The Dog's Medical Dictionary / An encyclopædia of the diseases, their diagnosis & treatment, and the physical development of the dog

To give a pill, stand on the right hand side of the dog’s head, with the left hand placed over the muzzle, forcing the dog’s mouth open by pressing the cheek between the teeth, then he cannot bite you. Slightly raise the head, and drop the pill into the back of the mouth, and then with the forefinger of the right hand just push it into the throat. Close the mouth quickly, and the dog will swallow it.

Dropsy:

Symptoms: In dropsy, the result of heart or kidney disease, the limbs often become swollen, as well as the abdomen becoming enlarged and pendulous. The fluid may be detected for certain in the abdomen by placing a hand on one side of the stomach, and then gently tapping the other side of the abdomen, and if fluid is present, an undulating motion will be felt like striking a bladder full of water. In dropsy, no matter from what cause, the dog becomes thin about the neck and chest, and the muscles of the limbs waste. As the fluid increases, the size of the abdomen increases; the breathing becomes distressed, and the dog walks with difficulty. In many cases, when relief is not obtained, the dropsy extends to the chest, which of course increases the difficulty of breathing.

Many cases of ascites are due to diseased liver, which may become much enlarged, but the condition of the liver may simply be due to defective circulation.

Treatment: Unless the patient is very old, relief may generally be given with the following mixture, continued for some time:—

Recipe: The Mixture:

Doses: From one teaspoonful to two tablespoonfuls[1] three times a day. Also give three times a day in water, after food, from fifteen drops[1] to two teaspoonfuls of Hollands gin. Once or twice a week a dose of purgative medicine should be given, as from three to fifteen grains[1] of jalapine. When the liver is affected, give from two[1] to eight grains of grey powder once or twice a week, instead of the jalapine. In severe cases of dropsy tapping is necessary, but as a rule, in ascites it only gives temporary relief.

Dysentery:

Symptoms: Frequent liquid motions, consisting principally of mucus and blood, accompanied by severe straining. The abdomen is very tender, there is often vomiting and great thirst.

Treatment: Give at once a dose of castor oil and laudanum, from half to a tablespoonful[1] of oil mixed with from three[1] to fifteen drops of the latter. About six hours afterwards, commence to give carbonate bismuth from five to twenty grains[1] every three or four hours, also two or three times a day give an enema of thick boiled starch (from one[1] to four teaspoonfuls), mixed with from three[1] to twenty drops of laudanum. The enema should be just warm, given very slowly, and the dog should be kept quiet for a short time afterwards, to prevent his ejecting it.

The following mixture may be tried, if the symptoms continue in spite of the bismuth:—

Recipe:

Doses: From one teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] every three or four hours.

Diet: Feed on milk thickened with arrowroot (boiled), also give white of egg beaten up with water to drink, or barley water; no solid food should be given whilst there are any signs of blood with motions.

Dyspepsia:

Symptoms: Distention and discomfort after food, which is not eaten with usual relish. Action of bowels variable, sometimes constipated, at other times loose; occasionally vomiting after food. Tongue, instead of being of a nice pink colour, is brick-red. Dog drinks more than usual. There is loss of spirits and condition, and a disinclination to exercise.

Treatment: First give a purge as from 2 to 10 grains[1] of jalapine. Repeat dose in a week; also give following mixture:—

Recipe:

Doses: One teaspoonful to one tablespoonful[1] three time a day half an hour before food. After food give from one to 5 grains[1] of ingluvin after each meal.

Dogs suffering from dyspepsia should be treated for worms.

Diet: In bad cases, for a few days give milk with Benger’s food, also milk mixed with equal parts Vichy water to drink; later feed entirely on lean raw meat for a time, given three times a day; if it is refused quite raw, try it lightly grilled. Well-boiled tripe, or sheep’s brains boiled in milk, may also be offered.

Dysuria:

Symptoms: Frequent passing of water, which is generally of a clear water colour, the dog at times passing it unconsciously whilst standing. In some cases the urine may be cloudy or even tinged with blood, when there is a stone in the bladder or kidney.

