Your Dog and. Your Cat 



and healthy animal. If diarrhea is present to any 

 extent, the rectum will be sore and inflamed. In 

 dogs where the tail or ears have recently been 

 trimmed be sure that healing has taken place. 



The general contour of the dog should be given 

 consideration. Bowed legs or enlargements of the 

 joints are suggestive of rickets. The dog should 

 be placed on his back and the abdomen examined 

 for swelling, which at the navel or in the groin are 

 indicative of hernias or ruptures. These are espe- 

 cially common in Pekingese. Do not allow the 

 salesman to explain away any abnormal condition, 

 especially if he seems to make light of it, for it 

 may be of a serious nature. 



The conditions to be especially looked for in young 

 dogs are, distemper, eczema, mange, rickets, hernias, 

 and intestinal disorders. Distemper may be recog- 

 nized by coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes 

 or nose, diarrhea, emaciation, and a general look of 

 weakness. Eczema and mange are almost identical 

 in their outward aspect. A diagnosis can be made 

 only by use of the microscope, and so a dog hav- 

 ing any sort of skin lesion should be looked upon 

 with suspicion. In rickets the forelegs become 

 bowed and at the wrist, or first joint up, there is 

 a distinct hump. The hind legs bend inward so 

 that the hocks come close together. The hair is 

 dry, dull, and staring. The dog is thin and the 

 abdomen much distended. Although the dog may 

 be playful he soon becomes tired. Intestinal dis- 



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