CHAPTER V. 



DISEASES OF THE BOWELS. 



CONSTIPATION, COLIC, 



DIARRHCEA, ENTERITIS, 



DYSENTERY, PERITONITIS, 



INTUS-SUSCEPTION, PILES, 



HERNIA, PROLAPSUS ANI, 



WORMS, FISTULA IN ANO. 



CONSTIPATION. 



The dog has a natural tendency to constipation, the evac- 

 uations being usually dry and solid, and attended with more 

 or less straining ; nevertheless, as Mr. Youatt correctly ob- 

 serves, " Costiveness is a disease when it becomes habitual," 

 and to prevent such an occurrence due attention to the causes 

 is requisite. Constipation is dependent to a great extent on 

 the food, especially an over supply of bones or other dry ma.tr 

 ter ; confinement, and denial of exercise, have a like result, 

 and the fear of a breach of cleanly habits with house-dogs has 

 an equal tendency to produce it. Constipation may occur 

 from a deficiency in the intestinal secretion, or impaired per- 

 istaltic action, as in chorea, paralysis, or tetanus, or from piles 

 and fistula. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of constipation are usually 

 denoted by the character of the stool, and the difficulty and 

 pain in evacuating it ; where constipation is long and pro- 



