DISEASES 75 



IRIS, INFLAMMATION OF. See IRITIS. 



INJURY TO THE BRAIN. The bony covering of the brain is very strong in 

 the dog. They are liable to accidents from falls on the head, running full force 

 against some obstacle, or from a blow, which may cause concussion of the bra'n. 

 The dog will lie stunned or insensible, breathing feeble, and pulse small and quick. 

 In treating, examine the head for fracture of the skull, and, if bleeding, stop it by 

 cold applications. In cases of this kind consult a good. veterinary surgeon. Until he 

 comes rub brandy or whisky on the gums and keep the body warm. If you have on 

 l-.and ammonia hold it to the nostrils. 



INTUSSUSCEPTION. See BOWELS. OBSTRUCTION OF. This is a slipping of one 

 portion of the intestines that has been contracted by spasm, within another part 

 retaining its natural diameter, and is another and not uncommon cause of obstruc- 

 tion, and apt to occur during spasmodic colic. It is fatal, and can not be determined 

 by symptoms, a post-mortem only showing the trouble. No dog should be allowed 

 to be costive over two days, and not so long, is much safer, without having been 

 helped by proper remedies prescribed elsewhere. It is always safe, however, and 

 advisable to give in such cases a full dose of castor oil, olive oil or a mixture of 

 both. Worms can cause obstruction in the intestines, especially in puppies, round 

 worms getting coiled up into balls, which sets up local irritation, interfering with 

 the natural action of the bowels. 



JAUNDICE, OR THE "YELLOWS," AND INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER 



(Hepatitis). These should be treated as distinct diseases, but to the ordinary dog 

 owner the division would be of little use, the causes and general treatment being 

 alike. There are two forms of inflammation of the liver the acute and chronic, the 

 former the rarer, which appears more suddenly; the latter comes as a sequel of the 

 acute. The causes of this disease, in most cases, are traceable to improper and 

 over-feeding, combined with lack of exercise, which accounts for the great number 

 of such cases occurring in house and pet dogs. In hunting dogs it can be brought 

 on by continued exposure to wet, or their going into water in cold weather, sleep 

 ing in damp places, or over-exertion. 



One very common cause is the repeated resort to powerful emetics, which so 

 many use as if they possessed a charm over dog diseases. 



SYMPTOMS. Dog is dull, restless in his sleep, has excessive thirst, very poor 

 appetite, becomes thin, and the portions of his skin not covered by hair you will 

 readily notice to be of a yellowish color or tinge. This will be seen on the gums, 

 lips, and under the legs. The discharge is fetid, and urine, passed in small quan- 

 tities, is yellow. There is also fever, with fits of heat and shivering. Vomiting 

 sometimes occurs; the matter ejected is slimy and of a yellowish color; the bowels 

 are generally constipated, and the excrement of a pale clay color. In chronic cases 

 the belly is often enlarged and flatulence often exists. In severe cases the dog will 

 Jose flesh rapidly, and soon become a mere skeleton. The liver, in a healthy state, 

 secretes a yellow fluid called the gall, which is collected in the gall bladder, in- 

 tended to mix with the chyle, completing digestion. When obstruction of the gall 

 bladder takes place /the gall is diverted from its natural purpose, i^ reabsorbed by 

 the blood vessels, enters the general system, giving a bright saffron color to the 

 eyes, lips, inside of the ears, arms and thighs, sometimes to the whole skin, and 

 from this it is often called the "Yellows." 



Jaundice is of frequent occurrence, often exists as a sequel to distemper, and 

 when this is the case is most difficult to manage on account of the already reduced 



