THE VETERINARIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 18

THE VETERINARIAN.

Distemper in Dogs.

(The Field.)

Iu its ordinary form, distemper, as we explained in our last article, is a catarrhal affection, which at its commencement resemhles an ordinary cold : and when the attack is mild and transient, it is not always possible to determine whioh of the two diseases exists. When the affection runs a more definite course, the evidence is sufficiently positive, and the occurrence of certain complications leaves no room for doubt as to the nature of the malady. Excessive emaciation and sometimes eutire collapse are the frequent results of the ordinary progress of the common kind of distemser, when the early stage is neglected or Improperly treated ; and even when everything is done for the animal's benefit, the disease may prove to be beyond the doctor’s skill, owing to the implication of important organs-the lungs, liver, or brain. Coughing is one of the almost constant symptoms of distemper, and its existence is evidence of the irritable state of the mucous membrane of the air passages. Increase of the irritation is not uncommon, and sometimes it advances to the degree of acute inflammation of the lining of the larynx or bronchial tubes. In such cases the cough becomes very painful, and the breathing is quickened, and is carried on with an open mouth. It is frequently observed that dogs, when suffering from diseases of the respiratory organs with difficult breathing, will seek to relieve themselves by elevating the head, and in some cases they will stand with the fore paW3 resting on a stool or the edge of a fender. The more common position, however, is sitting on the haunches, with the head held up and the mouth open. Inflammation of the substance of the lungs is indicated by the symptoms above described minus the painful cough and plus a quick, -nlae, instead of the soft beat of bronw AII -nfiammatory affections are ohitia. All *- which is shown by associated with fever, . dryness and the rise of intern d temperature, heat ot nose, and constipation. affections are aho, as a matter of course, productive of general lassitude, with loss of appetite, attended with rapid emaciation. Treatment of distemper with lung complications does not include any important alterations in the method which will fe*W already been adopted in dealing with the ordinary catarrhal form of the attack which precedes the more serious affections of the respiratory system. If the dog's condition is good, and the acute disease supervene* before the strength is impared, bleeding may be resorted to; but the operation is now seldom performed* and the amateur should not attempt it. Only the experienced canine surgeon cin decide whether or not the con. ditions are such as to render the treatment necessary. Counter-irritation in acute inflammatory disease is not deemed to be good practice; but in the case of the dog an excellent and safe substitute is found m the warm bath, by the use of which, followed by the application of hot towels, and completed by wrapping the dog in a blanket toe skm may be kept warm, and all the benefits of stimulant applications obtained wit.iou causing any pain or excitement. Some care is necessary in giving a bath to small pet dogs in reference to temperature, and also duration of the immersion. Dogs are easily affected by heat, and fains on to slightest provocation, especially when they are suffering from a weakening disease no plea should the temperature of the bath be judged by the haul; but a common thermometer should always be used and a temperature of 9Sdeg to 99deg will be sufficient Should fainting occur while the dog is in bath, the animal must be immediately removed, and quickly dried while laying on its side. If necessary, the usual devices which are resorted to in the case of the human patient in similar circumstances may be em C P !re y f e ul' nursing is absolutely essential in the treatment of acute diseases m dogs, and it is particularly necessary to alarming the patient by rough handling, or theuse.of force in the administration of msdioines. For this reason powders which can be thrown on to the tongue, or remedies which can be made up with honey to form an electuary, are to be preferred to fluid mixtures pills; and with very irritable pet dogs, it may often be worth consideration whether it is not better to trust to good n “ r3 ‘“S acute disorder of the breathing organs, rather

than excite the animal by an attempt to give medicines. \ , Regulation of the diet will not be difficult in the cases which have been described. The dog is disinclined to eat, and it should ba coaxed to lap milk in which an egg has been beaten up, or cold soap made of extract of meat without any salt. Small quantities of food should be offered, and if notaocepted should be removed from the animal’s sight, and a fresh portion of another food be tried in an hour or two. Nothing is so certain to disgust a sick dog as-the sight of food which it objects to take. Cold water will often be taken freely, and whatever is offered in the way of nutriment must be cold, or it will cartainly be declined., Jaundice, or the Yellows, i 3 a disease which is sometimes developed during the progross of distemper, although it may occur independently. The symptoms are characteristic and easily recognised ; in fact, the common name of the disease (yellows) at once suggests the most prominent sign, which is yellowness of the skin. White dogs exhibit the change of colour in the most marked form, but even in' black animals the yellow tint may be observed quite distinctly. Besides the yellow colour of the skin and mucous membranes, .there are other symptoms in jaundice which indicate general derangement of the digestive functions. The dog is dull, apparently.suffering from nausea; sometimes constipation is present, and at others diarrheea. The evacuations in either case are at first light or clay-ooloared, but in the advanced stage of the disease tbey may become dark, from the mixture of dark green or brown bile, or blood. In some cases abdominal pain is present, and pressure over the region of the liver causes the dog to flinch. Coming on when the animal is already weakened by the primary jaundice often proves fatal in a few days. But it sometimes becomes subacute or chronic, and is attended with considerable enlargement of the liver, which occupies the lower part of the abdominal cavity, causing the belly to swell out, while the sides fall in, showing deep hollows on each side. During the whole course of the disease in its acute form there is a disinclination to take food of any kind, and it is necessary to administer small and ■ frequent doses of the concentrated meat extracts to keep the animal alive. Fatty substanoos should not be given, as in the disordered state of the ! digestive system they are not likely to be appropriated. In the medical treatment of jaundice the fluid extract of taraxacum, in doses of a drachm to half an ounce, will be a very Useful remedy, and it may be given mixed with the meat solutions. Some practitioners give small doses of calomel, and apply mercurial ointment with friction over the region of the liver. lodide of potassium, in doses of from one to four gra&s, fras proved beneficial in the chronic form of the disease ; but, speaking generally, jaundice is anintrac tabjediaorder, and treatment cannot be undertake# jnn ch hope of success.