The Dog

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Habitual diarrhoea is not an unfrequent disease in petted dogs: in some
it is constitutional, in others it is the effect of neglected
constipation. A state of chronic inflammation is induced, which has
become part of the constitution of the dog; and, if repressed in the
intestines, it will appear under a more dangerous form in some other
place.

DYSENTERY

is a far more serious complaint. In most cases a considerable degree of
inflammation of the mucous coat exists, and the mucus is separated from
the membrane beneath, and discharged per anum. The mucus thus separated
from the intestinal membrane assumes an acrid character. It not only
produces inflammation of the membrane, dangerous and difficult to treat,
but it excoriates the anus and neighbouring parts, and produces pain and
tenesmus.

This disease has sometimes been fatally misunderstood. A great deal of
irritation exists in the intestinal membrane generally, and in the lower
part of the rectum particularly. The faeces passing over this denuded
surface cause a considerable degree of pain, and there is much
straining, and a very small bit or portion of faces is evacuated. This
has often been seen by the careless observer; and, as he has taken it as
an indication of costiveness, some drastic purgative has been
administered, and the animal quickly killed.

No one that had ascertained the real nature of the disease would
administer calomel in any form or combination; but the anodyne mixture
as an enema, and also administered by the mouth, is the only medicine
from which benefit can be expected.

COSTIVENESS

is a disease when it becomes habitual. It is connected with disease of
the intestinal canal. Many dogs have a dry constipated habit, often
greatly increased by the bones on which they are too frequently fed.
This favours the disposition to mange and to many diseases depending on
morbid secretions. It produces indigestion, encourages worms, blackens
the teeth, and causes fetid breath. The food often accumulates in the
intestines, and the consequence is inflammation of these organs. A dog
should never be suffered to remain costive more than a couple of days.
An aloetic ball or some Epsom salts should then be administered; and
this failing to produce the desired effect, the castor-oil mixture, with
spirits of buckthorn and white poppies, should be administered, and the
use of the clyster-pipe resorted to. It may be necessary to introduce
the finger or the handle of a spoon when the faecal matter is more than
usually hard, and it is with difficulty broken down; small doses of
castor-oil should be afterwards resorted to, and recourse occasionally
be had to boiled liver, which the dog will rarely refuse. The best
means, however, of preventing costiveness in dogs, as well as in men, is
regular exercise. A dog who is kept chained up in a kennel should be
taken out and have a certain quantity of exercise once in the
twenty-four hours. When this cannot be done, the food should consist
chiefly of well-boiled farinaceous matter.

DROPSY

Another disease, which is not confined to the abdominal cavity, is
dropsy: but, as in the dog it most commonly assumes that form which is
termed ascites, or dropsy of the abdomen, it may be noticed in this
place. It is seldom an idiopathic or primary affection, but is
generally the consequence of some other disease, most commonly of an
inflammatory kind.

Dropsy is a collection of fluid in some part of the frame, either from
increased exhalation, or from diminished absorption, the consequence
of inflammation. The divisions of dropsy are into active and passive, or
acute and chronic. The causes are also very properly arranged as
predisposing and exciting. The diseases on which dropsy most frequently
supervenes are fevers and visceral inflammations and obstructions. The
dog is peculiarly subject to 'ascites' or 'dropsy of the belly', and the
quantity of fluid contained in the abdomen is sometimes almost
incredible. It is usually accompanied or characterised by a weak,
unequal, small, and frequent pulse--paleness of the lips, tongue, and
gums--flaccidity of the muscles, hurried breathing on the least
exertion, feebleness of the joints, swellings of the lower limbs,
effusion of fluid into the integuments or among the muscles, before
there is any considerable effusion into the thorax or the abdomen, and
an unhealthy appearance of the cutaneous surface. The urine seldom
coagulates. This form of dropsy is usually seated in the abdomen or
cellular tissue.

The treatment of ascites is seldom perfectly successful. The great
extent of the peritoneum, the number and importance of the viscera with
which it is connected, and of the absorbent glands which it encloses,
the number and weakness of the veins which transmit their blood to the
portal vessels, and the absence of valves, in some measure account for
the frequent accumulation of fluid in this cavity. It appears in both
sexes from the usual causes of inflammatory disease. Unwholesome diet,
the drastic operation of purgatives, external injuries, the suppression
of accustomed secretions and discharges, all are exciting causes of
dropsy.