Treatment: When due to simple irritation of the kidneys or bladder, and there is an absence of stone, small doses of opium should be given, from an eighth to a grain[1] three times a day. When the symptoms are the result of calculus, the cause must be removed by operation. In dysuria the supply of water should be limited, or barley water or skimmed milk given instead of plain water.

Ear-ache:

Symptoms: Shaking of the head, which is often held on one side; pain on pressure. There is generally an absence of discharge as in canker of the ear.

Treatment: Steaming the ear with hot poppy-head tea gives relief, or a few drops of laudanum may be poured into the ear. The application of a hot salt bag is relieving.

Ear Canker:

Symptoms: Dogs of all kinds, especially those with long ears, are subject to this disease. The dog shakes and scratches his ear; the parts are inflamed; he often holds the head on one side, and in most cases there is a thick brownish discharge. In many cases it assumes the form of eczema, and dogs subject to this disease more often have attacks in the spring and autumn than at any other time.

Treatment: The following lotion should be applied two or three times a day with a camel’s-hair brush to all the red parts, and also down into the ear as far as it will go. After a day or two the ear should be cleaned out with some medicated wool twisted around the point of a bodkin or anything of that kind.

Recipe:

In addition to using the lotion, give the dog some cooling medicine, as from 3 grains[1] to one scruple of sulphate of magnesia, and half the quantity of bicarbonate of potash, twice a day with the food. The lotion and medicine should be continued as long as the dog shows any irritation of the ear.

In neglected cases of canker, ulcers form low down in the ear, causing a mattery, offensive discharge. In these cases different treatment is required. The ear should be syringed night and morning with a tablespoonful of methylated spirits added to half a tumbler of tepid water, and then after letting the dog shake his head, the ear should be thoroughly dried with some medicated wool twisted around a bodkin, and then be filled with some finely powdered boracic acid. This is best done by the means of a quill attached to an indiarubber tube, the quill being filled up by being dipped into the powder, and then inserted into the ear, and deposited there by means of blowing through the tube.

Some of these cases are difficult to cure, but with perseverance they get all right in time.

There is another form of canker due to an insect, which I call psoroptes auricularis canis. This is a very minute insect, which collects in large numbers in the canal of the ear, causing the dog to shake his head frequently, and scratch the ear. The canal of the ear looks as if it were full of dry grey powder, but if looked at carefully it will be noticed to be full of very small insects, the size of tiny cheese mites, and they will be seen running about as they are very active. This form of canker is contagious.

Treatment: Syringe the ear thoroughly with a teaspoonful of Pearson’s fluid added to six ounces of tepid water, then carefully dry, and anoint with the following ointment.

The syringing should be repeated about twice a week, and the ointment applied night and morning for a time.

Recipe: The Ointment:

As it is very difficult to destroy the eggs of these parasites, it is advisable, even after the irritation has ceased, to continue the ointment two or three times a week for some time, so as to destroy the parasites as they hatch.

Ear, Cyst in the Flap of:

Symptoms: Dogs with long ears are more subject to this complaint than others. It is generally caused by a bruise of some kind. A swelling forms on the inside of the flap of the ear, often extending all over the surface. It is very painful, and the dog will hold the head on one side, and cry out when touched.

Treatment: Often, if attended to immediately after it occurs, the swelling may be dispersed by hot poppy-head fomentations, made by boiling a couple of crushed poppy-heads in a quart of water for ten minutes, and then straining. If the swelling does not disappear in a couple of days, it should be freely opened on the inside at the lowest part—that is towards the point of the flap. The wound must be kept open by being plugged by a piece of lint, or inserting a small tube, which should be fixed in with a stitch. The wound must be kept open for some days, or else the fluid will collect again.

It is advisable in these cases to make the dog wear a cap as depicted in the illustration, and if the inside of the ear sweats at all, dust it freely with powdered boracic acid three or four times a day.

