SYMPTOMS OF MUSCUI^AR RHEUMATISM 

 IN THE DOG. 



Muscular rheumatism is common in dogs. It is most common 

 and most marked in the back and loins, though the neck may 

 suffer, or the disease may be generalized. It is painful to move and 

 the subject seeks to be as much as possible undisturbed. He 

 walks stifSy and slowly, carrying the limbs with as little movement 

 of the joints as possible, and in bad cases yelps occasionally from 

 sudden pain. He can no longer be tempted to go up or down 

 stairs or to make any special effort. When touched on the back 

 or loins he will wince, cry out, or even snap at the offender. In 

 some cases the pain is so acute that even a feint to touch the back 

 will draw out a yelp. If the neck is affected it may be held so 

 stiffly that the dog can barely reach the ground to find his food, or 

 if unilateral the head is turned to one side. Even the muscles of 

 the jaws may be affected, causing prehension and mastication to 

 be difficult and imperfect. Defecation and urination are also in- 

 terfered with and the straining may draw forth plaintive cries. 



The rapid shifting of the morbid process from one group of 

 muscles to another is often very striking, and if one pronounces 

 on the exact seat of the disease, it is liable to be speedily rendered 

 inexact by a sudden change of place. There is further a great 

 disposition to the implication of the heart and especially the 

 valves. This is shown by irregularity and inequality of the pulse 

 by intermissions and palpitations, by a blowing murmur with the 

 first heart sound and by oppressed breathing. 



Short, shallow breathing is also caused when the intercostal 

 muscles are attacked (pleurodynia). Various digestive troubles 

 are also common, to which the difficult defecation and impacted 

 rectum largely contribute. 



Emaciation makes more or less progress, and the muscles of the 

 hind parts especially become weak and atonic until marked paresis 

 or actual paraplegia sets in, and the hind limbs are.extended back- 

 ward and dragged helplessly. In fat, sluggish, overfed and pam- 

 pered animals the lack of control of the hind limbs may come on 

 at an early stage. Stiffness due to strongylus gigas in the kidney 

 or stephanurus or cysticercus cellulosa in the lumbar muscles 

 must not be mistaken for rheumatism. 

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