AILMENTS AND THEIR TREATMENT 327 



it is always present, except in very mild cases. The cough becomes 

 more severe, and often comes on in tearing paroxysms, causing sickness 

 and vomiting. The breathing is short and frequent, the mouth hot 

 and filled with viscid saliva, while very often the bowels are constipated. 

 If the liver becomes involved, we shall very soon have the jaundiced 

 eye and the yellow skin. Diarrhoea is another very common com- 

 plication. We have frequent purging and, maybe, sickness and 

 vomiting. Fits of a convulsive character are frequent concomitants of 

 distemper. Epilepsy is sometimes seen, owing, no doubt, to degenera- 

 tion of the nerve centres caused by blood-poisoning. There are many 

 other complications, and skin complaints are common after it. 



Treatment This consists firstly in doing all in our power to guide 

 the specific catarrhal fever to a safe termination ; and, secondly, 

 in watching for and combating complications. Whenever we see a 

 young dog ailing, losing appetite, exhibiting catarrhal symptoms, 

 and getting thin, with a rise in temperature, we should not lose an hour. 

 If he be an indoor dog, find him a good bed in a clean, well-ventilated 

 apartment, free from lumber and free from dirt. If it be summer, 

 have all the windows out or opened ; if winter, a little fire will be 

 necessary, but have half the window opened at the same time ; only 

 take precautions against his lying in a draught. Fresh air in cases 

 of distemper, and, indeed, in fevers of all kinds, cannot be too highly 

 extolled. 



The more rest the dog has the better ; he must be kept free from 

 excitement, and care must be taken to guard him against cold and wet 

 when he goes out of doors to obey the calls of Nature. The most 

 perfect cleanliness must be enjoined, and disinfectants used, such as 

 permanganate of potash, carbolic acid, Pearson's, or Izal. If the 

 sick dog, on the other hand, be one of a kennel of dogs, then quarantine 

 must be adopted. The hospital should be quite removed from the 

 vicinity of all other dogs, and as soon as the animal is taken from the 

 kennel the latter should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and 

 the other dogs kept warm and dry, well fed, and moderately exercised. 



Food and Drink For the first three or four days let the food be light 

 and easily digested. In order to induce the animal to take it, it should 

 be as palatable as possible. For small dogs you cannot have anything 

 better than milk porridge.* At all events, the dog must, if possible, 

 be induced to eat ; he must not be " horned " unless there be great 

 emaciation ; he must not over-eat, but what he gets must be good. 

 As to drink, dogs usually prefer clean cold water, and we cannot do 

 harm by mixing therewith a little plain nitre. 



Medicine Begin by giving a simple dose of castor oil, just enough 

 and no more than will clear out the bowels by one or two motions. 

 Drastic purgatives, and medicines such as mercury, jalap, aloes, and 

 podophyllyn, cannot be too highly condemned. For very small 

 Toy dogs, such as Italian Greyhounds, Yorkshire Terriers, etc., I should 

 not recommend even oil itself, but manna one drachm to two drachms 

 dissolved in milk. By simply getting the bowels to act once or twice, 

 we shall have done enough for the first day, and have only to make 

 the dog comfortable for the night. 



* Oatmeal porridge made with milk instead of water. 



