58 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



Treatment. — Unless relieved, gangrene of the 

 bowel, peritonitis, and death are the usual ending, 

 although occasionally sloughing of the intussus- 

 cepted gut, with adhesion of the serous surfaces, 

 takes place, the "cast" of the bowel being passed 

 per anum. It is, however, not justifiable to rely 

 upon this remote contingency, and immediate opera- 

 tion should be practiced. The prognosis is good if 

 operation is not delayed until adhesions have formed 

 or tissue changes taker! place, or until the patient 

 is moribund. 



Operation. — Perform laparotomy (this operation is 

 fully described on p. 205) and replace the gut into 

 its natural position by manual manipulation. The 

 after-treatment is to keep the patient quiet for some 

 days and on a liquid diet, the bowels being "rested" 

 by the use of morphin. 



Diarrhea 



Diarrhea consists of the frequent passage of liquid 

 feces, often offensive and accompanied by pain and 

 straining. 



Cause. — Diarrhea may be a symptom of intes- 

 tinal catarrh or of distemper, but it is more often 

 caused by irritant food, chills, intestinal parasites, 

 injudicious use of purgatives, or contaminated water. 



Symptoms.^The evacuations are generally pain- 

 ful,, frequent, and fluid, and have a fetid odor; thirst 

 is increased, but the appetite is often unaffected. If 

 untreated, the animal soon becomes unthrifty, emaci- 

 ated, and may even die from exhaustion. 



Treatment. — If dietetic errors are suspected a full 

 dose of castor oil should be administered, followed 

 by chlorodyne or laudanum combined with an in- 



