"In the treatment of dogs or other domestic animal one great obstacle to 

 successful medication is the difficulty often encountered in the administration of 

 remedies. 



Dogs frequently refuse to swallow liquids or offer such strenuous objections 

 that a portion of the medicine is spilled and the quantity administered becomes 

 merely speculative. Hence it is not advisable to use liquid medicines at all for 

 dogs if it.' can be avoided. 



Hypodermic injections of alkaloidal solutions are the most prompt, efficient 

 and reliable method of administration we have, but as it pre-supposes the posses- 

 sion of a hypodermic syringe the plan is not feasible in the majority of instances. 



Other methods are to have the remedies incorporated in tablet or granule form 

 or given in gelatin capsules. For ordinary purposes this is the most convenient 

 method. The tablet or capsule can be placed toward the back of the tongue and 

 readily forced back with the finger far enough so that to swallow is the only thing 

 the patient can do. 



