DISTEMPER IN DOGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1163, 15 June 1894, Page 25

DISTEMPER IN DOGS.

(Concluded from last week.) I should liko to enter into all the stages of the disease, such as the transmission of the affection to the brain, epilepsy of distemper, pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs, of the intestines, the pustular and yellow appearances of the disease, and many others which it forms in its course, if not stopped. Tho treatment of distemper must necessarily vary according to the nature of tho disorder as well as the ago, constitution, etc., of tho animal attacked, and it is here where so many practitioners fail because they depend on their so-called infallible remedy. Let me hero say that there is no specific for distemper; it must be attacked according as it attacks. And I lay down no hard and fast rule, but I simply desire to put tho dog owner in possesion of some rules wheroby the disease may be in kopt chock until professional aid can be conveniently obtained. The first thing proper to bo done (when any of tho symptoms herein mentioned are observed) is to administer an emetic, which should bo composed of from lgr upwards of tartarised antimony, according to tho size of the dog —say for a terrier or pup, lgr to Hgr; collie and retrievor, 3gr; and the larger breeds, 4gr to sgr. This may be mixed up with a little fat into the form of a pill, and put down the dog's throat; but the better plan is to place it between two very thin pieces of bread and butter, when the dog will often take it without suspecting anything to be wrong. Now, I advise to bo added to the tartarised antimony from lgr to 3gr of calomel; this forms a mild purgo as well as a vomit, and unloads both the stomach and the bowels. Dogs in the country will relieve themselves by an emetic of their own choosing—tho " triticum rerjens," or dog-grass, which they tako frequently. It is quite evident, then, that dogs confined to large towns must suffer in their health from the want of this; and it is by no means a bad plan to give your dog an occasional vomit, oven when he appears all right, and tartar emetic may be readily and safely given at any time. Should the pulse or state of the breathing indicate any determination to tho lungs, the dog ought to bo bled to tho extent of from three to six ounces, especially if tho animal is in good case and moderately strong. But this not be attempted after the second day, or elso you will find the animal die in the operation ; neither must very young dogs be bled, nor the very tender breeds ; but more on this point later on. Wo will now suppose tho dog has had his doso of tartar emotie and calomel, which in duo course has done its work, and its action has greatly lessoned tho irritation and reduced the inflammatory action of tho hoart and arteries, but, at tho same time, he must guard against diarrhoea, which is one of tho worst symptoms of the disease. Here then comes in thoie valuable drugs (on this occasion) antimonial powder, nitre, and ipecacuanha, in proportion to tbe size and strength of tho patient, and, for a medium-sized dog, say 3gr of tho first, lOgr of tho second, and 3gr of the third, given in tho form of a pill every four hours, and, if tho cough should tako any pneumonic symptoms, add to the above doao about lgr of digitalis (foxglove) ; repeat the emetic every third day should nothing new in tho symptoms occur. But now more than ever beware of active purgation. Should the disease develop still more active symptoms of pneumonia, which will bo known by the quick, laborious breathing, the head being elevated, and the dog preferring a sitting to a lying position, no matter how tired ho may bo —then tho animal should bo entrusted to a competent man. In all cases of distemper, cleanliness is absolutely of tho greatest necessity; tho littor should bo changed at least every day. Now there is a class of this disease which exhibitors call " show distemper," and which a great many believe cannot be cured; but I look upon this belief as erroneous. Dogs in shows, as everyone knows, are exposed to draughts, because being in a large hall, with passages formed by tho benches, and doors ever and anon swinging to and fro, or standing open (which cannot bo avoided, of course); thus tho dogs exhibited are liable to contract a chill, and this boing mado worse by, perhaps, a long railway journey, and added to this, perhaps, a not over healthy dog box, or van, the diseaso at once assumes a severe form of pneumonia, which is most difficult to deal with. In a case like this, the following is tho only method which I have found capable of arresting the attack. Begin by bleeding, and that largely. But this must not be attempted if the complaint has reached tho end of the second day ; as I have said before, if per- i formed after that, most likely the dog will die in the operation. The whole chest should be likewise blistered between the forelegs and behind tho elbows (first removing the hair), finishing up by covering up the parts with new flannel carefully secured. If blistering ointment is not at band, oil of turpentine and mustard well

rubbed in will do as well, and should b r epoated every three hours; give a mild purgative and in two hours commence with the following :—Tincture of foxglove, Idr, tartarised antimony, 3gr, nitrated potash, ldr, oxymol, 2oz. Give a teaspoonful of this mixture every two or three hours, lessening the dose should it occasion sickness. It is particularly requisite to keep the dog in a cool place, and, provided his skin is screened from the access of cold, it is no matter how cool tho air he breathes may be, and I venture to say that in four or five hours a change for the better will take place. In bleeding a dog, the simplest way is by the jugular vein. First get some one to hold the animal, or the safest way is to use a muzzle ; then pass a tape round the neck well down towards the body, pull the tapo quite tight, and in a minute or two the vein can be easily felt; make the incision parallel with tho vein, and when the quantity has been drawn off, removo the tape, when the blooding will immediately stop. But I advise that when bleeding is required a veterinary be called in, or Bomeono who is skilled in the operation. 1 cannot close those remarks without a word to those who are of opinion that tho diseaso can bo conveyed in one's clothes for a considerable distance. This may be possible, but not at all probable; and to prove this, let mo inform such, that I have under my caro as many as throe to four, and sometimes more, dogs undor treatment for distemper, and at tho same time as many more sufforing from other diseases. These latter never have distemper, and besides I am continually going out and in among tho other dogs of tho Home, yet they do not become affected. Then how is it; if it were so easily carriod as some affirm, surely all the dogs in here would bo affected within twenty-four hours. If I have given tho owner of a faithful dog a few hints whereby ho can help his favourite animal in tho hour of sickness, and at tho same time detect tho approach of tho worst diseaso to which the dog is subject, I shall consider my object attained. —J. H. Campbell in the The Field.