Ear, Growths in:

Symptoms: Cartilaginous growths occasionally form in the canal of the ear, quite blocking up the passage. They cause great pain. The dog holds his head on one side, and is constantly scratching his ear, and crying.

Treatment: The only treatment is to remove the growths by operation, which should be done as follows: Chloroform having been given, the growth should be cut out as low down as possible with the points of probe-pointed scissors. Then the roots should be thoroughly scraped with a curette, and afterwards thoroughly cauterised with the thermocautery. The dog suffers a good deal of pain for some days after the operation, but it may be relieved by pouring a few drops of the following lotion, which should be slightly warmed, into the ear three or four times a day.

Recipe: The Lotion:

Ear, Polypus in:

Symptoms: This is a small pear-shaped growth with the pedunculated root attached in the canal of the ear.

Treatment: This growth is best removed by torsion, as follows: Seize the growth with a pair of forceps, and twist it round and until it comes off. No further treatment is required, except keeping the ear clean for a few days with some boracic acid lotion.

Ear-Flap, Scurfiness of:

Symptoms: Very often dogs, especially those kept in kennels, suffer from a very scaly or scurfy condition of the edges of the flaps of the ears, which causes the hair to fall off, and the dog to shake his head frequently.

Treatment: Apply a little of the following dressing to the parts once or twice a day. This will remove the scurfiness, and stimulate the growth of the hair. Once a week wash the ears thoroughly with Cook’s 3% mercurial soap.

Recipe: The Dressing:

Ecthyma:

Symptoms: A skin disease, characterised by the formation of a number of small pustules, which the dog generally breaks by licking or scratching, and a running sore is produced.

Treatment: The part should be cleaned with a weak solution of Pearson’s disinfectant fluid, or with a teaspoonful boracic acid in half a pint of water, then gently dried with a soft cloth, and the following lotion applied and repeated often:—

Recipe:

Treat dog for worms, and give following pills:—

Recipe:

Divide into 12, 24, 36, or 48 pills.[1] One to be given twice a day, after food.

Dog suffering from Ecthyma should be given some meat every day mixed with other food.

Eczema:

A non-contagious skin disease.

Symptoms: Skin irritable; dog frequently scratching, also licking and biting himself. Clusters of fine vesicles appear at different parts; the skin afterwards becomes dry and scaly, unless the dog by constantly licking himself makes the parts sore and raw. Parts principally attacked around eyes, the lips, outside and inside of ears, along top of back, root of tail; but any part may become affected.

Treatment: Bathe affected parts often with following lotion:—

Recipe:

Or, apply following ointment twice a day:—

Recipe:

Apply night and morning.

When skin very sore and raw, dust the affected places often with following powder:—

When the eczema is general—that is, more or less all over the dog—give every four days a bath in Pearson’s disinfectant fluid diluted eighty times with tepid water; that is, four tablespoonfuls to a gallon of water.

Internal Remedies.—Treat for worms, and give the following powders:—

Divide into 12 powders—one to be given twice a day with food.

When the dog is in poor condition, or when the skin is very dry and scurfy, try the following pills after the powders have been given for a time:—

Recipe:

Make 12 pills—one to be given twice a day.

Elbow, Capped:

Symptoms: The point of the elbow is hard, swollen, and tender, causing the dog to go lame, or at any rate rather stiff. It is generally the result of an injury.

Treatment: At first try hot fomentations, which continue three or four times daily for some days; then apply the following lotion, dabbed on frequently:—

Recipe:

Later, if the swelling continues, rub gently into the swollen part a little colourless tincture of iodine or iodine vasogen once a day. It is essential in these cases to keep a good soft bed under the dog.

Emaciation:

Symptoms: Loss of condition and spirits, paleness of the mouth and conjunctivæ membrane.

Treatment: First give medicine to remove worms; also cod-liver oil, from half a teaspoonful[1] to a tablespoonful two or three times a day after food, and from one to eight grains[1] saccharated iron two or three times a day.