The animal has suffered materially from mange, which has been apparently
cured: the itchiness and eruption altogether disappear, but many weeks
do not elapse ere ascites begins to be seen, and the abdomen is
gradually distended with fluid. When this appears in young and healthy
animals, it may be conquered; but when there has been previous disease
of almost any kind, comparatively few patients permanently recover.
Irritability of the stomach, and a small and accelerated pulse, are
unfavourable. If the operation of tapping has taken place, at all times
there is danger; but, if there is a thick, brown, albuminous or fetid
discharge, it is very unlikely that any permanent advantage will result
from the operation.

We will introduce a few cases as they occur in our clinical records.

'November 7th, 1821'.--A spaniel, nine years old, had been, during four
months, alternately asthmatic or mangy, or both. Within the last few
days she had apparently increased in size. I was sent for. The first
touch of the abdomen betrayed considerable fluctuation. She likewise had
piles, sore and swelled. I ordered an alterative ball to be given
morning and night.

'8th'. One of the balls has been given, and two doses of castor oil; but
no effect has been produced. An injection was administered.

'9th'. A small evacuation of water has been produced, and the bowels
have been slightly opened. Give a dose of the castor-oil mixture.

'10th'. The obstruction has been removed; the enlargement is somewhat
diminished; much water has passed. Give an alterative ball every
morning.

'14th'. The alteratives have been continued, and there is a slow but
evident decrease of the abdomen.

'18th'. I cannot detect any effusion in the abdomen. Give a pill every
alternate day for a fortnight. At the expiration of this period the dog
was apparently well.

'April 23d', 1822.--A terrier, ten years old, had cough and mange, which
ceased. The belly for the first time began to enlarge, and on feeling
the dog considerable fluctuation was evident. He would not eat, but he
drank immoderately. Give daily a ball consisting of tonic and physic
mist., with powdered digitalis and tartrate of iron.

'May 6th'.--He is in better spirits, feeds tolerably well, but is rather
increased in size. Give daily a ball of tartrate of iron, digitalis,
ginger, and a grain of calomel.

22'd'. Much thinner, the belly very considerably diminished: a slight
fluctuation is still to be perceived. Continue medicine, with a
half-grain only of calomel.

'July 17th'.--The medicine has been regularly given, and the water of
the abdomen has rapidly disappeared, until a fortnight ago: since that
time it has been once more filling. The medicine was ordered to be
repeated.

'August 6th'.--The medicine has once more produced its proper effect,
and the fluid has disappeared.

On the '16th', however, the fluctuation was again too plainly felt, and
the owner determined to have nothing more to do with the case. The
animal was never brought again, nor could I trace it. The dog might have
been saved if the owner had done it justice.

As soon as dropsy appears to be established, proper medicines must be
resorted to. Foxglove, nitre, and ginger should be first tried in the
proportional doses of one, ten, and eight grains, given morning and
night. If this does not succeed, iodine from half-a-grain to a grain may
be given morning and night, and a weak solution of iodine rubbed on the
belly.

This being ineffectual, recourse may be had to tapping, taking care that
the trocar is not plunged sufficiently deep to wound the intestines. The
place for the operation is directly on the 'linea alba', or middle line
of the belly, and about midway between the pubis and the navel. The
whole of the intestinal fluid may be suffered to escape. A bandage
should then be applied round the belly, and retained there a week or
more.

Mr. Blaine very properly states, that the difference between fatness and
dropsy is, that the belly hangs pendulous in dropsy, while the back bone
stands up, and the hips are protruded through the skin; while the hair
is rough, and the feeling of the coat is peculiarly harsh. It may be
distinguished from pregnancy by the teats enlarging, in the latter case,
as gestation advances, and the young ones may occasionally be felt to
move. In addition to this it may be stated, that the presence of water
is readily and unerringly detected. If the right hand is laid on one
side of the belly, and the other side is gently struck with the left
hand, an undulating motion will be readily perceived.

In old dogs, dropsy, under the title of "anasarca," is an unfrequent but
occasional accompaniment of ascites. If pressure is made on any
particular parts, they yield and continue depressed for a longer or
shorter period of time, and slowly and by degrees regain their natural
form. The skin is dry and distended, and with no natural action; the
circulation is languid and small, the muscular powers are diminished,
the animal is unquiet, the thirst is great, the tongue is pale, the
appetite diminished, and the limbs are swelled. The best mode, of
treatment is the infliction of some very small punctures in the
distended skin, and the application of gentle friction. The majority of
cases of this kind are usually fatal, and so is almost every case of
encysted dropsy.

