Common Diseases of Dogs 



Treatment. — ^AU food and water must be with- 

 held for a period of twenty-four hours. If the 

 bowels are constipated, the dog should be given an 

 enema of soap solution. After this, subnitrate of 

 bismuth may be given in five grain doses with a 

 teaspoonful of milk of magnesia every two hours. 

 If this is retained it may be continued for from 

 four to six doses, depending on the character of 

 the bowels, and then the bismuth may be given with- 

 out the magnesia. If the vomiting is checked the 

 dog may be given a small portion of scrapped beef, 

 at the end of the fwenty-four hour fast, followed 

 a little later with a tablespoonful of water. If 

 these are retained, they may be repeated at fre- 

 quent intervals, gradually increasing the portions 

 until the dog is back on his normal diet. If vomit- 

 ing persists the doctor should be consulted. 



Diarrhea. — Diarrhea is a symptom indicating an 

 inflammation of the intestines. It may be caused 

 by improper feeding, spoiled food, poisons, irritat- 

 ing drugs, and intoxication. It may accompany dis- 

 turbances of the liver, rickets, and distemper. 



Symptoms. — The stools may be soft and pasty or 

 ^in and watery. They may be yellow, brown, black 

 or red. In frequency they may vary from one every 

 twenty-four hours to one every hour. As the dis- 

 ease progresses the stools grow thinner in consist- 

 ency and more frequent. 



Treatment. — With the first onset of diarrhea the 

 animal should be given a purge to clean the intes- 