Diet: Feed liberally, allowing plenty of meat, mixed with Spratt’s malt and cod-liver oil biscuits; also give plenty of milk to drink.

Emetics:

The most effectual one is hydrochlorate of apomorphia; dose, from one-twentieth to one-sixth of a grain[1] in a teaspoonful of water. When given injected under the skin, it acts almost instantaneously.

Tartar emetic, from a quarter[1] to one and a half grains, shaken dry on the back of the tongue. If vomiting should not be induced in about ten minutes, a few spoonfuls of warm water should be given.

Ipecacuanha wine, from half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1]; repeated in ten minutes if vomiting not induced, and again ten minutes later if necessary.

In cases of emergency, common salt may be given, from sufficient to cover a sixpence to a teaspoonful[1] in warm water.

Emissions:

This nuisance is, as a rule, more troublesome amongst puppies than adult dogs, for generally after they are a year old the bad habit ceases.

Treatment: A course of bromide is sometimes useful, but if the habit continues after the dog is two years old castration is the only thing that is of any use. This operation, which can be done under chloroform, does not alter a dog’s nature as much as many people think, and when he is only required as a pet there is nothing to be said against it.

Emphysema:

Symptoms: The whole body may swell through a small puncture in the skin, which often cannot be found when a clog’s coat is thick. The emphysema may be confined to the body or to the head, or even to one or more limbs. In bad cases the dog swells out of all recognition. He is unable to move, or does so with great difficulty; and when the head is affected, the eyes are closed, the ears perhaps an inch thick, and breathing is difficult. The swelling is soft, pits on pressure, and at the same time a crackling noise is made.

When affecting the lungs, the breathing is heavy and laboured, and on auscultating the chest a distinct loud, crackling noise is heard. The heart is generally affected, its action, as a rule, being very weak; and there is a chronic, husky cough.

Treatment: In cases of general emphysema, if the swelling is not large it may be left alone, for it will gradually disperse of its own accord; but when it is large, the original wound, if it can be found, should be dilated, or one or more fresh ones made, and the air which has accumulated under the skin pressed out. The wound should afterwards be cleaned with a solution of some disinfectant like Pearson’s fluid or boracic acid, dried, then covered over with some antiseptic gauze, and a bandage or coat applied. Stimulants, as brandy, should be administered.

Treatment of emphysema of the lung is not very satisfactory, especially when the patient is very old, which is generally the case; but some relief may often be given by careful dieting. No food to distend the stomach should be allowed, as pressure on the chest from a distended stomach always increases the difficulty in breathing, therefore a concentrated food like meat should be given, and it is best raw. It should be given in small quantities three times a day.

Sedative medicine, unless the cough is very troublesome, is best avoided, but some such mixture as the following may be tried:—

Recipe:

From half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] three times a day one hour after food.

Inhalation of steam gives relief.

The bowels should be kept well opened by occasional doses of aperient medicine.

Enema:

Enemas are necessary in cases of stoppage of the bowels; they are also very useful to relieve constipation; and for dogs that are very ill it is much better to give a small enema rather than a dose of purgative medicine, which often causes sickness, which one particularly wants to avoid when the patient is weak.

Just to cause an action of the bowels in cases of constipation, only a small enema is required as, say for a little dog like a griffon, half a teaspoonful of glycerine mixed with a couple of tablespoonfuls of warm water. For dogs the size of fox terriers double the quantity may be given. For collies, etc., four times the quantity; and for dogs like a St Bernard half as much again of both the glycerine and water. Instead of glycerine, soapy water may be used.

In cases of real obstruction of the bowels, give double the quantities as advised in cases of simple constipation, and the enema should be repeated in these cases three or four times a day. Very often in cases of obstruction of the bowels, it is a very good plan to give an occasional enema consisting of warm oil, or even from five grains to half a drachm[1] of ox gall dissolved in hot water.