A dog had cough in February, 1825. Various medicines were administered,
and at length the cough almost suddenly ceased, and evident ascites
appeared. The thirst was insatiable, the dog would not touch food, and
he was unable to lie down more than two minutes at a time.

Digitalis, cream of tartar, and hydrarg. submur. were given on the 9th
April.

On the 13th he was much worse, and apparently dying. He had been unable
to rise for the last twelve hours, and lay panting. I punctured the
abdomen, and four quarts of fluid were evacuated.

'14th'. The panting continues. The dog will not eat, but he can lie down
in any posture.

'15th'. The panting is diminished, the appetite is returning, and water
continues to ooze from the wound,

'17th'. The wound healed on the night of the 15th, and already the fluid
begins to collect. The medicine still continued.

'20th'. The spirits good, and strength improving; but the belly is
evidently filling, and matter is discharged from both the nose and eyes.

'26th'. The swelling a little diminished, respiration easy, and the dog
walking comfortably about, and feeding well.

'May 13th'.--The swelling, which for some days past diminished, is now
again increasing; but the dog is strong and breathes easily. Medicine as
before.

'24th.'. The dog is thinner, weaker, filling fast, and the thirst
excessive. [Symbol: Rx]: Crem. tart., ferri tart. [Symbol: ounce] ij.,
pulv. flor. anthemid. [Symbol: ounce] iiij., conser. ros. q. s.: divide
in bol. xii.: cap. in dies.

'27th'. During two days he has been unable to lie down more than a
minute at a time. Again tapped: fully as much fluid was evacuated as
before; but there is now blood mingling with it.

30th. Much relieved by the tapping, and breathes with perfect ease;
but, now that the enormous belly is reduced, the dog is very thin. Bol.
continued.

June 8th. Within the last three days the animal has filled again with
extraordinary rapidity. [Symbol: Rx;]: Ferr. tart. [Symbol: scruple] j.,
opii. gr. 1/4, pulv. gentianae [Symbol: scruple] j., cons. ros. q. s.: f.
bol. capiend. in dies.

13th. Is again strangely distended; I advised, or rather solicited,
that it might be destroyed; but this not being granted, I once more
tapped him. At least a gallon of dark-coloured fluid was evacuated.

22d. Again rapidly filling, but not losing either flesh or strength.

July 4th.--Once more punctured, and a gallon of dark-coloured fluid
evacuated.

12th. Again filling and rapidly losing flesh and strength.

26th. Once more tapped: immediately after which he appeared to be
revived, but almost immediately began again to fill.

Aug. 2d.--He had eaten tolerably; appeared to have nothing more than
usual the matter with him, when, being missed for an hour, he was found
dead. No examination was permitted.

In 1824 a spaniel, six years old, was brought to the infirmary. It had
had an asthmatic cough, which had left it. It was now hollow in the
flanks, the belly pendulous, and an evident fluctuation of water. The
owner would not consent to any operation. An aloetic physic-ball,
however, was given every fifth day, and a ball, composed of tartrate of
iron, digitalis, nitre, and antimonial powder, on every intermediate
morning and night. The water evidently accumulated; the dog was sent
for, and died in the course of a week.

There are a few medicines that may be useful in arresting the effusion
of the fluid; but they too often fail in producing any considerable
benefit. The fox-glove is, perhaps, possessed of the greatest power,
combined with nitre, squills, and bitartrate of potash. At other times
chamomile, squills, and spirit of nitrous ether, may be tried.

The following case, treated by the administration of iodine, by
Professor Dick, is important:--

A black and tan coloured retriever was sent to me labouring under
ascites. He was tapped, and two quarts of fluid abstracted. Tonics,
combined with diuretics were given, but the fluid continued to
accumulate, and in three weeks he was again tapped, and another two
quarts drawn away. The disease still went on, and a fortnight afterwards
a similar quantity was withdrawn. Various remedies were tried in order
to check the power of the disease, but without effect, and the abdomen
again became as much distended with the effused serum as before.

