SECTION VI 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND 

 INTESTINES 



IN the dog, impaction of the stomach and gas- 

 tritis constitute about sixty per cent of all dis- 

 eases of digestion. This is due mainly to the want 

 of proper attention to the animal's diet and to the 

 practice of feeding only once a day, whereby the 

 animal seeks to satisfy its hunger in a voracious 

 manner. 



Impaction of the Stomach 



Cause. — Overfeeding and improper food are the 

 principal causes of impaction. 



Symptoms. — Vomiting is an evidence of this trou- 

 ble, and if it takes place may empty the stomach 

 and so relieve the condition, but in the majority of 

 cases vomiting is not violent enough to give much 

 relief, and the patient will retch, slaver, and eruc- 

 tate gas. Pressure over the epigastric region pro- 

 duces pain, the respirations are accelerated, and the 

 patient is greatly depressed. There are colicky 

 symptoms, with great uneasiness and a frequent 

 desire to change positions. The animal groans or 

 whines, and may be irritable and "snappy." 



Treatment. — Empty the stomach by a hypodermic 

 injection of 1-20 'to 1-10 grain of apomorphin. 

 Enormous masses of undigested or partially di- 

 gested food are usually vomited, and relief is almost 

 instantaneous. The stomach may then be washed 

 out by means of the stomach pump, or eight to 

 ten ounces of water may be administered and the 



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