For little dogs a glass ear-syringe may be used which can be bought to hold half an ounce or an ounce. For bigger dogs one of Higson’s enema syringes are the best. The bone point, before inserting into the bowel, should be well vaselined, and then it can be safely passed into the rectum its whole length, which is about two inches. Care should be taken when giving enema not to pump a lot of air into the bowel.

Another way of relieving constipation, when one wishes to avoid giving medicine by the mouth, is to pass a suppository made of glycerine and gelatine into the rectum. These have their advantage over enema, as they do not wet the dog when the bowels operate, which is important in cases of paralysis when dogs cannot stand whilst passing a motion. Failing a glycerine suppository, a piece of yellow soap cut the shape of one answers the purpose.

Enteritis (Inflammation of the Bowels):

Symptoms: Attack often commences with vomiting. There is generally slight rise of temperature and a quickened pulse, pain on pressure of abdomen; there may be constipation or diarrhœa, but in any case mucus is generally passed with the motion. The dog seems ill, lies about, and is disinclined to move. There is loss of appetite, and the thirst is generally excessive.

Chronic enteritis is a more common complaint; there is no temperature as a rule, and the pulse is quiet, though it generally becomes very weak as the disease advances. The appetite is not entirely gone, but is very bad, and what is taken is often vomited, mixed with a quantity of frothy mucus. When the food eaten is solid, and it is not vomited, then it generally passes through the patient in an undigested state with some mucus. The motions are copious and frequent, sometimes there is diarrhœa, at other times the motions are formed and hard. There is pain on pressure of the abdomen, and the coils of intestines may easily be felt as the coats of the bowels are generally much thickened—the result of the chronic inflammation. The patient becomes very anæmic and wasted, the breath is foul, ulcers may form in the mouth, and the tongue is of a rusty red colour.

Treatment: In the acute form a small dose of castor oil mixed with from two to fifteen drops of laudanum,[1] and repeated in two or three days if necessary. If there is diarrhœa, give from three[1] to fifteen grains of carbonate of bismuth three or four times a day; also from two to ten drops of chlorodyne[1] in water three or four times a day; when there is much pain hot linseed meal poultices may be applied to the abdomen. The diet should consist principally of milk—plain or with Benger’s food—a little meat juice may be added. Later, scraped lean raw meat may be given.

The treatment of chronic cases is tedious, a cure is often difficult, and under the best circumstances it takes many weeks of careful dieting before improvement occurs.

The following powders to be given with or after food:—

Recipe:

Divide into 12, 24, or 48 powders[1]—one to be given three times a day.

The diet should consist principally of unboiled milk, given plain or with Benger’s food, or beaten up with the white of an egg, and the quantity of course must vary according to the size of the dog, say from half[1] a pint to two quarts a day. Later, when the motions seem normal and the condition of the tongue improves, scraped lean raw meat may be given in small quantities.

Epilepsy:

Symptoms: An attack generally occurs quite suddenly; dog falls uttering perhaps a loud cry, is violently convulsed, champs his jaws, and froths at the mouth, and is unconscious. The attack generally lasts about half a minute, when the dog looks around him in a sort of dazed condition, and then often bolts off, not knowing where he is going to. Often one attack is followed by more, so it is important that the dog should be put in a place of security as quickly as possible, a good sized hamper is as good as anything. During the convulsions of epilepsy or just after, the patient unknowingly will bite his owner or anyone else, but there is no danger from such a bite.

Treatment: During the convulsions, it is best to leave the dog alone, unless one attack is being quickly succeeded by another, in which case two[1] or three drops of nitrite of amyl held to the nose, on a piece of blotting paper, lessens the severity of the convulsions. Chloroform similarly applied answers the same purpose. Directly the patient is able to swallow, give a dose of hydrated chloral and bromide of potassium, from three[1] to twenty grains of each, in from two teaspoonfuls[1] to two tablespoonfuls of water. This may be repeated in one, two, three, or four hours, according to the necessity, and under any circumstance the bromide alone should be given three or four times a day for a week or so after the attack. When a dog has had a succession of fits, a long course of bromide of potassium will often effect a cure.

