CHAPTER I.

GENERAL DISEASES

Distemper

This is one of the most common diseases of the dog, and one that leaves in its train often very serious results. The earlier symptoms are very insidious. There is dullness; loss of appetite, flesh and strength may be remarked, while purging and vomiting are not uncommon. To this are added a short, husky cough, watery eyes, increased redness of the vessels of the eye, sensibility of the eye to light, increased frequency of the pulse. As the disease advances, the animal shivers with the cold, dislikes to be disturbed, seeks warmth, and courts solitude; the bowels are confined; the membrane of the eye covered with a fine net-work of bright red vessels; a thick discharge of matter flows from the eyes; the nostrils are covered with a glassy yellowish fluid; the cough is increased in frequency, and comes on in fits, which terminates in the discharge of a yellow, frothy fluid from the stomach; the skin is hot. Often with red spots on the under side of the body and between the thighs.

A later stage is marked by an increase of all the foregoing symptoms. The body wastes, the shivering is constant, the eyes are filled with a thick matter, which glues the eyelids together in the morning, tenacious matter clogs the nostrils and obstructs the breathing. This causes much uneasiness and frequent but unsuccessful attempts to overcome the cause of annoyance. The discharge from the nostrils becomes bloody and offensive; the breath is fetid; the lips are covered with ulcers; short cries express pain; and the animal, becoming weaker and worse in every respect, at last dies, a severe diarrhea being the usual harbinger of that end.

Distemper frequently results in chorea, or St. Vitus’ dance, paralysis, disease of the brain, ulcers on the eyes and opacity, inflammation of the lungs, or in numerous other ailments.

TREATMENT.—The earlier stages, before the discharge is established, are best controlled by the A. A., of which give a dose of three or five drops, according to the size of the dog, morning, noon and night.

After the catarrhal stage has come on, give three or five drops of the C. C., four times per day. This will, in general, carry the animal safely and speedily through this ordeal. Should other diseases declare themselves, they should be treated accordingly.

Should a general or partial paralysis occur, or inability to use one or several limbs, the J. K., should be given, three or five drops, three times per day, until recovered. (See paralysis.)

ACCESSORY MEASURES.—A nutritious and easily digested diet is of great importance in this disease, such as—milk, bouillon, soup, scraped raw meat and beef tea. If much diarrhea, boiled milk. If great loss of strength or appetite, alcoholic stimulants may be added to the milk or soup.

Simple or Inflammatory Fever

Is known by a fever, attended with increased heat of the whole body, and with a quick, strong, decided pulse. It attacks dogs of all breeds and ages, but most frequently those from one year to three years old.

CAUSES.—Sudden changes from heat to cold; jumping into cold water after being very much heated from running; excitement from various causes. Fever is accompanied with some degree of inflammation, however it may be occasioned.

SYMPTOMS.—The fever comes on with a dislike to move, and with a drowsy appearance, soon followed by great restlessness; constant getting up, turning round, and lying down again; great thirst; hard, frequent pulse; hurried breathing; red, swollen, watery eyes; burning heat of the whole body; dry, parched nose; intensely hot mouth; as the disease progresses the restlessness increases, and the dog stares, and frequently becomes unconscious.

TREATMENT.—Give A. A., from one to three drops, according to the size of the dog, every two hours at first, and as the patient mends, a dose four times per day; and at the last, a dose of J. K., morning and night.

Rheumatism—Chest Founder—Kennel Lameness

DEFINITION.—An affection of the muscles and joints accompanied with stiffness and tenderness. More often of the chest, loins or back, but may occur anywhere.

CAUSES.—Sudden exposure to cold and damp; going into water after running fast; lying in a cold, wet kennel; violent exercise. It chiefly attacks sporting dogs and house dogs.

SYMPTOMS.—Stiffness in the fore legs and shoulders; stiffness of back, neck, and loins, animal cannot go up or down stairs easily, howls when fore paws are lifted from the ground; unusual firmness and tenderness of the muscles of the chest when pressed; swelling at the knees, with heat and tenderness; tenderness at the back of the shoulder or the ribs; accelerated breathing; impaired appetite; dry and hot nose. The animal often limps with one paw, trails it, or holds it up as he goes along, and howls when he puts it to the ground.

TREATMENT.—Give, at first, and more especially if there is heat or fever, A. A., a dose every three or four hours, and later, if the lameness and stiffness is considerable, give B. B., in alternation with the A. A., at similar intervals. For simple rheumatic stiffness, give B. B., morning and night. Dose, one to three drops, according to the size of dog.

ACCESSORY MEASURES.—The animal must be kept warm and dry, and protected from the inclemency of the weather. No meat of any kind should be given.

Dropsy

Dropsy is a morbid accumulation of watery fluid confined to certain parts of the body, or affecting the cellular tissue; the latter form, called ANASARCA, is very rarely seen in the dog. The most common forms are: water in the cavity of the chest, HYDROTHORAX; and water in the abdomen, ASCITES.

CAUSES.—General Debility, brought on by want of food; diarrhea suddenly checked; damp lodgings. It may follow various diseases, such as inflammation of the lungs, or retroceding skin disorders; or be caused by a diseased state of the mesenteric glands, or of the liver.

