ABC GUIDE TO CANINE AILMENTS. 
anxious, the pulse small and frequent, and the ex- 
tremities cold. The animal would fain sit up on 
his haunches, or even seek to get out into the fresh 
air; but sickness, weakness, and prostration often 
forbid his movements. If the ear or stethoscope 
be applied to the chest, the characteristic signs 
of pneumonia will be heard; these are sounds of 
moist crepitations, etc. 
Bronchitis is probably the most common compli- 
cation; in fact, it is always present, except in 
very mild cases. The cough becomes more severe, 
and often comes on in tearing paroxysms, causing 
sickness and vomiting. The breathing is short 
and frequent, the mouth hot and filled with viscid 
saliva, while very often the bowels are consti- 
pated. 
Liver Disease.—lf the liver becomes involved, 
we. shall very soon have the jaundiced eye and the 
yellow skin. 
Diarrhea.—This is another very common com- 
plication. We have frequent purging and, maybe, 
sickness and vomiting. 
Fits of a convulsive character are frequent con- 
comitants of distemper. 
Epilepsy is sometimes seen in cases of dis- 
temper, owing, no doubt, to degeneration of the 
nerve centres caused by blood-poisoning. There 
are many other complications seen in distemper. 
JAUNDICE, for example, which see. Skin com- 
plaints common after it. 
Treatment.—This consists firstly in doing all 
in our power to guide the specific catarrhal fever 
to a safe termination; and, secondly, in watching 
for and combating complications. Whenever we 
see a young dog ailing, losing appetite, exhibiting 
catarrhal symptoms, and getting thin, with a rise 
in temperature, we should not lose an hour. If 
he be an indoor dog, find him a good bed in a 
clean, well-ventilated apartment, free from lumber 
and free from dirt. If it be summer, have all the 
windows out or opened; if winter, a little fire will 
be necessary, but have half the window opened at 
the same time; only take precautions against his 
lying in a draught. Fresh air in cases of dis- 
temper, and, indeed, in fevers of all kinds, cannot 
be too highly extolled. 
The more rest the dog has the better; he must 
be kept free from excitement, and care must be 
taken to guard him against cold and wet when he 
goes out of doors to obey the calls of nature. 
The most perfect cleanliness must be enjoined, 
and disinfectants used, such as permanganate of 
potash, carbolic acid, Pearson’s, or Izal. If the 
sick dog, on the other hand, be one of a kennel 
of dogs, then quarantine must be adopted. The 
hospital should be quite removed from the vicinity 
of all other dogs, and as soon as the animal is 
taken from the kennel the latter should be 
thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and the other 
dogs kept warm and dry, well fed, and moderately 
exercised. 
Foqd and Drink.—For the first three or four 
days let the food be light and easily digested. In 
order to induce the animal to take it, it should 
603 
be as palatable as possible. For small dogs you 
cannot have anything better than milk porridge.* 
At all events, the dog must, if possible, be in- 
duced to eat; he must not be “horned” unless 
there be great emaciation; he must not over-eat, 
but what he gets must be good. As to drink, dogs 
usually prefer clean cold water, and we cannot 
do harm by mixing therewith a little plain nitre. 
Medicine.—Begin by giving a simple dose of 
castor-oil, just enough and ng more than will 
clear out the bowels by one or two motions. 
Drastic purgatives, and medicines such as mer- 
cury, jalap, aloes, and podophyllyn, cannot be 
too highly condemned. For very small Toy dogs, 
such as Italian Greyhounds, Yorkshire Terriers, 
etc., I should not recommend even oil itself, 
but manna—one drachm to two drachms dis- 
solved in milk. By simply getting the bowels to 
act once or twice, we shall have done enough for 
the first day, and have only to make the dog 
comfortable for the night. 
On the next day begin with a mixture such as 
the following: Solution of acetate of ammonia, 
30 drops to 120; sweet spirits of nitre, 15 drops 
to 60; salicylate of soda, 2 grains to 10. Thrice 
daily in a little camphor water. 
If the cough be very troublesome and the fever 
does not run very high, the following may be 
substituted for this on the second or third day~ 
Syrup of squills, 10 drops to 60; tincture of hen- 
bane, 1o drops to 60; sweet spirits of nitre, 10 
drops to 60, in camphor water. 
A few drops of dilute hydrochloric acid should 
be added to the dog’s drink, and two teaspoon- 
fuls (to a quart of water) of the chlorate of potash. 
This makes an excellent fever drink, especially if 
the dog can be got to take decoction of barley— 
barley-water—instead of plain cold water, best 
made of Keen and Robinson’s patent barley. 
If there be persistent sickness and vomiting, 
the medicine must be stopped for a time. Small 
boluses of ice frequently administered will do 
much good, and doses of dilute prussic acid, from 
one to four drops in a little water, will generally 
arrest the vomiting. 
If constipation be present, we must use no rough 
remedies to get rid of it. A little raw meat cut 
into small pieces—minced, in fact—or a small 
portion of raw liver, may be given if there be 
little fever; if there be fever, we are to trust for 
a time to injections of plain soap-and-water. 
Diarrhea, although often a troublesome symptom, 
is, it must be remembered, generally a salutary 
one. Unless, therefore, it becomes excessive, do 
not interfere; if it does, give the simple chalk 
mixture three times a day, but no longer than is 
needful. 
The discharge from the mouth and nose is to 
be wiped away with a soft rag, wetted with a weak 
solution of carbolic, or, better still, some tow, 
which is afterwards to be burned. The forehead, 
eyes, and nose may be fomented two or three 
* Oatmeal porridge made with milk ins‘ead of water. 
