Acute Eczema of the Dog. 503 



In none of our domestic animals is this condition so common as 

 in the dog, and of all canine skin affections this is the most 

 frequent. As in other animals it may show itself in all forms or 

 grades from simple erythema, through the papular, vesicular, 

 pustular and scurfy or scabby, and often all of them may be seen 

 at the same time in one animal. Yet special names have been 

 given to different forms and localizations and it seems convenient 

 to retain some of these for every day use. 



Eczema Rubrum. Red Mange. This form is famiUar to 

 dog fanciers as one of the acute types of this disease. 



Causes. Among these are recognized a constitutional predispo- 

 sition, so that the disease appears in successive generations in the 

 same family, without apparent reason for charging the trouble on 

 any particular feeding or management. While not confined to 

 any race or group of races it has been noticed especially in grey- 

 hounds, setters, pointers, fox hounds, harriers, bulldogs, St. Ger- 

 mains and braque hounds. It is especially common in dogs in 

 their first and second years, and those that are nervous and lively, 

 with a delicate and naturally dry skin. Again, the dog fed large- 

 ly on fiesh, and above all the house dog fed thrice a day or oftener 

 on highly spiced animal food from the table, or on cakes, rich in 

 fat, is a frequent victim. There is besides that tendency to irri- 

 tation of the skin which comes from hereditary peculiarities and 

 idiosyncrasy, from diseases of the stomach, intestines, liver or 

 kidneys, from faults in sanguification, nutrition and secretion, 

 agencies that disturb the circulation in the skin, like excessive 

 heat or cold, irritant dust, desiccated perspiration or sebum, over- 

 heating and subsequent plunging in cold water. These acting 

 locally may serve to precipitate that which was otherwise imi- 

 nent from a generally acting cause. 



Symptoms. There is first erythema, usually on the inner side 

 of the elbow, or thigh, with redness, heat and tenderness, which 

 soon extend to the belly, breast and inter-maxillary region, but 

 it confines itself as a rule to the ventral aspect of the body where 

 the hair is sparse and delicate, and the skin thin and sensitive. 

 The symptoms are more marked in white haired dogs. The ten- 

 der skin is more or less (usually intensely) itchy, causing violent 

 scratching with the development of minute vesicles and even open 

 sores. The skin may become moist, thickened and wrinkled. 



