DISEASES OF THE BOWELS. 69 



tracted, there are indigestion, retching, vomiting, and from 

 the long retention of the excrement, excessively foul breath. 

 Ultimately, colicky pains come on, the animal increases his 

 efforts to evacuate, atid yells in the endeavor : the impaction 

 at last becomes so considerable as to push out the anus, and 

 give it the appearance of a tumor. 



Treatment. — I agree with Mr. Youatt that " a dog should 

 never be suffered to remain costive more than a couple of 

 days," after the expiration of which we should first of all en- 

 deavor to remove the impaction with warm water injection. 

 If the faecal .matter is considerable and unusually hard, the 

 finger, previously oiled, should be gently insinuated, and the 

 mass therewith' broken down, when, followed by the enema, 

 evacuation will generally take place. A mild dose of castor- 

 oil may be afterwards administered ; this, however, is not often 

 called for, and the frequent use of purgatives has a tendency 

 rather to produce than remove constipation. 



Diet. — The recurrence of constipation may be avoided by 

 judicious feeding. Dogs fed on oatmeal porridge occasion- 

 ally mixed with paunch, potatoes, or green vegetables, rarely 

 suffer from it. Daily exercise, if only for a short time, is also 

 essential. 



DIARRHCEA, 



Or the profuse evacuation of liquid faeces, is an alvine condi- 

 tion to which dogs of all ages, but more particularly puppies, 

 are very liable. 



Causes. — Pre-existing intestinal disease, putrid and indi- 

 gestible food, undigested matter, acrid bile, worms, congestion 

 or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bowels ; 

 abuse of purgatives, particularly aloes and calomel ; sudden 

 change of diet, especially from plain to rich food ; excess of 

 animal matter. Diarrhoea is frequently a-Ssociated with dis- 

 temper ; for further information regarding this connection, 



