586 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



his gait and manner noticed. Some dogs 

 will almost speak to a person after their 

 own fashion, that is, in sign language, and 

 tell the whereabouts of their trouble. 



Before prescribing for a dog, it is always 

 best to have the whole history of the case, 

 from the very first noticeable deviation 

 from the straight line of health. We have 

 various signs and symptoms afforded us 

 which, although the dog cannot express his 

 feelings and sensations, generally guide us 

 to a correct diagnosis of the case. 



i. First let us take the COAT and SKIN. 

 A dry, staring coat is always a sign of ill- 

 ness, present or to come. Shivering is 

 important. It usually denotes a febrile 

 condition of the body, and it is generally 

 seen at the commencement of most acute 

 disorders; and if it amounts to an actual 

 rigor, we may be prepared for inflammation 

 of some important organ. Shiverings take 

 place, again, when the inflammation has 

 run to suppuration. In continued fever 

 these chills recur at intervals in the course 

 of the illness. 



The skin of an animal in perfect health 

 - say the inside of a dog's thigh ought to 

 feel gently, genially warm and dry, with- 

 out being hot. In the febrile condition it 

 is hot and dry, with a more frequent pulse 

 than usual. A cold, clammy skin, on the 

 other hand, with a feeble pulse, would in- 

 dicate great depression of the vital powers. 

 Death-cold ears and legs are a sign of sink- 

 ing. The ears, again, may be too hot, 

 indicating fever. 



Elevation of temperature is more easily 

 determined by the use of the clinical ther- 

 mometer. Everyone who keeps a large 

 kennel of dogs should possess one, and it 

 ought to be used in health as well as 

 disease, so that changes may be more easily 

 marked. 



The Temperature. Get the same ther- 

 mometer that is used for human beings, 

 and one that will take the temperature 

 quickly. Learn to use it on the dog in 

 health. Vets, or medical men may take 

 it from mouth or rectum, but for fear of 

 accidents the amateur should take it in 

 the armpit only. In health the temperature 

 here would be a little over 100. The bulb 

 of the small instrument should be well 

 covered with the skin, and it should be held 



so for fully two minutes before being read 

 off. A higher temperature indicates fever, 

 a lower vital depression. 



The colour of the skin is, of course, of 

 great importance, often giving the first 

 clue to liver mischief. The skin of a dog 

 in health ought to be soft and pliant and 

 thin ; in diseases of the skin it often gets 

 thickened, and frequently scurfy. 



2. The Mucous MEMBRANES. Take that 

 of the conjunctiva, for instance. The white 

 of the eye of a dog should be like that of a 

 well-boiled egg, with here and there, per- 

 haps, a little capillary vessel making its 

 appearance. In febrile disorders the eye is 

 invariably injected. In jaundice it is a 

 bright yellow. An injected eye without 

 other symptoms, however, must not make 

 one think one's dog is ill ; it is very often 

 indeed injected in animals who sleep out 

 of doors, and exercise will also redden the 

 conjunctiva. 



The mucous membrane of the mouth 

 ought to be of a pale pinkish hue. Very 

 pale gums in a white dog indicate a con- 

 dition of anaemia. 



3. MOUTH and TONGUE. The tongue of 

 a healthy dog should be of a beautiful pink 

 colour, and soft and moist. A dry tongue, 

 or a tongue covered with whitish saliva, is 

 indicative of excitement of circulation. If 

 the tongue is a darkish red, it shows that 

 the mucous membrane of the digestive 

 canal is out of order. A brown tongue 

 indicates a greater amount of inflammation 

 of the mucous membranes. 



Running of saliva at the mouth usually 

 denotes some disturbance of the system. 

 It is present in many inflammatory diseases 

 of the chest and throat, especially if accom- 

 panied by nausea and sickness. It may, 

 however, only indicate some diseases of the 

 teeth, and the mouth ought to be examined, 

 for possibly a bit of bone or wood may 

 be found to have penetrated the gum, or 

 become wedged between the teeth. 



A foul mouth, with ulcerated gums and 

 teeth covered with tartar, indicates indiges- 

 tion from errors in feeding, and must be 

 seen to. 



4. The PULSE. The pulse of the dog 

 in health is a firm, tense pulse. It gives 

 you the idea of bounding life and spirits, 

 a pulse that will not be repressed. Now, 



