104 



DISEASES OP DOGS. 



once be evident. The mother flea deposits her eggs in the cracks of the 

 floor-boards, in the dust which congregates in the comers of the 

 kennel, etc. , and in due time these eggs are hatched, and whitish 

 footless maggots result. These in about fourteen days assume the 

 pupal state in a silken cocoon, and in about a fortnight after the 

 perfect insect (flea) stage is reached and the cycle of existence is 

 again begun. It would tlierefore be useless to rid a dog say of fleas 

 and return him at once to a kennel which had not been scrubbed, 

 as in a veiy short time the animal would be as Dadly infested 

 as ever. 



Ticks (Ixodes rieinus, Fig. 18) are less common and less known 

 than either the flea or the louse. In appearance they bear some 



resemblance in body to a spider, 

 to which, in fact, they are re- 

 lated. Ticks vaiy in size from 

 a pin's head to a small pea. 

 The coioui of the smaller ones 

 is a Ugh grey, but they become 

 dark when gorged with blood. 

 The tick fastens in the skin, 

 and holds on with such tenacity 

 as frequently to part in two in 

 the attempt made to remove it. 

 The cure for ticks most to be 



„ „ , , . ,. , relied on is either the white 



Fig. 18. Dog Tick, (x about 7 diam.) • -4 x j 4.1, r-™, 



precipitate powder or the Lime- 



and-Sulphur Lotion, used as already directed ; but an excellent wash 

 for dogs infested with ticks is sold by Mr, J. Dawson, 84, Lowther 

 Street, Carlisle. 



Ticks occasionally occur even in the best regu- 

 lated of kennels, as it is of course impossible to 

 prevent a dog coming in contact with another 

 infested with the pests. Though often found 

 upon dogs and other animals, ticks are not truly 

 parasitic on them, their food in. the ordinary way 

 being vegetable. Once ticks make their ap- 

 pearance, no time must be lost in ridding the 

 dog of his persecutors. The kennel must also be 

 treated, as in that the animals find lodgment. 



Harvest Bugs ( Tromhidii). — Nearly 

 everyone is acquaiated with the harvest bug 

 which in summer thrusts its unwelcome pre- 

 FiG. 19. The Har- gence upon man. Few, however, seem to be 

 60 diam.) aware that these mites are troublesome to dogs. 



