CHAPTER V. 

 DISEASES OF THE BOWELS. 



CONSTIPATION, COLIC, 



DIARRHCEA, ENTERITIS, 



DYSENTERY, PERITONITIS, 



INTUS-SUSCEPTION, PILES, 



HERNIA, PROLAPSUS ANI, 



WORMS, FISTULA IN ANO. 



CONSTIPATION. 



The dog has a natural tendency to constipation, the evacua- 

 tions being usually dry and solid, and attended with more or 

 less straining ; nevertheless, as Mr. Youatt correctly observes. 

 " Costiveness is a disease when it becomes habitual," and 

 to prevent such an occurrence due attention to the causes 

 is requisite. Constipation is dependent to a great extent 

 on the food, especially an over-supply of bones or other 

 dry matter : confinement and denial of exercise have a like 

 result, and the fear of a breach of cleanly habits with house- 

 dogs has an equal tendency to produce it. Constipation 

 may occur from a deficiency in the intestinal- secretion, or 

 impaired peristaltic action, as in chorea, paralysis, or tetanus 

 or from piles and fistula. 



Symptoms. — ^The symptoms of constipation are usually 

 denoted by the character of the stool, and the difBculty and 

 pain in evacuating it ; where constipation is long and pro- 

 tracted, there are indigestion, retching, vomiting, and, from 

 the long retention of the excrement, excessively foul breath. 

 Ultimately, colicky pains come on, the animal increases 

 his efforts to evacuate, and yells in the endeavour : the im- 

 paction at last becomes so considerable as to push out the 

 anus, and give it the appearance of a tumour. 

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