84 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. ' 



The same diet as for enteritis should be adopted. 



Acute Peritonitis may terminate in recovery, ascites, or 

 become chronic. 



Chronic Peritonitis is generally the result of an acute 

 attach. 



Symptoms. — These are not so easily defined as in the pre- 

 vious form. The abdomen is hard, enlarged, and some- 

 what contracted at the sides. Uneasiness, or a kind of 

 sub-acUte pain appears frequently to be present, especially 

 after feeding. There is also a degree of fever continually 

 present. The nose ig seldom moist or cool, and the pulse 

 is low and fluctuating. The animal becomes gradually 

 emaciated, the abdomen increases in size (vulgarly termed 

 pot-bellied), the appetite fails, and death from exhaustion 

 takes place. This form of peritonitis is generally associated 

 with ascites. 



Post-mortem Examination reveals a thickened condition 

 of the peritoneal membrane, with frequently numerous 

 granulations on its abdominal surface. The serous effusion 

 is more abundant, and of a paler or more limpid colour 

 than in acute peritonitis. 



Treatment. — This consists in tonics, particularly the tinc- 

 ture or sulphate;of iron, with fresh air, moderate exercise, 

 and plain, nutritious food ; if the debility is extreme, 

 brandy, beef-tea, and cod -liver oil may be added. 



PILES. 



Dogs are frequently afflicted with this troublesome 

 affection. Piles may be either external or internal, and 

 assume either the form of vascular tumours around the 

 margin of the anus, or within it. 



External piles are composed of a congregation of varicose 

 veins. Internal piles are usually similar in formarion, but 

 occasionally they are genuine pendulous tumours arid so 

 exceedingly vascular that the least pressure produces 

 haemorrhage (bleeding piles). 



