The Dog

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At the termination of the ileum the 'caecum' makes its appearance, with
a kind of valvular opening into it, of such a nature that everything
that passes along it having reached the blind or closed end, must return
in order to escape; or rather the office of the caecum is to permit
certain alimentary matters and all fluids to pass from the ileum, but to
oppose their return.

The 'colon' is an intestine of very large size, being one of the most
capacious, as well as one of the longest, of the large intestines. It
commences at the caesum caput coli, and soon expands into a cavity of
greater dimensions than even that of the stomach itself. Having attained
this singular bulk, it begins to contract, and continues to do so during
its course round the caecum, until it has completed its second flexure,
where it grows so small as scarcely to exceed in calibre one of the
small intestines; and though, from about the middle of this turn, it
again swells out by degrees, it never afterwards acquires its former
capaciousness; indeed, previously to its junction with the rectum, it
once more materially differs in size.

At the upper part of the margin of the pelvis the colon terminates in
the 'rectum', which differs from the caecum and colon by possessing only
a partial peritoneal covering, and being destitute of bands and cells.
It enlarges towards its posterior extremity, and is furnished with a
circular muscle, the sphincter ani, adapted to preserve the anus closed,
and to retain the faeculent matter until so much of it is accumulated in
the rectum as to excite a desire to discharge it.

TETANUS,

a disease of great fatality, often depends upon the condition of the
stomach; but it is not frequent in dogs.

Why the dog is so little subject to 'tetanus', or lock-jaw, I am unable
to explain. Sportsmen say that it sometimes attacks him when, being
heated in the chase, he plunges into the water after the stag. The
French give it the name of 'mal de cerf', from stags being supposed to
be attacked in a similar way, and from the same cause. In the course of
nearly forty years' practice, I have seen but four cases of it. The
first arose from a wound in the foot. The cause of the second I could
not learn. In both the spasmodic action was dreadful as well as
universal. The dogs lay on their sides, the neck and legs stretched out,
and the upper legs kept some inches from the ground by the intensity of
the spasm. They might be taken up by either leg, and not a portion of
the frame change its direction. At the same time, in their countenances,
and by their hoarse cries, they indicated the torture which they
endured.

In the third case, which occurred 12th June, 1822, the head was drawn
permanently on one side, and the whole body formed a kind of bow, the
dog walking curiously sideways, often falling as it walked, and
frequently screaming violently. I ordered him to be well rubbed with an
ammoniacal liniment, and balls of tonic and purging medicine to be given
twice in the day. The dog gradually recovered, and was dismissed cured
on the 20th.

On the 16th November, in the same year, a bull-terrier had a similar
complaint. He had been tried in the pit a fortnight before, and severely
injured, and the pain and stiffness of his joints were increasing. The
head was now permanently drawn on one side. The dog was unable to stand
even for a moment, and the eyes were in a state of spasmodic motion. He
was a most savage brute; but I attempted to manage him, and, by the
assistance of the owner, contrived lo bleed him, and to give him a
physic-ball. At the same time I advised that he should be destroyed.

His master would not consent to this; and, as the dog occasionally ate a
little, we contrived to give a grain each of calomel and opium every
sixth hour. In the course of three days he was materially recovered. He
could stand, but was exceedingly weak, I ordered the calomel lo be
omitted, but the opium to be continued. Three days afterwards he was
sent into the country, and, as I heard, perfectly recovered.

The following is a very interesting case of tetanus, detailed by M.
Debeaux, of the Royal French Chasseurs:

A favourite dog was missing. Four days had passed, and no intelligence
could be obtained with regard to him until he returned home, fatigued
and half-starved. He had probably been stolen. In the excess of their
joy, the owners crammed him with meat until he became strangely ill. His
throat was filled with froth, the pupils of his eyes were dilated, the
conjunctiva was strongly injected, his neck was spasmodically
contracted, and the spine of the back was bowed, and most highly
sensible to the touch. M. Debeaux was sent for; it was an hour before he
could attend. The dog was lying on his belly; the four limbs were
extended and stiff. He uttered the most dreadful and prolonged howling
every two or three minutes. The surgeon ordered the application of a
dozen leeches to the chest and belly; laxative medicines were given, and
embrocations applied to the spine and back.