SYMPTOMS.—Ascites is accompanied by enlargement of the abdomen; the water is sometimes collected in the abdominal cavity; at other times it is between the skin and the peritoneum; in the former case there is not that tense feeling which characterizes the latter. The presence of water may be ascertained by resting one hand on one side of the abdomen and striking the other side, when _fluctuation_ will be felt. WATER IN THE CHEST is accompanied by oppressed breathing and cough; both symptoms are aggravated by lying down. In either form of the disease there is loss of appetite, disinclination to move, the urine is passed in small quantities, the dog loses flesh and becomes weak.

TREATMENT.—H. H., by increasing the action of the kidneys, is often efficient, a dose once in three hours. If not efficient, alternate I. I., with the H. H., at the same intervals.

Abscess

DEFINITION.—A collection of matter, generally appearing between the skin and the cellular tissue—occasionally close to the joint, and rarely (in the dog) upon some internal organ. It may appear on any part of the body.

CAUSES.—Injuries are the chief causes of abscesses in the dog, but they sometimes appear from weakness after certain diseases, especially distemper. When internal abscesses form, they are due to too great care, too high feeding, or want of sufficient exercise.

SYMPTOMS.—A swelling appears, which is hot, painful and inflamed; it increases in size, and finally bursts, when the matter is discharged. In other cases there is but little heat or tenderness, and the swelling increases slowly, and is occasionally hardened. If hardening takes place, instead of suppuration, there is usually a sub-cutaneous fungoid growth.

TREATMENT.—The I. I., is the remedy for such forms of disease, and may be given, a dose of from one to three drops, according to the size of the dog, three or four times per day.

ACCESSORY TREATMENT.—If an abscess appears to be forming, the part should be narrowly examined to ascertain if there has been any injury from a thorn, etc. If anything is found, it must be at once carefully removed, and HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL or VETERINARY OIL applied to the part. This, if attended to in time, will often prevent the formation of the abscess. But if the swelling continue, and it is certain that pus is forming, it will be hastened by fomenting the part with warm water, three or four times a day; if the swelling has increased in size and becomes softer, but does not break, it will be necessary to open it with a lancet or sharp pen-knife.

Tumors

DEFINITION.—A deposit or growth of diseased structure confined to the part where it first appears. The tumors generally seen on the dog are of two kinds—(1) indurated, or hard; and (2) encysted, or enclosed in a sac or bag. They are seldom painful, unless considerable pressure be used; as a rule they are movable, and their extent can easily be determined. _Encysted tumors_ are the most common; they vary in size, from that of a nut to that of a pint measure. They are sacs or small bladders filled with matter, smooth and soft, devoid of inflammation, and lie close under the skin. At times their formation is very slow; this is generally the case when they are due to constitutional causes, a fact which can generally be clearly ascertained.

LACTEAL TUMORS

Tumors sometimes form in the teat when there is obstruction in its canal; or when the milk is dried up too soon or too quickly after suckling. They appear in different parts of the gland, as small, movable, hard bodies; increase in size; cause great inconvenience to the animal; and form an eyesore to its owner. If their progress be not arrested, they may ulcerate; or encysted tumors may form, which, if injured by dragging along the ground, may have a similar issue.

CAUSES.—Bruises; wounds; constitutional tendency; diseased condition of the secreting glands.

TREATMENT.—Hard tumors are best excised as soon as they appear. The operation is simple, and the wound will generally soon close up if left to the care of the dog, and after a time will scarcely be seen.

Encysted tumors are also best removed by excision. They may also be removed by tapping for the extraction of the fluid, and the subsequent injection of iodine. Should they become compound, they must be excised. On the other hand, when it is known that they have been caused by an injury, they will sometimes disappear by the use of HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL, internally and externally.

Cancer

All tumors are not cancers, but in certain constitutions, inflammation, indurated and encysted tumors may degenerate into cancerous growths. The cancerous tumor is at first small, hard, knotted and irregular in form; it then grows larger, and is attached to the skin; this inflames and ulcerates; and thus the cancer appears on the surface. Its edges are irregular red or purple, and indurated; it is attended with considerable pain and a most disgusting discharge.

TREATMENT.—If in good health the tumor may be excised while the dog is under chloroform. But the cancer will return. If fully established, the animal should be put out of its misery. The best application is HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY OIL, and the best internal treatment is the I.I., a dose two or three times per day.

Black Tongue

During the last few years a disease has been quite prevalent in the south which has been called “Black Tongue” whether this is a distinct disease or merely the symptom of some other disease is as yet not known.

The principal symptoms are congestion of the tongue and mouth which causes the black color, this usually leads to ulceration of the mouth and the ulceration frequently extends so as to involve the entire digestive tract. There is great weakness and emaciation with death in a few days. Very few animals recover. Besides these symptoms many others have been reported but they vary so much in the different cases that they have caused great doubt as to “Black Tongue” being a distinct disease. The symptoms given might be Dumb Rabies, page 225; Canker of the Mouth, page 237; Hook Worm, page 243; or Sore Throat, page 232.

In cases of so called “Black Tongue” we would advise comparing the symptoms with those of the above diseases.