150 KENNEL DISEASES. 
To allow the patient much liberty and largely restrict the diet to milk for 
a few days, is all that is required in the way of treatment for this affection. 
INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 
Mild attacks of cystitis, or acute inflammation of the walls of the bladder, 
occur now and then among dogs; but they are fortunately only rarely victims of 
the severe form, which is a most distressing malady. 
Cystitis may have its origin in simple irritability produced by retention of 
urine, and this appears the rule; but it can be the result of direct injury, as kicks, 
blows, and crushes. While turpentine, carbolic acid, and certain other chemical 
irritants are occasionally the exciting causes, in some instances it is attribu- 
table to chilling, in others to the microbes of infectious disease. It is present 
where there is stone in the bladder. Inflammation in neighboring parts or 
associate organs may extend and involve the bladder. Cystitis is also a common 
complication of prostatic enlargement. Finally, cases of this affection arise 
without apparent cause. 
Frequent efforts to void the urine, with notable increase in the quantity of 
the excretion, are generally the first evidences of it to attract attention. With the 
attempts there is decided straining; the quantity passed at each is small, and 
may be limited to a few drops, and there is apparently considerable discomfort 
in the act, for the victims are restless, and during it they often emit short cries 
of distress. In severe cases the gait is “straddling,” the back arched, and the 
walls of the abdomen retracted; while pressure over the region of the bladder 
causes shrinking, which indicates that there is soreness within. In such cases 
there is some fever as a rule; but the same rarely runs high, nor is it constant. 
General lassitude and depression, constipation, and loss of appetite are also 
associate symptoms. 
Changes in the character of the urine usually occur, although in some in- 
stances it is nearly normal in appearance. It is occasionally thick, turbid, and 
much like gruel, but oftener of dark reddish color, and it may contain blood 
and pus; in which case the attack is very serious and promises to prove exceed- 
ingly obstinate. 
As a rule this disease if mild or of only moderate intensity runs a rapid 
course and recovery speedily takes place ; that is, provided the cause does not 
persist, —as where there is calculi or a stone in the bladder — and no other 
disease is associated to keep the inflammation alive. Severe acute cases are 
liable, however, to prove tedious, and terminate in the chronic form of the dis- 
ease. They may even end fatally in consequence of perforation of the bladder, 
peritonitis, gangrene, or uremic poisoning. 
The primary essentials in treatment are rest for the patient, warm, comfort- 