He was then put under a course of iodine, which soon began to show its
beneficial influence by speedily allaying his excessive thirst; and in
about a month the whole of the effused fluid was absorbed, although from
the size of the abdomen it must have amounted to a similar quantity to
that drawn off on the previous occasions. The dog's appetite soon
returned; he gained flesh rapidly, and has continued quite well, and,
from being a perfect skeleton, soon became overloaded with fat.

Induced by the great benefit derived in this case from the iodine, I
took the opportunity of trying it on a Newfoundland dog similarly
affected. He was put on a course of iodine, and the quantity of the drug
was gradually increased. As absorption rapidly commenced, the fluid was
completely taken up; but, partly in consequence of pushing the medicine
too far, and partly from extensive disease in the liver, unfavourable
symptoms took place, and he sunk rather unexpectedly. Still, however,
from the obvious and decided advantage derived from the medicine, I have
no doubt that iodine will be found one of the most efficient remedies in
dropsy in dogs.

Iodine is a truly valuable drug. When first introduced into veterinary
practice it was observed that it readily accomplished the reduction of
the enlarged glands that frequently remain after catarrh; but it was
presently evident that it reduced almost every kind of tumour, even the
growth of tubercles in the lungs. Professor Morton, in his Manual of
Pharmacy, has admirably described the different combinations of iodine.

THE LIVER

of the dog seems to follow a law of comparative anatomy, that its bulk
shall be in an inverse proportion of that of the lungs. The latter are
necessarily capacious; for they need a large supply of arterial blood,
in order to answer to their rapid expenditure when the utmost exertion
of strength and speed is required. The liver is, therefore, restricted
in its size and growth. Nevertheless, it has an important duty to
fulfil, namely, to receive the blood that is returned from the
intestines, to separate from the blood, or to secrete, by means of it,
the bile; and then to transmit the remaining portion of it to the lungs,
where it undergoes the usual process of purification, and is changed to
arterial blood. In the performance of this office, the liver often
undergoes a state of inflammation, and disease ensues, inveterate, and
setting at defiance every means of cure. Both the skin and the urine
become tinged with a yellow effusion. The animal is dull, and gradually
wastes away.

In a few days the yellow hue becomes more intense, and particularly on
the cuticle, the conjunctiva, the iris, the gums, and the lips. A state
of fever becomes more and more perceptible, and there are alternations
of cold and heat. The pulse varies from 80 to 120; the dry tongue hangs
from the mouth; the appetite ceases, but the animal is peculiarly
desirous of cold water. The dog becomes restless; he seeks to hide
himself; and he groans, if the parts in the neighbourhood of the liver
are pressed upon.

Frequent vomitings now appear, slimy, and evidently containing gall. The
animal becomes visibly thinner, obstinately refuses all solid food, and
only manifests thirst. He begins to stagger as he walks; he withdraws
himself from observation; he anxiously seeks some dark place where he
may lay himself with his chest and belly resting on the cold ground, his
fore legs stretched out before him, and his hind legs almost as far
behind him. The fever increases, the skin becomes of a dark yellow
colour, the mucous membrane of the mouth and conjunctiva is of a dirty
red, the expired air is evidently hot, the gaze is anxious, the urine is
of a saffron yellow, or even darker: in short, there now appears every
symptom of inflammation of the liver, with jaundice.

As the disease proceeds the animal begins to vomit masses of a yellowish
green substance, occasionally mixed with blood. He wastes away to a
skeleton, he totters in his walk, he is half unconscious, the pulse
becomes weak and interrupted, the temperature sinks, and death ensues.

The duration and course of the disease are deceptive. It occasionally
proceeds so insidiously that several days are suffered to pass before
the owner perceives any marks of disease, or seeks any aid. The duration
of the disease is usually from ten to twelve days. It terminates in
congestion of blood in the liver, or a gradual restoration to health.
The latter can only take place in cases where the inflammation has
proceeded very slowly; where the commencement and progress of the
disease could be discovered by debility and slight yellowness of the
skin, and especially where speedy recourse has been had to medical aid.

