186 EVERYTHING ABOUT DOGS. 



from five to ten days, dependent upon profuseness of discharge. Draw cord from 

 knot to knot each day often, in order to keep outlet free. The insertion of this 

 seton is not particularly painful, as it passes through the outer spin covering 

 only, and can do no harm whatever. It should be kept as clean as possible. It 

 acts as a counter irritant and drains off from the system a large amount of 

 poisonous accumulations and will very soon relieve the head of the acute troubles 

 there concentrated. 



In almost all cases where the seton is used soon enough its aid is largely 

 responsible for safe recovery. The writer has seen most wonderful cures by its 

 assistance in the last stages of the disease. Its use is of English origin, and one 

 theory advanced to explain its benefit in dogs is that as a dog perspires only 

 through the glands of nose and mouth, and never through the outer skin and 

 coat, this outlet affords an immediate drain much needed to carry off the poison- 

 ous accumulations about the inner body tissues. When the system is generally 

 much poisoned with effects of distemper, this drain is very beneficial and never 

 harmful. Leave it in until the discharge begins to subside, then cut one end of 

 the cord and take it out. Keep sore clean until healed, which will be accom- 

 plished within a few days, and in a month a new growth of coat will have 

 covered up the effect of this treatment, so that no scars are left as a blemish on 

 the patient's neck. 



Many dog owners have special food theories for distemper, a popular delusion 

 being thiat meat fed to young dogs produces distemper. All young dogs should 

 have meat in moderation, and don't forget that dogs need salt in their food, as 

 well as the human race and animals. The frequent continual diet absolutely 

 without salt is sufficient to cause most any kind of ailment. The writer's observa- 

 tion has been that a dog in distemper gets along best when given limited quan- 

 tities of what it craves, three to five times daily, always bearing in mind the 

 aim to make the stomach's work easy. Raw (fresh,) beef cut fine on bread, fed 

 three or four times daily, is most excellent. If milk is relied upon, sterilize it 

 (rather than boil) and give in moderate quantities. Raw eggs with milk is 

 generally very good and strengthening. Avoid alcoholic stimulants, except when 

 dog is badly off, then give whiskey and quinine as tonic, and may be a little port 

 wine with milk. The following few important and brief "don'ts" will aid some 

 as occasional reminders and cautions, viz.: 



Don't pour food down a sick dog when he hasn't the ability to either hold 

 or digest it. It only makes him worse. 



Don't exercise a dog sick with distemper. 



Don't let a day pass without proper use of compound tablets (pepsin, bismuth 

 and charcoal). 



Don't get scared if your dog won't eat. It's better for him not to eat until he 

 can handle his food rightly. He won't die of starvation. 



Don't allow him to get his feet wet. This is likely to bring on pneumonia, 

 which is generally fatal. 



Don't wash a dog, no matter how foul he may be, when down with distemper 

 or convalescent. Brush, comb and clean with powder (flour). Many a dog has 

 contracted incurable chorea and its twiches from a bath too soon after distemper. 

 Keep him away from the water for three months at least. 



Don't let your dog off chain as soon as he begins to feel better. Keep him 

 there till well, leading him for exercise only when convalescent. Relapses are 

 common and often fatal. 



When your patient is once well over distemper you can risk him anywhere, 



