The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-11-21
Dlseases of Dogs.

Dogs, as well as other animals, have
diseases akin to the human family, and
must be subjected to similar treatment as
regards m dicine, differing, however, in
the dose which, proving corrective in the
one, in some cases tends to an opposite
effect in the other Catarrh, bronchitis,
consumption, pneumonia, Inflammation
of the stomach, liver, kidneys, jaundice,
dropsy, diarrhea, and many other dis
eases are common 20 the dog. Dogs
generally, at some time of their lives, are
subject to distemper, in which one or
more of these diseases are prominent, and
which, being brought on by common
cold, inflammation of the lungs or bowels,
| assumes a low form and becomes what is
known in the human family as typhus
fever. The first stage of distemper,
! caused by exposure to wet or cold, is
known as ephemeral fever, and brings on
chilliness, with increased surface heat,
quick pulse and hurried breathing Dogs
of all ages, from a month upward, arc
subject to it, but it occurs mostly be-
fore or at the completion of the first
year. A dog may be attacked with the
disease a second time (then generally in
milder form) and recover, but for
want of proper treatment, which is too
often the case, he is more likely to die.
Distemper is also apt to occur withSut
any apparent cause-as well as when
dogs are kindly cared for as
when neglected, as whatever debili-
tates the constitution will generate dis
temper. 1t is undoubtedly 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 cuI
being i'll but one or two days. A dog in
an advanced state of distemper is dis
posed to gnaw at or bite anything with
in reach, and is frequently subject to
epileptic fits and successive convulsive
spasms of the muscle. Other and a
different description of fits then ensue.
He staggers. tumbles, lolls, and, crying,
tears up the ground until he finally 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
fact 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 par
ticular. Any unusual behavior in the
dog should be inquired into as in the
case of child, and especially if the dog
suffers from a cold or nasal catarrh as
distemper generally commences in the
nasal membrane. The treatment'would,
of course, vary with the different breeds
and according to the age or size of the
animal but it is always proper on dis
covering the symptoms to give an emetic,
say equal parts of calomel and tartal
emetic, or, if that is not obtainable, com
mon salt will be found serviceable The
next thing to be done rs to keep the dog
well bedded, next frequent change, good
ventilation, free from draught, and i'm
provement may be expected Should
the dog grow worse, which is probable,
and his owner is solicitous for his vel
fare, a competent physician should be
consulted without delay, as the advance
of distemper is so rapid in most cases as
to preclude all chance of recovery.
; Watts, Boston.