Symptoms: May be the sequel of an acute attack or a less severe chill, and sometimes it is caused by gravel. There is tenderness over the loins; the urine may be tinged with blood, or after passing water, which may look quite clear and normal, the dog continues to strain, and a few drops of blood escape and some mucus.
Treatment: A milk diet is important in these cases; it may be given with rice, tapioca, Force, or bread. Red meat must be avoided, but tripe and fish may be allowed. Vichy water mixed with equal parts of plain water should be given to drink; and a course of hyposulphite of soda, as recommended in acute inflammation, should be given, but only two or three times a day. If gravel or a stone is suspected, a course of boro-citrate of magnesia with bicarbonate of potash is advised. The dose of the former is five[1] to thirty grains, and of the latter from two[1] to fifteen grains mixed with the food twice a day, and be continued for some time.
Lactation (Defective):
Symptoms: A small supply or total suppression of the mammary secretion.
Treatment: Give a raw meat diet, and stimulate the glands by massage; also encourage the bitch to drink plenty of fine oatmeal gruel.
Lactation (Excessive):
Symptoms: Excessive secretion of milk. The glands are swollen, hard, and painful, and the milk often dribbles away. It may occur before the puppies are born, or just after; and it often happens to a maiden bitch to have a large secretion of milk, which shows itself about seven or eight weeks after heat, and which lasts five or six weeks. A maiden bitch in this condition is very restless and wretched. She appears to be always looking for puppies. She will walk about with her tail down, crying, and occasionally scratches and rakes at her bed, and twists round and round as if making a nest.
Treatment: In the first instance, rub the glands with warm salad oil to soften them, and draw some milk off night and morning. In the second case, simply draw some of the milk off, and avoid if possible putting anything on the glands, in case you should injure the puppies or put them off their feed. In the case of bitches having milk who have not been pregnant, purgative medicine—castor oil is the best—should be given once or twice a week, and the glands rubbed with camphorated spirits, or dabbed with a lotion made with two tablespoonfuls of gin and half a pint of water. When the milk collects in large quantities as to cause discomfort, it must be drawn off; but this should be avoided if possible, as it has a tendency to stimulate secretion. Give the food dry; biscuits are the best.
It is most important to thoroughly attend to maiden bitches when in this condition, otherwise the milk curdles and becomes hard, and this is the commencement of mammary tumours.