30 DISEASES OF DOGS. 



for the cura of that disease. The treatment proper in the disease 

 under consideration consists in getting the bo-wels relieved as speedily 

 as possible by the mildest means that can be used, constipation being 

 generally present. For this purpose the use of clysters every fifteen 

 minutes, as recommended in ObstkUOTION op the Bowels, should 

 be resorted to, and the injections must be used gently and 

 with as little annoyance to the patient as possible. When the 

 clysters begin to take effect, the evacuation of the bowels should 

 be assisted by a dose of castor oil. Many of the best writers on 

 dogs recommend giving calomel and opium combined, and it may 

 appeal presumptuous in me to offer a contrary opinion; but 

 Experience is the best teacher. Instead of calomel, I have in 

 several cases used the following with excellent effect : true James's 

 powder, 2gr. ; powdered opium, Jgr. ; in one powder. Give to a 

 201b. dog one of these powders every two hours till three have been 

 administered. 



To allay the pain, give 5gr. to lOgr. of chloral, with 5 to 30 drops 

 of tincture of opium ; also apply hot flannels to the abdomen. 



If the dog should get over the attack, with signs of returning 

 health great weakness will be evident, and this must be met by 

 good nursing and a generous, but easily assimilated, diet. Beef- 

 tea, thickened with bread, cornflour, or arrowroot, will answer welL 

 The diet must be so varied as to keep the bowels open without the 

 use of medicine. When well on the road to health, progress will 

 be accelerated by giving the Tonic Pills twice a day ; or the follow- 

 ing may be substituted : 



Concentrated Tonic Mxtvre. — Take of concentrated decoction of 

 yeUow cinchona bark and compound tincture of cinchona bark loz. 

 each ; mix. Dose for a 201b. dog, half a teaspoonful twice a day in 

 water. 



BOWELS, OBSTBUCTION OF (Constipation, or 



Costiveness). — Dogs are peculiarly liable to oostiveness, and, 

 as Youatt states, "it is a disease when it becomes habitual " j 

 but a very little care and attention on the part of the owner 

 will prevent it. In the tendency to oostiveness of course individual 

 animals differ, and should be treated accordingly. Although 

 bones are excellent and almost necessary to a dog's health, 

 an excess of them is to be avoided. The same may be said 

 of an excess of any kind of dry food, or of keeping the dog 

 constantly to one diet ; indeed, want of exercise and the absence 

 of the necessary variety in the food are the principal causes of 

 constipation. 

 Whether looked upon aa a disease in itself, or as a symptom and 



