The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-22
CORRECT DIAGNOSIS
is HALF THE BATTLE
Every Dog Owner Should BE
Able to Distinguish the
COmmOner Diseases.
ARE EASY TO DISCOVER

The question Of correctly diagnosing
canine disease Is one that should in
terest every fancier and is a subject
upon which writers OF veterinary works
generally do not touch. Fully SO per
cent. of a correct determination OF a
disease depends upon the history OF the
case and a history OF the conditions
that probably CAUSED the sickness. An.
other important point which should be
brought to the minds OF fanciers Is that
they should be perfectly SURE Of what
the dog IL suffering from before they
start TO administer medicine or give
treatment.
In puppies the first thing 10 loo for
Is worms, II when a puppy Is not do
ing well In nine cases out OF ten this
will be found 10 be the cause. The
symptoms which point directly toward
the presence OF internal parasites are
a hot. dry nose, bad breath, sharp. hack
ing cough. eating dirt and other refus-,
changeabfe appetite. signs OF cole or
Indigestion. nervousness, rertl-ssness
disturbed sleep. em~aciation. lips and
gums pale and bloodless and dlarrhpa.
The passage of worms or parts Of them
Of course is a sure sign.
II a dog after returning from a show
shows signs OF a bad cold, with nose
complications. such a. sneezing, cough
ing. nose running and a thin, watery
discharge from the eyes. II he gets into
the darkest corners OF the kennel or
room, IL he seems cold and sticks close
to the fire. II his skin IL hot. dry and
feverish. II ne is consumed with a burn
ing thirst. II the eyes become blood
shot. then 1t is high time 20 prepare
for distemper. As the disease advances.
the discharges from the eyes and nose
thiCken. the cough increases, the nose
passages are stopped up and the breath
becomes offensive, me eyes close up,
the lips and skin break out In sruptiou-
vomiting white, foamy matter starts, and
the whole body gives OF a peculiar odor
so familiar to the disease. In extreme
cases the animal is seized with convul-
sions. which take place one after the
other in rapid succession till the weak
ened animal dies apparently from eS-
haustion.
After distemper the next thing to
look out for Is ChOrea, which can be
readily told by the apparent twitchins
Of certain sets Of muscles. The muscles
Of the neck, shoulder and legs are most
frequently affected, and as this is not a
d ficult disease to discover the passing
notice will be enough to show that tho
dog has become affected,
rheumatism is a great deal more COM
mon in dogs han il usually supposed
and follows exposure In damp weather,
damp or draughty kennels or wet sleep
ing quarters. The symptoms are s,iH-
ness and soreness, inability TO move
about without suffering muscular pain
or standing all hunched up as IL with a
cramp IN the stomach,
II a dog after being exposed sits with
his front legs braced and far apart. his
head held in an unnatural position and
breathes with a great deal OF diff Guilty
pneumonia may be looked for. which can
be distinguished easily from pleurisy, as
In the latter pressure on the walls of the
lungs causes pain, Constipation and its
opposite, diarrhDa, are readily detected.
A dog suffering with the former will often
pull himself across the room on his
stomach g%roaning with great pain. In
diarrhPa excessive thirst, vomiting, re-
fusal TO eat and rapid wasting and ema-
citation are signs OF a severe case.
Jaundice will sometimes be found In
house dogs that are fed a great deal OF
rich, greasy food When this Is the
trouble the dog will want to lie around
listlessly, rapidly loses flesh and the parts
OF the body not covered with hair under
the legs, lips and gums. sc. assume a
yellowlsh hue. While this disease can be
detected easily IL is hard TO cure.
Goitre. warts and cankers are all only
too well known 10 the kennel owner and
ere easily distinguished. Mango and
eczema are often hard for the novice 10
tell apart. The former generally makes
its appearance under the elbows, on the
chest, behind the ears or at the root OF
the tail. 1t is caused by the mango tick
burrowing under the skin and multiply
ing with amazing rapidity. Mango is not
a serious disease as far as the health OF
the dog goes, but II IS most contagious
and should he treated upon the first
signs of the dog being affected. Eczema,
on the other hand, Is a skin trouble that
- difficult to cure n no time should he
lost when II first makes It's appearance
In trying to check II. The first symp-
toms OF eczema Is an infamed condition
OF the skin, which seems TO itch and
causes the dog to scratch, After this the
hair starts 10 fan out n scabs form
over the body.
While fits are ny no means uncommon
their symptoms are only too well known
Ia any one who has had extended ,xperi-
ehce with dogs. Indigestion, colds
watery eyes and other minor m. also
have symptoms that cannot be mistaken.