Diet: Should be light, and consist principally of milk.

In all these cases, free purging does good.

Epistaxis (Bleeding from the Nose):

Symptoms: When the blood comes from one nostril, the trouble is generally local. When from both nostrils, it is more likely to be due to some lung mischief.

Treatment: If the hæmorrhage is not severe, nothing is necessary except keeping the dog quiet for a time, as it will soon discontinue. However, should the bleeding persist, syringe up the nostril a saturated solution of alum, or a teaspoonful of tincture perchloride of iron, mixed with a tablespoonful of water. In very severe case, the local application of adrenalin should be tried, and from half to two grains[1] of ergotine, given subcutaneously, dissolved in a few drops of brandy. This may be repeated every three or four hours. In some cases it is necessary to plug the nostrils with strips of lint. When bleeding is severe, stimulants should be freely given, and also scraped lean raw meat.

Erysipelas:

Uncommon in dogs, but occasionally seen.

Symptoms: Temperature quickly rises, and may go up to 106 or 107 degs. F., and even higher—dog constantly shivering—total loss of appetite, but as a rule thirst very great. Skin becomes thick, tense, and shiny—at first red, and then perhaps of a purple colour; blisters may form; affected parts much swollen.

Treatment: Give from two to fifteen grains[1] of chlorate potash every four hours; dust parts with powdered boracic acid, mixed with three parts of powdered starch.

Erythema:

Symptoms: Red and inflamed condition of the skin, the redness temporarily disappearing on pressure. Condition often noticed on inside of flaps of ears, inside of thighs and arms. It is accompanied sometimes by a good deal of burning and irritation which makes the dog lick and bite himself.

Treatment: Dust over with boracic powder often, or bathe parts with thymol lotion. Treat for worms and give sulphate of magnesia, from five[1] grains to one scruple, and reduced iron, from half[1] to four grains, twice a day with food.

Diet: Meat may be given with other food in this case.

When the Erythema is spread more or less all over the body, a bath every day or every other day made as follows gives relief:—

Recipe: Borax, two tablespoonfuls; fine oatmeal, eight tablespoonfuls; tepid water, three gallons.

It is a good plan when the dog is wet to rub the yolks of three or four eggs into the coat, which cleanses it, besides removing the dandruff from the skin.

Exhaustion (Result of great Exertion):

Symptoms: The dog is very languid, and perhaps unable to stand; breathes heavily, pulse quick and weak. If very bad, the tongue and membrane of the eye may be of a dark blue colour, the result of defective circulation.

Treatment: Rest and stimulants, as from ten drops to two teaspoonfuls[1] of brandy in a little water, which repeat every half hour. When dog very bad and unable to swallow, the brandy may be injected under the skin. As the dog comes round, Valentine’s meat juice or scraped raw meat in small quantities may be given.

Eye, Dislocation of:

Symptoms: This is not an uncommon occurrence with dogs with prominent eyes, such as pugs, Japanese and Pekingese spaniels, as well as King Charles spaniels, and other such dogs. Generally it is caused by fighting, or from some sudden blow just at the back of the side of the eye.

Treatment: If attended to immediately the eye is easily returned, especially if a little castor oil be poured over the front of the eye, and then with gentle pressure with the fingers it slips back into its place, and the eyesight is uninjured; but if left for some time, even for an hour, the eye becomes distended, and then it is impossible to return it without dilating the orifice. This must be done by making a small slit at the outer corner where the eyelids meet, say about one eighth of an inch long, and then pour a few drops of castor oil over the eye, and with pressure return it. Afterwards carefully sew up the incision made, and either put a couple of stitches through the lids, so as to keep the eyelids closed, or else put a piece of lint double thickness, soaked in boracic lotion, over the eye, and apply a bandage; but it is much safer to put a couple of stitches through the lids, which may be removed twenty-four hours later. The eye is sure to be inflamed and very painful for a few days, but this may be relieved by hot poppy-head fomentation made by boiling a couple of crushed poppy-heads in a quart of water for ten minutes, and then straining through fine muslin.

