“CANINE HYSTERIA”

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 June 1928, Page 7

“CANINE HYSTERIA”

STRANGE DISEASE AMONG DOGS.

A curious canine disease in Ute last twelve months has increased in England to an alarming extent. It is seen especially among valuable sporting dogs and packs of hounds. The alarmed owners of affected dogs, in describing the symptons, have repeatedly remarked that the animal seems suddenly to have seen a ghost. Although to all appearances in perfect health, the dog gives a curious howl of fright and rushes away, often without any apparent idea of direction, in a state that seems to be terror. This condition may last, only a few moments, recovery being almost as rapid as onset, but on the other hand, it. may bo half an hour and more before the animal recovers its normal appearance. The cause of the malady has not yet. been determined. The treatment which, according to flic “Lancet,” has been found most successful is removal of all biscuit from the dietary, combined with keeping the patient as quiet as possible for at least ten days or a fortnight, and the administration of nerve sedatives. * ■

The proportion of actual fatalities from the disease itself is negligible, but the appearances are very alarming, and dogs have sometimes injured themselves by violent collisions in the course of their frantic movements. So far as can be judged, the disease seems to be peculiar to dogs, for veterinary practitioners assert that nothing identical with this “canine hysteria” has been observed in any other species of domesticated animals.