Three days passed, and the symptoms evidently augmented. The excrement
was dark and fetid, and the conjunctiva had a strong yellow tint.
Leeches were again employed; emollient lotions and aperient medicines
were resorted to. The sensibility of the spine and back was worse than
ever; the animal lay on his belly, stretching out his four limbs, his
neck fixed, his jaws immovable, his voice hoarse, and he was utterly
unable to move.

The bathings, lotions, and aperients were continued, with very few
intermissions, until the 14th day, when the muscles began to be a little
relaxed; but he cried whenever he was touched. On the 15th, for the
first time, he began to eat a little, and his natural voice returned;
still, however, the spasms occasionally appeared, but very much
mitigated, and on the 20th the pain had entirely ceased.

On the 5th of the next month he travelled two leagues with his master.
It was cold, and the snow fell. On his reaching home, all the horrible
spasms returned, and it was eleven days before he was completely cured.
[1]

Mr. Blaine gives the following account of his experience of this disease:

"It is remarkable, that although dogs are subject to various spasmodic
affections, yet they are so little subject to lock-jaw that I never
met with more than three cases of it among many thousands of diseased
dogs. Two of these cases were 'idiopathic'; one being apparently
occasioned by exposure to cold air all night; the other the cause was
obscure. The third was of that kind called 'sympathetic', and arose
from extreme injury done to one of the feet. In each of these cases
the convulsive spasm was extreme, and the rigidity universal but not
intense. In one case the jaw was only partially locked. Both warm and
cold bathings were tried. Large doses of opium and camphor were given
by the mouth, and also thrown up in clysters. The spine of one was
blistered. Stimulating frictions were applied to all, but in neither
case with any salutary effect." [2]

ENTERITIS.

'Enteritis', or inflammation of the intestine, is a disease to which
dogs are very liable. It may be produced by the action of several
causes. The intestines of the dog are peculiarly irritable, and subject
to take on inflammatory action, and this tendency is often much
increased by the artificial life which they lead. It is a very frequent
complaint among those dogs that are much petted. A cold temperature is
also a common cause of disease in these dogs.

I was consulted with regard to a dog who was hiding himself in a cold,
dark corner, paved with stone. Every now and then he lifted his head and
uttered a howl closely resembling that of a rabid dog. He fixed his gaze
intently upon me, with a peculiarity of expression which many would have
mistaken for rabid. They, however, who have had the opportunity of
seeing many of these cases, will readily perceive the difference. The
conjunctiva is not so red, the pupil is not so dilated, and the dog
appears to implore pity and not to menace evil.

In this state, if the dog is approached, he will not permit himself to
be touched until he he convinced that no harm is intended. A peculiar
slowness attends each motion; his cries are frequent and piteous; his
belly hot and tender; two cords, in many cases, seem to run
longitudinally from the chest to the pubis, and on these he cannot bear
the slightest pressure. He abhors all food; but his thirst for water,
and particularly cold water, is extreme; he frequently looks round at
his flanks, and the lingering gaze is terminated by a cry or groan. In
the majority of cases there is considerable costiveness; but, in others,
the bowels are freely opened from the beginning.

The peritoneal inflammation is sometimes pure, but oftener involves the
muscular coat of the intestines. Its prevailing cause is exposure to
cold, especially after fatigue, of lying on the wet stones or grass. Now
and then it is the result of neglected rheumatism, especially in old and
petted dogs.

The treatment is simple. Bleed until the pulse falters, put the animal
in a warm bath, and let the belly be gently rubbed while the dog is in
the water, and well fomented afterwards; the drink should consist of
warm broth, or warm milk and water. The bleeding should be repeated, if
little or unsatisfactory relief is obtained; and the examination of the
rectum with the finger, and the removal of any hardened faeces that may
have accumulated there, and the cautious use of enemata, neither too
stimulating nor too forcibly injected, should be resorted to. No
medicine should be employed until the most urgent symptoms are abated.
Castor oil, the mildest of our purgatives--syrup of buckthorn assisting
the purgative property of the oil, and containing in its composition as
much stimulating power as is safe--and the spirit of while poppies--the
most convenient anodyne to mingle with the other medicines--will
generally be successful in allaying the irritation already existing, and
preventing the development of more. Even this must not be given in too
large quantities, and the effect must be assisted by a repetition of the
enemata every fifth or sixth hour. On examination after death the nature
of the disease is sufficiently evident: the peritoneum, or portions of
it, is highly injected with blood, the veins are turgid, the muscular
membrane corrugated and hardened, while often the mucous membrane
displays not a trace of disease. In violent cases, however, the whole of
the intestines exhibit evidence of inflammation.