After the eye has been out for an hour or two, one cannot tell for some days whether the sight has been destroyed or not. As a rule it is.

Eye, Haw of, Growth on:

Symptoms: A small red swelling appears in the inner corner of one or both eyes. It is particularly common in bull puppies, pugs, and young bloodhounds.

Treatment: The only treatment consists in excising the swelling in the following way: Paint the little red body several times with a 6 per cent. solution of hydrochlorate of cocaine, then after waiting a few minutes the swelling should be gently drawn out with forceps, or by passing a thread through it with a needle, and then it should be quickly snipped off with a pair of curved scissors. The bleeding will stop of itself in a few minutes, and no further treatment is required.

Eyelids, Sore:

Symptoms: The membrane of the eye is much congested, and freely discharges white matter; the skin around eye is swollen, inflamed, and raw, which sometimes makes it difficult to see the eye.

Treatment: Apply following lotion often:—

Recipe:

Apply frequently with a piece of absorbent wool. When the skin is dry and inflammation less, anoint the lids three or four times a day with following ointment:—

Recipe:

Give a dose of purgative medicine, also some cooling medicine with food, as from three to twenty grains[1] each of bicarbonate of potash and sulphate of magnesia.

Fainting:

Dogs subject to asthma often have a weak heart, and when the cough is severe frequently fall down in a faint, but as a rule it only lasts for a few moments, and the dog soon seems all right.

Symptoms: When due to loss of blood, the dog lies in an apparently lifeless condition, the mouth is white and clammy, the membranes of the eyes are bloodless, the pulse is quick and weak, and the breathing slow and laboured. The same condition occurs as the result of shock after an accident, as a dog being run over, even when there is no internal bleeding.

Treatment: In the first instances, when a dog faints as the result of heart disease, the application of smelling salts to nose is generally sufficient at the time, but the condition that causes it requires attending to, and a course of some heart tonic should be given as the following:—

Recipe:

From one teaspoonful to a tablespoonful[1] to be given three times a day.

It is also a good plan to give a few drops of brandy in water after each meal, and the best food in these cases is under-done meat. In the second instance, as the result of hæmorrhage, let the animal lie perfectly quiet on his right side; if he can swallow, give small quantities of brandy and milk frequently; if this cannot be taken, inject under the skin from ten drops[1] to a teaspoonful of brandy, in which has been dissolved from half[1] to two grains of ergotine; repeat in an hour. To make up for the loss of blood, inject slowly into the bowel from a tablespoonful to half a tumblerful[1] of warm peptonised milk, which may be repeated in an hour. If very cold, place hot-water bottles to back. As soon as dog is able to swallow give Valentine’s meat juice with water, alternately with milk and brandy, later small quantities of scraped lean raw meat.

In the third instance, viz., fainting as the result of shock, without hæmorrhage, it is certainly difficult at first to know whether there is any internal bleeding or not going on, but in the absence of this the dog soon recovers. Brandy should be given as previously recommended, and smelling salts held to the nose.

False Conception:

Bitches sometimes after being properly served, though not in pup, become big and hard, and behave in every respect as if they were going to have a large litter, and at the end of the period of the supposed gestation, nothing but a little discharge comes away, and the bitch gradually gets smaller. There is an accumulation of milk, but this is a common occurrence seven or eight weeks after heat, even in maiden bitches.

Favus (Form of Ringworm):

Symptoms: This is a form of ringworm which dogs often suffer from. It is frequently caught from rats. It is recognised by circular patches covered with yellow sulphur-coloured crusts. As a rule, there is not much irritation of the skin, but the disease is very contagious, even to people.

Treatment: The part should be painted daily with sulphurated calcium lotion. The lotion should not only be applied to the parts, but half an inch round the outer circumference of the patch. This should be continued for about a fortnight. Then dress the place daily for another week with a lotion of equal parts of methylated spirits, green soft soap, and oil of cade.

