' 28 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



from local or general paralysis, the result of spinal injury^ 

 or other and debilitating diseases. 



Many dogs, from habits of cleanliness, will not urinate 

 except out of doors, an illustration of which has already 

 been given in the section on "Cystitis." The muscular 

 coat of the bladder being thus overstretched, and the strain 

 on it prolonged, it becomes paralysed. So that when 

 liberty is accorded to the animal, the evacuation cannot 

 take place, and unless speedy assistance is rendered, serious 

 mischief will ensue. 



Treatment. — This consists in frequently relieving the 

 bladder with the catheter, but for reasons previously 

 observed, in retention of urine the whole contents should 

 not at first be removed. We must then endeavour to impart 

 tone to the system by the administration of tonics. The- 

 best agents for the purpose are strychnine or nux vomica,, 

 alone or combined with iron. Counter-irritation to the 

 perinseum is sometimes serviceable. 



The diet should be chiefly liquid, nourishing and muci- 

 laginous. 



