DISTEMPER IN DOGS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21886, 12 September 1936, Page 22

DISTEMPER IN DOGS

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

In the August, issue of the “N.Z. Journal of Agriculture" an article appears on the subject of distemper in dogs, contributed by E. L. Slddall, veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, The subject is one of much concern to sheep men, and a description of the symptoms of the disease and the treatment should be of interest. Symptoms In the early stages of the disease dullness and loss of appetite are noticed. Temperature rises as much as three or four degrees or more above normal (which is approximately 101 to 101.6 degrees F,). Fever is a very early and prominent symptom. There is discharge from the eyes and nose, which is at first watery but afterwards becomes thicker and eventually, unless frequently removed, closes .these parts entirely. . . The secondary symptoms show themselves in the form of eye lesions, bronchitis, pneumonia, and inflammation of the stomach and bowels. When bronchitis commences there is a cough, which is at first soft and afterwards hard, dry, and painful, and accompanied by wheezy breathing. If pneumonia supervenes the patient has spasms of painful coughing, which after a time are suppressed as much as possible, and at the same time the breathing becomes very distressed. The discharge from the nostrils is increased in amount and is often bloodstained, and finally the weakness and depression become very marked. If the stomach and intestines become involved there is loss of appetite and great thirst. The animal drinks a large quantity of water which often is soon vomited. When lying down the dog chooses a cold place, such as a piece of oilcloth or a stony floor. There is a very unpleasant odour noticeable when the mouth is opened and inspected. and the tongue is found tp be very furry, and finally blood-stained diarrhcea is seen. Involvement of the bral# is shown by periods of excitement followed by convulsions and fits. These symptoms of brain trouble are generally followed by paralysis, which may affect either one limb or half the body. Instead of this paralysis, a twitching of various groups of muscles may be noticed, causing such movements as champing the jaws or a jerky movement of the head, neck, or limbs. Treatment As this is a disease which must run its course, very careful nursing, assisted by medicine, will give the best results. When the dog is first seen to be off colour it is essential for it to be isolated at once, for preference in a dry warm room which can -tje kept at an even temperature, with plenty of fresh air but free from draughts. The first treatment for the high temperature is to give aspirin twice daily, estimating the dose at I grain a pound of body weight. Any signs of constipation should be with medicinal liquid paraffinnn doses of a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful twice dally according to size, until the medicine has operated. Without doubt the best diet at this time is fresh milk. Improper feeding with meat and other solid material is very injurious and often accounts for serious complications. Lack of appetite, together with high temperature, is an indication to give only as much as the patient will take voluntarily in the form of milk. Forced feeding is injurious and often causes vomiting. When total loss of appetite persists for several days a few spoonfuls of milk, or liquid meat extract, should be given every lour hours, and to this may be added a few drops of brandy. After the temperature, which should be taken twice daily, has dropped to normal, and the animal has a good appetite, boiled bread and milk, or boiled rice and milk, may be given. When the patient is put on to a-solid diet only small and repeated quantities of easily-digested food, are to b« given.

The eyes and nose should be kept clean by sponging with warm water in which boracic acid has been dissolved, and afterwards they should be smeared with vaseline or boracic ointment- II the cough be troublesome a few doses of the following mixture should be given:- Syrup of squills, syrup of ipecacuana, syrup of chloral, of each 3 drams; liquid acid carbol 24 drops, water to 3oz. The dose is a teaspoonful, dessert, or tablespoonful, according to size of the animal, every few hours. When the cough becomes hard, dry, and painful, inhalation of steam medicated With eucalyptus or Friar’s balsam is beneficial. Cover the chest with a woollen jacket to assist in preventing any further complications arising, such as pneumonia, which generally ends fatally in spite of all treatment. Vomiting can be treated by giving a mixture of bismuth carbonate, or bismuth subnitrate, in 5 to lOgr. doses, together with a similar quantity of bi-carbonate of soda, two or three times a day; A word of caution is necessary to the dog-owner to be careful to distinguish the early symptoms of distemper from the idea that the animal is suffering from worms, as many dogs have been killed through the indiscriminate usa of worm medicines in the early stages of distemper. In distemper tne temperature is raised, but this is not usually so in a case of worm-infestation. After recovery from an attack of distemper it is important to remember that the dog should be treated with great care or else, in many cases, a relapse will occur. For a week to 10 days after all symptoms have apparently subsided the food and exercise should be limited, and .only Increased very gradually.

Vaccine for the prevention of this disease has bee,ti used with great sue-* cess in England and elsewhere for some years past, but is exceedingly difficult and costly to prepare. Efforts to obtain, supplies from England lor-