nrrLAMMATioH of thb bowels. !» 



ifithoTit encouraging useless and ignorant experimenting at the cost 

 of torture to the dog, I shall feel that I have heen of some little 

 service. 



Whatever course is determined on, whether home treatment or 

 the calling in of professional aid, the decision should not he taken till 

 the symptoms have heen carefully and minutely observed, and the 

 greatest attention must he paid to them, else there is every fear of 

 the amateur confounding the disease wth and treating it aa colic, 

 which, although strongly resembling inflammation in some of its 

 symptoms, differs widely in others, and requires totally different 

 treatment. Colic, if neglected or wrongly treated, may, and fre- 

 quently does, end in inflammation of the bowels; but it is in 

 itself a distinct ailment; and the same remark equally applies to 

 constipation, or obstruction of the bowels. 



As inflammation of the bowels, or enteritis, is one of the most 

 fatal diseases to which the dog is liable— frequently carrying him off 

 very quickly — no half measures will do for it ; but, having ascer- 

 tained clearly from the prevailing symptoms that the disease is 

 actually present, remedial measures must be adopted with prompti- 

 tude and energy. The main ca^uses of the disease are irregular or 

 improper diet ; irritation caused by the dog having swallowed some 

 hard indigestible substance ; and exposure to cold and wet. Some- 

 times, however, it is the result of ill-usage, such as a kick. Inflam- 

 mation of the bowels may be distinguished from colic in being more 

 giadual iu its approach, and it is always ushered in by general 

 feverishness ; the nose is hot and dry, the eyes are red, and the 

 whole countenance is expressive of great anxiety ; shivering fits 

 occur, the beUy is hard and distended, the surface hot to the touch, 

 and the urine is generally scanty and highly coloured. As in colic, 

 when standing, the back is arched, the feet are drawn in towards 

 each other, and the tail is tightly tucked between the legs ; or the 

 dog may steal into a quiet corner, stretch his legs out before and 

 behind, and crouch with his beUy on the ground, probably finding 

 temporary relief by bringing it iu contact with the cold floor or 

 ground ; at the same time the dog may be observed to frequently 

 turn an anxious face towards his flanks. Another safe and pretty 

 certain way of distinguishing between enteritis and simply ob- 

 struction or colic, is by pressing the hand along the beUy. In the 

 latter diseases, especially in colic, the rubbing gives reUaE, whereas 

 in inflammation it evidently causes acute pain. 



I may here mention the fact that enteritis is very commonly a 

 complication of that "scourge of the kennel," distemper, and this 

 fact alone sufficiently shows the foUy of trusting to any single 

 medicine — pill, powder, or potion— or any so-called specific whatever 



