614 



THE NEW BOOK OF THE DOG. 



predisposes to another. The proximate cause of 

 rheumatism is exposure to damp and cold, or 

 alternate heats and chills combined with damp. 



Symptoms. The first noticeable symptom is 

 stiffness in the dog's movements. He feels unable 

 or unwilling to get up with his wonted ease. 

 Perhaps he cries out, and he will have to go some 

 distance before this pain and stiffness be shaken 

 off. This may go on for a day or two, or even 

 much longer. 



At length acute or sub-acute inflammation of 

 the ligaments, tendons, and sheaths of the muscles 

 takes place, it may be in the shoulder, the leg 

 or legs, the neck, the chest or back, in any of 

 these regions, or in all combined. The dog now 

 becomes restless and feverish, he moves about 

 anxiously, stopping at times and crying out, as if 

 he had hurt himself; or he seeks out a quiet 

 corner, generally under something, where he can 

 lie unmolested. 



Even in slight cases there is always more or 

 less of fever. The nose is dry, the breath and 

 mouth hot, and the tongue furred. The dog's 

 temper is bad, as a rule; he is peevish at least, 

 and often snarly. All he seems to wish is to be 

 left alone. 



Urine is scanty and high in colour, and if 

 tested with litmus-paper, it gives a strongly acid 

 reaction. Bowels often confined. Paralysis of the 

 hind-quarters, either complete or partial, is not 

 an unusual concomitant of acute rheumatism. 



Treatment. Constitutionally the indications of 

 treatment are to allay the pain and assuage the 

 fever. We may fulfil the first indication by 

 opium and belladonna in conjunction, as by a pill 

 like the prescription : 



Powdered opium, % grain to 2 or 3 grains ; ex- 

 tract of belladonna, % to 2 grains; extract of tar- 

 axacum, 3 to 10 grains. Mix. Given every night, 

 and if there seems to be very much distress, give 

 also from 3 to 10 or 15 grains of this powder: 



Powdered opium and powdered ipecac., 2 

 drachms ; nitrate of potash, powdered and dry, 

 2 ounces. Mix. Give thrice daily. 



Let the dog have a soft, warm, comfortable bed, 

 with plenty of fresh air, but with freedom from 

 draughts. Let his water, in which a teaspoonful 

 or two of nitre and the same of bicarbonate of potash 

 should be mixed, be placed handy to him, and 

 always kept fresh. When the dog is first attacked 

 his bowels ought to be cleared with a saline pur- 

 gative, and afterwards kept open with from i 

 drachm to 4 drachms of Epsom salts every morn- 

 ing, combined with 3 to 10 drops of tincture of 

 hyoscyamus and 5 to 20 of dilute sulphuric acid. 

 Sometimes from 5 drops to i 1 /* drachms of the 

 tincture of colchicum may be added with advan- 

 tage to the morning draught. 



Food. Low at first, but if signs of weakness 

 exhibited, resort to beef-tea, mutton-broth, milk, 

 and eggs. 



Locally, in a case of really acute rheumatism, 

 very little can be done. In small dogs the warm 

 bath may effect some good. Embrocations are 



better suited to chronic or sub-acute cases. Heat 

 applied to the seat of pain by means of a common 

 flat iron I have found do most good, or the use 

 of bags of heated sand. After the acute stage is 

 got over, give the following : 



Sulphate of quinine, J< grain to 3 grains ; iodide 

 of potassium, i grain to 5 grains. 



And now the diet must be more generous. 



Rheumatism, Chronic. This is known by the 

 name of chest founder and kennel lameness. 

 It is very often situated in the shoulder and in 

 the chest. It is common in the back and loins, 

 when it is termed lumbago. It is less common 

 in the hind-quarters, but the feet are often 

 affected. There is usually some degree of swell- 

 ing, if it be in the limbs; there is little or no 

 fever, though sometimes the appetite is lost ; but 

 the animal is stiff and lame, and cries out when 

 you handle the tender part, and even when at- 

 tempting to walk. 



Treatment. Cleanliness, dryness, and purity of 

 the kennels. Give the dogs their food regularly, 

 and see that they are never allowed to lie out in 

 the wet and cold. Regulate the bowels, and give 

 tonics, or arsenic may do good. Virol cannot 

 fail to improve the animal's condition, unless he is 

 gross. Avoid sugar, or, indeed, dainties of any 

 kind. 



Locally. The flat iron. Do not make it too 

 hot, but just as hot as the animal can comfortably 

 bear it. Do this three or four times a day, and 

 always at least a quarter of an hour at a time. 

 The bags of hot sand may also be tried. Another 

 simple application in lumbago is common sulphur 

 well dusted into the coat and allowed to remain 

 in, a flannel roller being applied around the dog's 

 body all night. It may, if desired, be brushed 

 out in the morning and more dusted in again at 

 night. Other local applications which may be 

 tried are the liniments of opium, belladonna, or 

 aconite. In some cases a blister does good. 



Rickets. Improper food is one great cause ; 

 taking the puppy too soon from its dam, and sup- 

 plying it with a diet unsuited to its digestion, may 

 produce rickets. A weakly bitch will often have 

 rickety puppies. A damp kennel, and the breath- 

 ing of foul air, with little exercise in the warm 

 sunshine, will be very likely to produce rickets 

 in a puppy. 



Symptoms. Decline of the general health. The 

 pup is not so lively as he ought to be, and has 

 occasional attacks of diarrhoea. The coat is dirty 

 and harsh. At the same time there will be more 

 or less tumefaction of the belly. Soon the bones 

 begin to bend, especially the fore-legs, and there 

 is no longer any doubt about the nature of the 

 complaint, although ten to one the puppy has been 

 previously treated for worms. 



You must give the puppy good, wholesome, 

 nourishing food ; his sleeping-berth ought to be 

 drv and warm, and free from all bad smells, and 

 he must have sufficient exercise and sunshine. 

 Good milk with a little lime-water, and beef-tea 

 ot Bovril, may be given with advantage. 



