River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-10-25
"OUR FAITHF VI FRIENDS
A Chapter About Dogs and Their Ali.
ments by DIR. Watts.
Boston Herald.

Boston Herald.
DR.. AL Watts-whose efforts in behalf
of dogs, by calling attention to their va
rious diseases and the proper treatment
ofthe same, are to be highly commended
not only for the good which has re-
suited among owners of these favorite
companions, but for the efficient aid
rendered to the society for the pre-
vention of cruelty to animalS-a society
the moral growth and influence of which
have been of great service in the COM
munity-has issued another paper on
"Dstemper in Dogs" from which, be-
lieving it will be interesting to many,
the following extracts are made:
"Dogs as we'll as other animals
have diseases akin to the human
family, and must be subjected to similar
treatment as regards medicine; differing,
however, in the dose, which, proving
corrective to the one, in some cases
tends to an opposite effect in the other
Catarrh, bronchitis, consumption, pneu-
monia, Inflammation ofthe stomach, Ily-
er kidney, iauhdice ,d:opsy ,diarrhea and
many other diseases are common to the
dog. Dogs generally, at some time OF
their lives, are subject to dlstemper, IN
which one or more of these diseases are
prominent, and which, being brought
on by a common cold ,inflamm ltIon of the
lungs or bowels, assumes a low form
and becomes what is known in the hui
man family as typhus fever. The first
stage of distemper, caused by exposure
to wet or cold. is known as ephem-
eral fever, and brings on chilliness,
with increased surface heat, quick pull
and hurried breathing. Dogs Of all ages,
from a month upward, are subject to it,
but it occurs mostly before or at the
completion of the first year, A dog
may be attacked with the disease q sec
ond time (then generally in milder
FORM and recover; but for want Of prop
er treatment, which is too often the
case. he is more likely to die. Distem-
per is also apt to occur without any APP
parent cause-as well when dogs are
kindly cared for as when neglected, as
whatever debilitates the constitution
will generate distemper. 1t Is undoubt-
edlv contagious and epidemic, occurring
mostly in spring and autumn, and may
be communicated by even one dog over
an entire district. Strange to say, the
most valuable animals suffer most from
this disorder, the cur being i'll but one
or two days. a dog in an advanced
state OF UlslGHnDEI - 0t5pOSC u
to gnaw at or bile any thing within
reach, and is frequently subject to cpl
| leptic fits and successive convulsive
spasms of the muscles. Other and dl.-
! ferent description of fits then ensue.
| He staggers, tumbies, Tolls, and, crying,
tears up the ground. until he fualIy falls
| exhausted In this state and showing
| these symptoms many valuable dogs
are put out of their misery, generally
| through fear of hydrophobia, when, IN
| lact, there is no resemblance between
| the two. This distemper in dogs Is not
| by bite or otherwise communicable to
! man, and it is to be regretted there
! should be so little understanding shown
/ in this particular Any unusual behav-
/ ior in the dog should be inquired into
! as In the case Of n child, and especially
/ If the dog suffers from q cold IT nasal
/ catarTh, as distemper generally com
| mences in the nasal MEM
/ brane. The treatment would, Of course,
vary with the different breeds and ac-
| cording to the age or size OF the animal;
/ but il is always proper on discovering
4 the symptoms to give an emetlc, say,
equal parts of calomel and tartar emetic,
or IF that is not obtainRble, common
/ salt will be found serviceable, The next
thing to be done is 70 keep the dog vel.
hedded. next frequent change, good
ventilation, free from draft and improve
ment may be expected. Should the
4 dog GROW worse. which is probable, and
his owner is solicitious for his welfare, q
competent physician should be consul.
ted without delay, as the advance OF
digtemper is so rapid in most cases as to
preclude all chance Of recovery