The predisposing causes of this disease are often difficult to discover.
The dog, in warm climates, seems to have a natural disposition to it. As
exciting causes, atmospheric influence may be reckoned, sultry days,
cold nights, and damp weather. Other occasional causes may be found in
violent falls, bruises, and overfeeding. Fat petted dogs that are easily
overheated by exertion are often attacked by this disease. The result of
the disease depends on its duration, course, and complication. If it is
attended to early, it can generally be cured. If it has existed for
several days, and the fever has taken on a typhoid character--if the
yellow hue is perceptible--the appetite failing, and vomiting ensuing,
the cure is doubtful; and, if inflammation of the stomach has taken
place, with high fever, vomiting of blood, wasting away, and fits
occurring, there is no chance of cure.

When simple jaundice alone is visible, a moderate laxative of sulphate
of magnesia and tartaric acid, in conjunction with some aromatic and
mucilaginous fluid, or, quite in the beginning of the disease, an
emetic, will be found of considerable service; but, when the yellow
colour has become more intense, and the animal will no longer eat, and
the fever and weakness are increased, it is necessary to give calomel,
tartar-emetic, camphor, and opium, in the form of pills, and to rub some
strong liniment on the region of the liver: the doses of calomel,
however, must be very small. If inflammation of the stomach appears,
mucilaginous fluids only must be given. Bleeding may be of service in
the commencement of the disease, but afterward it is hurtful.

This is an account of hepatitis as it occasionally appears, and
particularly on the Continent; but it does not often assume so virulent
a character in our country. There is often restlessness, thirst, and
sickness, accompanied by much prostration of strength; or general heat
and tenderness. Occasionally there is purging; but much oftener
constipation, that bids defiance to almost every medicine. The principal
or almost only hope of cure consists in bleeding, physicking, and
blistering on the right side.

Of bilious disease, assuming the character of inflammation, we have too
many cases. It may be spontaneous or brought on by the agency of other
affections. Long-continued and inveterate mange will produce it. It is
often connected with, or produced by, distemper, or a dull inflammatory
disease of the liver, and it is generally accompanied by pustular
eruption on the belly. The skin is usually tinged of a yellow hue, and
the urine is almost invariably impregnated with bile. The suffusion
which takes place is recognised among sportsmen by the term "yellows."
The remedy should be some mercurial, with gentian and aloes given twice
in the day, and mercurial ointment well rubbed in once in the day. If
this treatment is steadily pursued, and a slight soreness induced in the
mouth, the treatment will usually be successful. Mr. Blaine observes,

"A moderate soreness of the mouth is to be encouraged and kept up. I
have never succeeded in removing the complaint without it."

JAUNDICE.

M. W. Leblanc, of Paris, has given an interesting account of the causes
and treatment of 'jaundice' in the dog.

The prevailing symptom of this disease in the dog is a yellow
discoloration of the skin and the mucous membranes of greater or less
intensity. It generally announces the existence of very serious disease,
as inflammation of the liver and its excretory ducts, or of the
gall-bladder, or the stomach, or small intestines, or contraction or
'obliteration' of the excretory ducts of the liver, in consequence of
inflammation of these vessels, or the presence of concrete substances
formed from the bile. The dogs in which he found the most decided traces
of this disease laboured under diarrhea, with stools of a reddish brown
or black colour for one, two or three days.

The causes of jaundice are chiefly over-fatigue (thus, greyhounds are
more subject to it than pointers), immersions in water, fighting,
emetics or purgatives administered in over-doses, the repeated use of
poisonous substances not sufficiently strong at once to destroy the
animal, the swallowing of great quantities of indigestible food, and
contusions of the abdominal viscera, especially about the region of the
liver. The most serious, if not the most common cause, is cold after
violent and long-continued exercise; and especially when the owners of
dogs, seeing them refuse their food after a long chase, give them
powerful purgatives or emetics.

The treatment should have strict relation to the real or supposed cause
of jaundice, and its most evident concomitant circumstances. Some of
these symptoms are constant and others variable. Among the first,
whatever be the cause of the disease, we reckon acceleration of the
pulse; fever, with paroxysms of occasional intensity; and a yellow or
reddish-yellow discoloration of the urine. Among the second are
constipation, diarrhoea, the absence or increase of colour in the faecal
matter, whether solid or fluid. When they are solid, they are usually
void of much colour; when, on the contrary, there is diarrhea, the faeces
are generally mingled with blood more or less changed. Sometimes the
dejections are nearly black, mixed with mucus. It is not unusual for a
chest affection to be complicated with the lesions of the digestive
organs, which are the cause of jaundice.