I was much gratified a few years ago in witnessing the decided manner in
which Professor Spooner expressed himself with regard to the treatment
of enteritis in the dog.

"I should deem it advisable," said he, "to administer a purgative; but
of what would that consist? Calomel? Certainly not. I was surprised to
hear one gentleman assert that he should administer it to the extent
of from five to ten grains, and another to say that he should not
hesitate to exhibit a scruple of calomel to a dog, and to all
carnivorous animals. I should never think of exhibiting it as a
cathartic. I should only administer it in small doses, and for the
purpose of producing its specific effect on the liver, which is the
peculiar property of this drug. Given in larger doses it would not be
retained, and if it got into the intestines it would act as a powerful
drastic purgative." [3]

In our treatment of the horse we have got rid of a great proportion of
the destructive urine-balls and drastic purgatives of the farrier. The
cow is no longer drenched with half-a-dozen deleterious stimulants. A
most desirable change has been effected in the medical treatment of
these animals. Let us not, with regard to the dog, continue to pursue
the destructive course of the keeper or the huntsman.

The following case of enteritis, with rupture of the colon, may be
useful:

On March 15, 1840, I was requested to attend a large dog of the bull
breed, three years old, who had not appeared to be well during the last
four or five days.

I had scarcely arrived ere I recognised it to be a case of enteritis. He
had a dreadful shivering fit, to which succeeded heat of the skin and
restlessness. The muzzle was dry and hot, as also was the tongue. The
eyes were sunken and redder than usual; the breathing was accelerated,
but not very laborious; the extremities were cold, while the surface of
the body was hot and painful to the touch. The bowels were constipated,
and had been so during the last week; some dung however was evacuated,
but it was hard and dry, and in small quantities. The pulse was quick,
but full; and there was a slight pain and considerable irritation in the
rectum. I took from him [Symbol: ounce] x. of blood before the desired
effect was produced, and then gave him tinct. opii gr. xiv., et spt.
ether, nit. gutt. viij., cum ol. ricini [Symbol: ounce] iij., and an
opiate enema to allay the irritation of the rectum. This was about 8
o'clock, A.M.

11 A.M.--The bowels have not been moved, and the pain is more intense;
his countenance expresses great anxiety; he frequently lies on his
stomach, and the pulse is small but quick. I gave him a little broth,
and ordered the abdomen to be fomented with hot flannels.

2 P.M.--He has had distressing sickness, and is extremely anxious for
water. I introduced my finger into the rectum, but could not discover
any hardened faeces. Enemata, composed of mag. sulphas and warm water,
were frequently thrown into the intestines; as soon as one came away
another was thrown up.

4 P.M.--No better: gave him pulv. aloes [Symbol: ounce] j.; calomel, gr.
vj. et pulv. opii gr. viij. The fomentations to be continued, and the
abdomen rubbed with a lin. terebinthinae.

5 P.M.--A great change has taken place within the last hour; the hind
extremities are paralysed; the mouth and ears are cold; the pulse is
more hurried and irregular, and almost imperceptible; the respiration is
laborious and irregular, as is the pulse; and the dog is frequently
sick. To be kept quiet.

6 P.M.--Another change: he lies panting and groaning piteously; his
limbs are bathed in sweat, with convulsive struggles. At twenty minutes
past six he died.

A post-mortem examination presented general marks of inflammation; the
small intestines were extremely red, while the large ones were in a
gangrenous state and most offensive, with a rupture of the colon. I did
not expect to meet with the rupture, and am at a loss to account for it.
The liver was of a pale ashen colour, and very light. I put a piece of
it into some water, and it floated on the surface. The other contents of
the abdomen did not show the slightest appearance of disease.

