132 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



minimum dose is suitable for dogs weighing, when developed, from fifteen to 

 thirty pounds, and the maximum is for dogs that will weigh in the vicinity of one 

 hundred pounds. Larger or smaller animals should have the dose correspondingly 

 increased or decreased, as the case may be. Puppies six months of age will stand 

 half the dose given a grown animal of the same breed, and for puppies under six 

 months a corresponding diminution of the dose must be made. 



"In conclusion I again desire to caution the owner against exposing puppies to 

 cold during the course of the disease, or when the patient begins to convalesce. 

 Frequently in cases of distemper a very decided improvement in the condition of 

 the patient will be observed, and the owner correspondingly elated and encouraged 

 by a spring-like, sunny day, particularly if the weather has been previously damp 

 and stormy, he will admit the puppy to the kennel yard for a breath of fresh air. 

 The puppy in most cases, after blinking at the sun and stretching, will select the 

 tfampest spot that the sun strikes in the kennel yard and curl itself up. A few 

 moments' exposure under these conditions is sufficient, and the next morning the 

 old symptoms, with increased severity, are present, or the little fellow's labored 

 breathing indicates too plainly the fatal inflammation and congestion of the lungs." 



The following is valuable on this disease: "A. J. Sewell, M. R. C. V. S., who has 

 lately been appointed veternarian surgeon to the King of England, gives the fol- 

 lowing advice regarding the spreading of distemper: 



"As distemper just now seems particularly prevalent, and the large shows 

 recently held are sure to increase the number of cases, this article will assist read- 

 ers in recognizing the disease at the commencement, so that the infected animal 

 may be isolated early, and thus prevent, if possible, the spread of the disease to 

 other dogs, especially young puppies, which have always a very poor chance of 

 recovering. 



"I know some few people, if they get a case of distemper in their kennels, take 

 no means of preventing it spreading; on the contrary, I have heard them say that 

 they let all those puppies which have not had the disease come purposely in contact 

 with the sick one, so as to let all those have it that will, and get over it for the time 

 being. I must confess this is not my practice with my own dogs; on the contrary, 

 I take every possible precaution I can to prevent them having it, and I know most 

 breeders are as anxious as myiself to avoid it. 



"As shows are no doubt the greatest source of spreading distemper, I advise 

 that all dogs coining from these places which have not had the disease should not 

 be returned home if there is any young stock in the kennels that one does not 

 wish to be infected, and the farther they are kept away the better. Not only is 

 this necessary, but a separate attendant is required. If you have the same man, 

 you may as well have the same kennel. If these suggestions are adopted there will 

 not be the least danger of the disease spreading, and I feel pretty sure, if people 

 would properly isolate all distemper cases the disease might be almost, if not 

 entirely, eradicated from the country. 



"The first symptom of distemper is a rise of temperature if a dog is dull and 

 off his food, take his temperature. It is best to take it in the rectum, where the 

 normal is about one hundred and one to one hundred and one and one-half degrees 

 Fahrenheit; if taken under the arm or inside the thigh it is one degree lower. If 

 the thermometer registers two or three degrees of temperature above normal you 

 may be sure there is something wrong, and the dog should be isolated at once; 

 and by doing this the infection may often be prevented spreading. If the disease is 

 distemper other symptoms will soon develop, as a husky cough, loss of appetite 



