Your Dog and Your Cat 



This faculty comes more from experience than 

 from any other source. There are, however, many 

 ways by which the severity of an illness may be 

 judged. A clinical thermometer is a very valuable 

 adjunct to the household. A dog sick enough to 

 carry a temperature of 103° F. or above is too sick 

 for one to take chances with his recovery. In many 

 diseases the appearance of a fever may act as an 

 indication of when to stop home treatment and 

 seek the help of a doctor. A cold in the head is not 

 dangerous until a fever develops, but on its appear- 

 ance, bronchitis, pneumonia, or distemper may be 

 expected. Constipation should respond to home 

 treatment, but failure to get results in seventy-two 

 hours or the appearance of a fever indicates that 

 the condition is of grave importance. When a 

 diarrhea does not respond in a few days to ordi- 

 nary treatment or when it is accompanied by fever, 

 the case should be given outside aid. Vomiting 

 should not be allowed to persist for any length of 

 time. Simple wounds may be treated by ordinary 

 antiseptic methods unless the presence of fever 

 sends forth warning of approaching blood poison- 

 ing. Fractures, injuries, and convulsions require 

 first aid, but should later be given expert care. The 

 problem which confronts the owner is a knowledge 

 of his own limitations and a willingness to admit 

 his shortcomings. Better than to wait a few days 

 to see if a condition will not improve, is an unneces- 

 sary trip to the doctor. The money thus spent in- 



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