Treatment: Return the protruding part as quickly as possible. This is best done by holding the dog up with the hind legs, and then after vaselining the part, applying firm pressure with the fingers, and the prolapsus will slip in. This is very simple and easy, but the difficulty is to keep it in. There are several ways of trying to do this, but first of all give a small enema, from one[1] to four teaspoonfuls of thick boiled starch, with from five[1] to twenty drops of laudanum to stop the straining. In a recent case this may have the desired effect, and the prolapsus not return; if it does, then it must be put back as before, and to keep the bowel in, a couple of strong sutures should be placed through the anus, one from above downward, and the other crossways, or what is called a purse-string suture may be inserted. Another way is by inserting and fixing in the bowel by means of tapes the lower insertion portion of an enema tube, the tapes should be passed across the outside of the thighs, then crossed under the belly and tied over the back. But often, in spite of every care and treatment, the dog will keep straining and force the bowel out time after time. In such cases, the only thing to do is to remove the prolapsus by operation. This operation requires a considerable amount of care, or fatal hæmorrhage may occur, or the peritoneal cavity may be opened and peritonitis set up.
Apoplexy:
Symptoms: Generally affects old dogs. Suddenly falling to the ground, convulsions, loss of consciousness. Tongue generally turns dark in colour, eyes prominent and congested. May be in an unconscious state for some time. Paralysis to a more or less extent may follow. Sometimes the head is only held on one side from muscles of neck being paralysed: blindness may result.
Treatment: Free purge from one[1] teaspoonful to four tablespoonfuls castor oil, mixed with half the quantity of syrup buckthorn. Put dog in hot bath and apply ice to head. If convulsions are severe, give bromide of potassium and hydrated chloral. From two grains to one scruple of the former, and half the quantity of the latter, with water. Repeat every three or four hours until convulsions cease. Do not attempt to force anything down the dog’s throat whilst in convulsions or unconscious, and if this continues some time, give double dose of the medicines by enema.
Diet: Liquid food, milk with bread or Sanatogen, and light soup with bread or toast.
Appendicitis:
This disease, strictly speaking, does not occur in the dog as there is no appendix to the cæcum—but they do occasionally suffer from inflammation of this part.
Symptoms: Tenderness or pain over the seat of the cæcum, which is about the centre of the abdomen; vomiting and diarrhœa, or even dysentery; sometimes bowels constipated. Temperature often rises two or three degrees. Loss of appetite. In some cases the cæcum may be easily felt, and is generally hard and swollen when inflamed.
Treatment: Rest and free administration of laudanum, from two[1] to fifteen drops, given in water every four or six hours.