CATARRHAL ICTERUS (JAUNDICE) IN DOGS. 



Pampered artificial life of dogs as predisposition. Eating carrion. Chills 

 especially when heated and exhausted. Infection from bowels. Obstruc- 

 tion of gall duct by inflammation, calculi, neoplasms. Catarrhal exudate 

 as a protector of microbes. Toxins from intestines, food or water. Youth, 

 lack of acclimation, mental shock, blocking of bowel, blood effusion in 

 gall bladder, incubation. Symptoms: signs of gastro- enteritis, prostration 

 with invasion of the liver and especially of the kidney. Icteric urine with- 

 out jaundiced mucosa. Gravity of icterus with suppression of urine. Hyp- 

 ochondriac tenderness, arched back, dullness, irregular bowels, excited cir- 

 culation and breathing, preliminary fever tends to subside, tympany, colic, 

 trembling. Death in one or two days or more. Lesions : congestion, de- 

 generation, ecchymosis, ulceration of gastro-duodenal mucosa, extending 

 into liver ducts and acini, bile inspissated, liver enlarged, yellowish brown, 

 softened, fatty, shrunken, distorted hepatic cells. Kidneys congested, ec- 

 chymosed, cortical part with necrotic foci ; lymph glands congested. Diag- 

 nosis : by icterus of tissues and urine tests. Prognosis: grave in acute cases, 

 more hopeful in tardy ones. Treatment : antiseptics, cholagogues, salol, 

 salicylates, alkalies, carbonates, tartrates, iodides, laxatives, cold enemata, 

 aloes, electricity, water freely, pilocarpin, strychnia, aqua-regia, digitalis, 

 bitters, muriatic acid, convalescent diet. 



Causes. The dog is much more subjected to jaundice than the 

 horse, and the affection is liable to be much more severe, than 

 in solipeds. He leads a more artificial life, especially in cities, 

 where the lack of open air exercise, and of the facility for attend- 

 ing to nature's wants, together with an excessive, varied, stimu- 

 lating diet predisposes him to constipation, indigestion, and 

 disorders of the stomach, bowels and liver. In other cases the 

 devouring of decomposing food and foul water proves a cause of 

 direct microbian infection, and of poisoning by ptomaines and 

 toxins generated out of the body. Exposure manifestly has 

 something to do with the prevalence of canine icterus, which is 

 more common in spring and especially in autumn than at other 

 seasons. In hunting dogs, out of condition, the suddenly in- 

 duced over-exertion and fatigue, and the succeeding chill in cold 

 air or water, become accessory factors. 



It appears to be most commonly the result of the transference 

 of germs from the intestine, either by way of the bile ducts, or 

 with the blood through the portal vein. The first form is usually 

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