September 2d, 1843.--A black pug-bitch, 18 months old, was yesterday
taken violently sick; the vomiting continued at intervals the greater
part of the day, and she had not eaten during the last 24 hours. I could
not possibly get at her, on account of her ferocity: as she had not had
the distemper, and as I was misled by her age and the watery discharge
from her eyes, and as she had had several motions yesterday, I imagined
that the attack might be the beginning of that disease. Learning that
she was fond of sweet things, I prepared an emetic containing a grain of
calomel and a grain of tartar emetic: she took it readily, and I
promised to call on the following day.

Sept. 3.--The weakness at the eyes had disappeared, but there had been
no motion. On getting at her by main force I found her belly very tense
and rather hot: she had again been sick, was very eager for water, and
still refused to eat. The disease was now evident. As she appeared too
unmanageable for anything else, I produced a physic-ball, in giving
which I was bitten.

Six hours afterwards I again went: no faeces had passed: I administered
two enemas, the second of which was returned with a small quantity of
hardened faeces and an intolerable smell. I ordered the water to be
removed, and broth to be substituted.

Sept. 4.--The dog is in good spirits, has eaten heartily, and had no
motion, probably because it was habitually cleanly, and had not been
taken out of doors. Her owner considered her as quite well, and
dismissed me. Three days afterwards a servant came to say that all was
going on very well.

PERITONITIS.

Chronic inflammation of the 'peritoneal membrane' is a frequent disease
among dogs. The animal loses his appetite and spirits; he sometimes eats
a little and sometimes not; he becomes thin, his belly is tucked up, and
when we closely examine him we find it contracted and hard, and those
longitudinal columns of which I have already spoken are peculiarly dense
and almost unyielding. He now and then utters a half-suppressed whine,
and he occasionally seeks to hide himself. In the greater number of
cases he after a while recovers; but he too often pines away and dies.
On examination after death the case is plain enough. There is
inflammation of the peritoneal membrane, more indicated by undue
congestion of the bowels than by the general blush of the membrane. The
inflammation has now spread to the muscular coat, and the whole of the
intestine is corrugated and thickened.

There is another peritoneal affection, aggravated by combination with a
rheumatic tendency, to which the dog is more disposed than any other
domesticated animal. It has its most frequent origin in cold, or being
too much fed on stimulating and acrid food, and probably from other
causes which have not yet been sufficiently developed.

Here also no drastic purgative is to be admitted; it would be adding
fuel to fire: not a grain of calomel should be used, if the life of the
animal is valued. The castor oil mixture will afford the most certain
relief, a drop or two of the oil of peppermint being added to it.

COLIC.

The dog is also subject to fits of 'colic', principally to be traced to
improper food, or a sudden change of food, or exposure to cold. This is
particularly the case with puppies. There is no redness of the eye, no
heat of the mouth, no quickened respiration; but the animal labours
under fits of pain. He is not quiet for a minute. He gets into one
corner and another, curling himself closely up, but he does not lie
there more than a minute or two; another fit of pain comes on; he utters
his peculiar yelp, and seeks some new place in which he may possibly
find rest.

It is with considerable diffidence that I offer an opinion on this
subject contrary to that of Mr. Blaine. He states that the treatment of
this species of colic is seldom successful, and that which has seemed
the most efficacious has been mercurial purgatives; namely, calomel one
grain, aloes a scruple, and opium a quarter of a grain, until the bowels
are opened. I have seldom found much difficulty in relieving the patient
suffering under this affection; and I gave no aloes nor calomel, but the
oleaginous mixture to which I have so often referred. I should not so
much object to the aloes, for they constitute an excellent purgative for
the dog; nor to a dog that I was preparing for work, or that was
suffering from worms, should I object to two or three grains of calomel
intimately mixed with the aloes: from the combined effect of the two,
some good might be obtained.

CALCULUS IN THE INTESTINES

Many persons have a very foolish custom of throwing stones, that their
dogs may dive or run after them, and bring them to their owner's feet:
the consequence is, that their teeth are soon worn down, and there are
too many cases on record in which the stone has been swallowed. It has
been impeded in its progress through the intestinal canal, inflammation
has ensued, and the animal has been lost, after having suffered the most
dreadful torture.

