126 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



A short time since, I had an opportunity, during a pro- 

 fessional call on the gentleman to whom this work is 

 dedicated, of seeing what had been a case of retention of 

 urine in a fox terrier puppy a few days old, due to an im- 

 perforate prepuce. This had been removed by his medical, 

 attendant, W. Haslehurst, Esq., by slitting the prepuce 

 along from its under surface to the end. The case did well, 

 and the puppy was reared. 



Symptoms. — The animal exhibits great restlessness, he is 

 continually and vainly endeavouring to urinate ; he moves 

 uneasily about, and with a straddling gait. When lying 

 down he performs the act with extreme care, and moans or 

 emits a sharp cry after the effort. The abdomen is en- 

 larged, hot, and tense to thp feel. As the case advances, 

 the pain increases, there is repeated straining, with retching 

 and vomiting ; the pulse becomes rapid and small ; the 

 breathing hurried ; tongue dry and furred ; the poor animal 

 looks piteously at its master, gazes from time to time at its 

 flanks, finally reels about, becomes comatose, and dies. , 



Treatment. — If the bladder be emptied, immediate relief 

 is afforded, but this is often only temporary, the urine is 

 quickly secreted again, and often with the same result ; 

 watchfulness is therefore necessary. If the patient be not 

 thus relieved, the intense pressure on the bladder gives rise 

 to acute inflammation or paralysis, decomposition of the 

 urine takes place, sloughing of the coats of the bladder 

 follows,ultimately they give way,and the contents are poured 

 into the abdominal cavity. 



The passage of the catheter is necessary in all cases 

 where the retention occurs from mechanical impediment to 

 the outward flow of urine. 



When the retention results from urethritis, leeches, hot 

 fomentations, loin baths, opiates, mucilaginous drinks and 

 emollient clysters are the measures to be adopted. 



The same treatment will apply to retention of urine, 

 owing to bruises of the perinaeum. 



