22 KENNEL DISEASES. 
gest disorder of the liver, digestive disturbance, or quite severe intestinal irritation 
or inflammation. 
Thus it would appear that by noting the appearance of the intestinal discharges, 
oftentimes information of much diagnostic importance may be acquired. 
A dog may occasionally emit a whine or cry to evince a pleasurable feeling, 
and if so its nature will be duly appreciated, and the difference between such 
expressions and any other be promptly recognized. As a rule, dogs seldom cry ex- 
cept when in trouble, and then the character of the sound will generally indicate 
whether or not that trouble is serious. A short and high-pitched cry is heard 
in diseases of the head, also oftentimes when a convulsion is coming on; and to 
those who hear it for the first time it is suggestive of a crazed and disordered brain. 
A hoarse, croupy, blended howl and wail is peculiar to rabies; while in attacks 
of sharp and severe pain the cry is one that must at once excite a suspicion of 
the real and true cause. 
A dog may act wildly and be really “out of his head,” and the trouble be only 
transitory, as when caused by intense heat or after a convulsion ; but such condi- 
tion should be treated as a serious matter, and the sufferer so placed that it will 
not be possible for him to do any harm. 
If a dog responds very slowly when called, he should be at once allowed to 
return to his kennel, and after a time visited there, and his movements watched 
carefully. His delay in responding may be due to physical disability or to dul- 
ness. If it is seemingly difficult for him to get up, the trouble may be the conse- 
quence of an injury, general weakness, inflammation of the joints, paralysis, etc., 
the precise nature of which, of course, must be determined; while if any of his 
senses are less acute than normal, the fact ought to be easily made clear by a few 
simple tests. 
The general appearance of the body is indicative of the state of nutrition. In 
nearly all long-persisting diseases fat is lost and emaciation results. In affections 
of the digestive organs the reduction in weight is slow, while in diabetes it is 
rapid. An increase in size in certain parts of the body, attended with general 
emaciation, is an ominous sign of grave, defective nutrition. 
In the foregoing some of the most common symptoms appearing in disease, 
with their usual significance, have been briefly mentioned. Compared to the pos- 
sible manifestations, however, they represent but a small proportion. A disease 
is but rarely, if ever, twice ushered in with identically the same symptoms, nor 
does it run its course with unvarying phenomena. This fact must be accepted 
by the reader, who might, without a knowledge of it, anticipate finding in each 
case all the signs typical of the existing affection. 
Of this somewhat rambling discussion the purpose has been to familiarize the 
reader with the essential manner of proceeding from one point to another, to 
reach what is called a diagnosis of a case; which will often be difficult, but only 
rarely impossible to a close and intelligent observer. 
