140 KENNEL DISEASES. 
Dogs but rarely suffer from them ; and most of the victims are well advanced 
in life, and mainly house pets, which have had constipation, been highly fed, 
and lived lazily and indolently. Piles may, however, be caused by too frequent 
use of purgatives, and indeed by any agent which keeps the lower bowel con- 
stantly irritated. 
External piles cannot be mistaken; but the internal may exist without detec- 
tion, although they are sometimes forced out when the bowels move. Where 
this happens, usually at first and for a considerable time they quickly go back; 
but if they increase in size, eventually they remain out unless forcibly returned ; 
and likely become swollen and excessively tender. 
Internal piles are liable to bleed ; and they may be suspected if blood 
appears in the intestinal discharges. The victim licks around the opening of the 
bowel, led to do so by pain, and while in a sitting position draws himself over 
the floor or ground ; which is generally done to relieve itching. 
The primary object of treatment is to remove the cause. If the patient is 
over-fed and denied sufficient exercise, these faults must, of course, be corrected. 
To keep the bowels acting freely is one of the essential requirements, for other- 
wise their movements must be painful. Green vegetables first suggest them- 
selves. Then comes magnesia, which may be mixed with the food twice or 
three times daily. Or sulphur, in half-teaspoonful doses for all dogs excepting 
toys, may be given every morning; and this, also, can be put into the feeding- 
pan. 
External treatment will do much to favor relief if not able to effect a cure. 
An ointment which promises well may be prepared of the following ingredients : 
Tannic acid, one drachm; sulphate of morphia, four grains; powdered camphor, 
half a drachm; stramonium ointment, one ounce. 
This is sedative and astringent, and if applied freely several times daily, will 
prevent friction, lessen pain and soreness, and tend to reduce the swelling. 
In very obstinate cases, in which the tumors cannot readily be reduced in size 
by the ordinary measures, it is scarcely worth while to persist in such, and it 
would be far better to remove them at once by an operation. That of ligating is 
the easiest, and may be intrusted to the family physician. 
Internal piles yield less readily to treatment; and as a rule to keep the 
bowels moving freely, and give glycerin two or three times daily, is about all 
that can be advised, or really requires to be done. Glycerin is not only laxa- 
tive but acts well locally; and to dogs of largest size two teaspoonfuls, mixed 
with food, is a dose; one teaspoonful for from twenty- to fifty-pound dogs; and 
half a teaspoonful for the smallest. 
As for the bleeding from piles, it is oftener salutary than otherwise, as it 
brings some relief. Nor is it likely to be severe enough to excite apprehension; 
but were it so, injections of cold water should control it. 