Feeding:

See Appendix.

Feet, Cracked:

Symptoms: The pads of some dogs are constantly cracking, especially in hot, dry weather. As a consequence, the feet become very tender, and in some cases the dog is quite lame when exercising on hard roads.

Treatment: Rub well into the pads night and morning some borate of glycerine. The loose horn should be removed with scissors. Give the dog cooling medicine, from three[1] to twenty grains of sulphate of magnesia, also from two[1] to ten grains of bicarbonate of potash twice a day with the food. Exercise the dog for a time on grass.

Feet (Swelling between Toes):

Symptoms: A swelling often suddenly forms between the toes, which makes the dog go exceedingly lame, and in fact, he is often unable to put the foot to the ground. As the swelling increases in size, it soon becomes soft, and as a rule quickly breaks.

Treatment: Directly the swelling is noticed, a hot bread poultice should be applied, and repeated two or three times until the swelling is quite soft, and then it should be freely opened and the parts scraped out. The wound should be kept open for two or three days by packing it with a little boracic wool or carbolic gauze, otherwise if it heals too quickly it gathers again. The dog should have a dose of purgative medicine, and in chronic cases when the swelling keeps reappearing first in one foot and then in another, a course of arsenic should be given, as from one[1] to eight drops of liq. arsenicalis in from one[1] to four teaspoonfuls of water. Repeat the medicine twice a day, and give after food. Dogs subject to this complaint should be fed principally on dog biscuits.

Fever:

This is a condition of the body characterised by an increase of temperature, shivering, lassitude, and loss of appetite; and, as a rule, is a symptom of some specific disease; but on some occasions it occurs as a result of some unascertainable cause, and generally in such cases the rise of temperature, which may go up to as much as 104 degs. F., is only temporary. This is more particularly the case in young puppies. This condition also occurs in dogs after exertion, especially when not in condition, as after a long walk on a hot day; but when due to such causes, the temperature soon drops, and is normal in a couple of hours, without any treatment. But if a dog, from whatever cause, ascertainable or not, continues feverish, say over twenty-four hours, some medicine should be given to relieve it, such as from two[1] to ten grains of salicylate of soda, or from one-half[1] to five grains of phenacetin; but this latter medicine should never be given to a dog in a low condition, as there is always a danger of causing collapse by inducing heart failure. Either of these medicines may be repeated every four hours, but if after twenty-four hours the temperature still keeps more than two degrees above normal, then salicylate of quinine should be tried: doses, from one[1] to five grains given in a cachet, or made into a pill, and repeated once in six hours. There are occasions when no medicine seems to have any permanent effect upon the temperature, and in such cases the application of an ice-bag to the head for an hour or so may be often applied with great advantage. A sheep’s bladder makes a capital bag for small dogs. The ice should be broken in small pieces, and the temperature taken from time to time whilst the bag is on, so that one can see whether the temperature is going down or not, as it is not advisable to reduce it below normal.

Fistula of Anus:

Symptoms: A small wound running from the side of the anus in an inward direction, and in many cases opening into the bowel. There is generally some discharge from the wound, and a good deal of irritation, which keeps the dog constantly licking the parts.

Treatment: The quickest and surest cure is to have the sinus freely laid open, and afterwards foment and keep the wound clean with hot boracic lotion—1 drachm to eight ounces of water.

Fits:

See Epilepsy, Convulsions, etc.

Flatulence:

Symptoms: Dogs, especially large ones, become occasionally distended with gas in the stomach. The abdomen becomes enormously swollen and hard; dog breathes with difficulty; is much distressed, being in great pain. This is a very fatal disease, as the stomach frequently ruptures as a result of over-distention.

Treatment: Give stimulants freely, as brandy; and to disperse the gas, give in a cachet from three[1] to fifteen grains of naphthol beta. This may be repeated in an hour. In some cases the gas may be evacuated by passing a tube down the throat into the stomach. (See also Wind in the Stomach.)