SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS IN DOGS AND CATS.
These follow in the main those of consumptive cattle. As the infection generally enters with food, the early symptoms often point to disease of the throat and alimentary tract, while the later ones involve those of the respiratory organs as well. Impaired and capricious appetite, debility, early exhaustion under exertion, emaciation, sunken pallid eyes, apathetic expression of the face, lack of life and gaiety, a knotted feeling of the abdomen if the region is flaccid, and a tense fluctuating sensation if ascitic, with usually enlargement of the superficial lymph glands are noticeable.
When the chest becomes affected there is the hurried breathing, quickly encreased by exertion, panting, paroxysmal cough, wheezing, and the various morbid râles in the chest, crepitant, friction, creaking, blowing, cavernous, mucous, etc. On percussion, flatness is detected in limited areas in a number of centres. Expectoration is usually promptly swallowed and can only be secured with difficulty for examination.
When tuberculous sores and fistulæ occur in the region of the throat or elsewhere, the evidence is patent and the bacilli can easily be found in the discharges.
In cats the course and symptoms do not materially differ. In both animals the history usually shows the connection of house life and the habit of eating after tuberculous persons.