Professor Simonds relates a case in which a dog was thus destroyed. The
animal for some days previous to his admission into the hospital had
refused his food, and there was obstinate constipation of the bowels, to
remove which aperient medicine had been given. The pulse was
accelerated, there was distension of the abdomen with evident tenderness
on pressure, the extremities were cold, no faeces were voided, and he
occasionally vomited. Some aperient medicine was given, which was
retained on the stomach, and enemas and external stimulants were
resorted to, but two days afterwards he died.

The intestines were examined, and the offending body was found to be a
common pebble. The dog had long been accustomed to fetch stones out of
the water. One of these stones had passed through the stomach into the
intestines, and, after proceeding some distance along them, had been
impacted there. The inflammation was most intense so far as the stone
had gone; but in the part of the intestine to which it had not reached
there was not any. This was an interesting and instructive case, and
should make its due impression.

Another account of the strange contents of the intestines of a bitch may
be here introduced.

A valuable pointer-bitch was sent to the infirmary of Mr. Godwin of
Litchfield. She presented a very emaciated appearance, and had done so
for four or five months. Her evacuations for a day or two were very thin
and copious, and afterwards for several days nothing was passed. When
pressing the abdomen with both hands, a hard substance was distinctly
felt in the inferior part of the umbilical region. She was destroyed,
and, upon 'post-mortem' examination, a calculus was discovered in the
ileum about the size and shape of a hen's egg, the nucleus of which was
a portion of hair. The coats of the intestines were considerably
thickened and enlarged, so as to form a kind of sac for its retention.
Anterior to this was another substance, consisting of a ball of hair,
covered with a layer of earthy matter about the eighth of an inch thick,
and next to this another ball of hair of less dimensions, intermixed
with a gritty substance. The stomach contained a large quantity of hair,
and a portion of the omentum, about the size of n crown piece, was
thickly studded with small white calculi, the largest about the size of
a pea, and exceedingly hard.

INTUSSUSCEPTION.

If 'peritonitis'--inflammation--is neglected, or drastic purgatives are
too often and too plentifully administered, a peculiar contraction of
the muscular membrane of the intestine takes place, and one portion of
the bowel is received within another--there is 'intussusception'. In
most cases, a portion of the anterior intestine is received into that
which is posterior to it. Few of us have opened a dog that had been
labouring under this peculiar affection without being struck with the
collapsed state of the canal in various parts, and in some much more
than in others. Immediately posterior to this collapsed portion, it is
widened to a considerable extent. The peristaltic motion of the
intestine goes on, and the consequence is, that the constricted portion
is received into that which is widened, the anterior portion is
invaginated in the posterior: obstruction of the intestinal passage is
the necessary consequence, and the animal dies, either from the general
disturbance of the system which ensues, or the inflammation which is set
up in the invaginated part.

I will say nothing of medical treatment in this case; for I do not know
the symptoms of intussusception, or how it is to be distinguished from
acute inflammation of the bowels. Acute inflammation will not long exist
without producing it; and, if its existence should be strongly
suspected, the treatment would be the same as for inflammation.

The domesticated dog, from the nature of his food, more than from any
constitutional tendency, is liable to constipation. This should never be
neglected. If two or three days should pass without an evacuation, the
case should be taken in hand; otherwise inflammation will be very soon
established. In order to procure an evacuation, the aloetic ball, with
one or two grains of calomel, should be given. Beyond that, however, I
should not dare to go; but, if the constipation continued, I should have
recourse to the castor-oil mixture. I should previously examine and
empty the rectum, and have frequent recourse to the enema-syringe; and I
should continue both. It would be my object to evacuate the intestinal
canal with as little increased action as possible.

DIARRHOEA

is the discharge of faeces more frequently than usual, and thinner than
their natural consistence, but otherwise not materially altered in
quality; and the mucous coat of the intestines being somewhat congested,
if not inflamed. It is the consequence of over-feeding, or the use of
improper food. Sometimes it is of very short continuance, and disappears
without any bad consequence; the health being unaffected, and the
character of the faeces not otherwise altered than by assuming a fluid
character. It may not be bad practice to wait a day, or possibly two, as
it is desirable for the action of the intestines to be restored without
the aid of art. I should by no means give a physic-ball, or a grain of
calomel, in simple diarrhoea. I should fear the establishment of that
species of purging which is next to be described. The castor-oil mixture
usually affords the best hope of success.