“CANINE HYSTERIA"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20182, 26 June 1928, Page 11

“CANINE HYSTERIA"

“GHOST” SEEING STRANGE DISEASE AMONG DOGS. A curious canine disease in the last twelve months has increased in England at an alarming extent. It is seen especially among valuable sporting dogs and packs of hounds. Tho alarmed owners of affected dogs, in describing the symptoms, have repeatedly remarked that the animal seems to have suddenly seen a ghost. Although to all appearances in perfect health, tho 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 fof a few moments, recovery being almost as rapid as onset, but on the other hand, it may be 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 the Lancet, has been found most successful is removed of all biscuit from the dietary, combined with keeping the patient as quiet as possible for at least ton 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 severely by violent collisions in the course of their fanatic movements. So far as can be judged, tho 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.