GASTRIC INDIGESTION IN CARNIVORA. 



Causes : too frequent feeding, indigestible food, epidermic products, 

 bones, tendons, rubber, cords, marbles, pebbles, catarrh, inflammation, 

 intestinal lesions, fever. Symptoms : dullness, restlessness, eating grass, 

 vomiting, seeks seclusion, colics, giddiness, tense, tender abdomen. Treat- 

 ment : emetic, diluents, dieting, tonics. 



Causes. Unintermittent work of the organ wears out its tone 

 and indigestion follows. The more indigestible the food, and the 

 admixture with the food of indigestible materials the greater the 

 tendency to this fatigue and atony. Thus epidermic materials, 

 hair, horn, wool, bristles, feathers are often injurious ; also bones, 

 tendons, and above all pieces of rubber, caouchouc, cords, mar- 

 bles, pebbles and other small objects. Fortunately such agents 

 are usually rejected by vomiting, but if retained, the movements 

 of the viscus become tardy and its secretions defective, and fer- 

 mentation, indigestion and irritation ensue. The evil effects 

 however mostly come of catarrhal and other inflammations of the 

 stomach, and serious lesions of the intestines, (inflammation, 

 obstruction^ volvulus, intussusception, tumors, strangulated her- 

 nia, ) or acute fever. In any such case the stomach ceases to act, 

 and its contents become a center of active fermentation with 

 more or less irritation. 



Symptoms. In transient cases the dog will appear dull and 

 restless, moving about, and, if opportunity affords, perhaps eat- 

 ing grass so as to hasten emesis and relief, With this relief the 

 subject may remasticate and swallow the very materials he has 

 vomited. 



If, relief is not secured by vomiting, the animal remains dull, 

 anxious, retiring, seeking perhaps seclusion and darkness, is taci- 

 turn, moves continually, lying down first on one side and then 

 on the other, or successively in different places, looks round at 

 the belly, starts up suddenly with a piercing cry, and may appear 

 giddy and uncertain in his gait. The abdomen is usually tense 

 or even full and tender to touch. 



Treatment. The first resort is the evacuation of the stomach 

 by vomiting. Give tepid water and tickle the fauces with a 

 feather or the finger. Or y^ to i gr. tartar emetic in a teaspoon- 

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