Nose (Bleeding):
Symptoms: May be due to injury of the head or face. It often occurs in cases of pneumonia, and it is a symptom of a polypus in the nose or ulceration of the membrane lining the nasal passages.
Treatment: When slight, no particular treatment is required; but if persistent, the cause should be ascertained, and if possible removed. When severe, as the result of some injury, ice may be held to the bridge of the nose; and if this does not stop it, then pour or inject about fifteen drops of the solution of adrenalin diluted four times with water into one or both nostrils. It is not advisable to plug the nostrils, as it distresses a dog to breathe through his mouth.
Nursing:
The first thing to be considered in nursing a sick dog is proper quarters for the patient to live in, for in all cases of serious illnesses he should not be allowed to run loose about a house and out of doors when he likes. If a house dog, he should be put in a good, well-ventilated room, with the temperature kept at as near 60 degs. F. as possible. Of course, in very hot weather that cannot be done, but as much air as possible must be given by keeping the windows wide open during the summer months. In winter or cold weather, the temperature of the room should be kept up to 60 degs. F. by means of artificial heat—an ordinary fire is best; failing this, a paraffin stove—avoid a gas stove if possible. Of course, with dogs who are in the habit of living out of doors it is different; but even with them, dry, large, well-lighted and ventilated, comfortable quarters, free from draughts, are absolutely necessary if the patient is to have a fair chance, and the temperature of the place should be kept up to 55 degs. F. A loose box in a stable that is kept clean makes a capital place; but unless the stable is kept very clean, it smells of ammonia, which is fatal to a dog suffering from distemper, because pneumonia and bad eyes are sure to develop.
Sick dogs should always be kept separate. It is a great mistake to put three or four together.
As to diet for patients, see article on [Invalid Food]; when they will not take food voluntarily, a small quantity, varying according to size of dog, must be given often, about every two hours or oftener, day and night. It is useless to feed a dog well for sixteen hours, and to leave him to chance for eight. It is often during the night, when the system is at its lowest, that a little good nourishing food, with some stimulant, is most wanted; and it is this attention that saves the patient in many cases.
The preparation of food is most important. It should either be done by one’s self, or under the personal superintendence of a responsible person. All milk food should be made fresh three times a day, and any that is left over should be thrown away. All feeding utensils must be kept scrupulously clean, and the spoon, bottle, or feeding-cup that is used for food or medicine should be washed and dried immediately after being used, ready for next time. The cooking utensils also must be kept scrupulously clean. If these things are not attended to, diarrhœa and sickness result, and the patient is weakened, and perhaps has a relapse. Also keep the sick dog scrupulously clean. Each time after feeding clean his lips with a little weak solution of Condy’s fluid on a pad of cotton-wool—which should be thrown away immediately after using—and dry with soft cloth; also cleanse the fundament and prepuce once a day with the same preparation, and keep the eyes free of discharge with a little weak boracic acid lotion, and also clean the teeth with a weak solution of permanganate of potash. This is very important.
As well as attending to the patient, the room or kennel requires frequent attention. Do not make the air stuffy with strong disinfectants, but it is a good plan to sprinkle the floor, whether a kennel or room, with pine sawdust, and if the flooring be wood, to cover it over with sheets of old newspapers, which may be covered with sawdust, and then all evacuation can be carried away and burnt, for when a dog is very ill he ought not to be allowed to go out. There are some dogs who are so clean that they will not make themselves comfortable in a room, and it becomes absolutely necessary to let them out rather than make them worse by keeping them in. But a dog may be kept for some hours, twelve or even sixteen, to see if he will not give way. Once he has relieved himself in the room, and finds he is not scolded, he gains confidence, and is not so particular in the future. To make an obstinate dog do what is necessary in a room, especially when the weather is bad, and when perhaps it would be fatal to let him out, I give either a dose of aperient medicine or an enema, which invariably has the desired effect.