Symptoms: Increased action of the heart; if bad, it beats with a thumping action, shaking the whole body, the dog is restless and pants, and may in some cases faint.
Treatment: Put the dog on a raw meat diet for a time, and avoid violent exertion, but the dog may have regular walking exercise. Give aperient medicine and a course of the following mixture:—
Recipe:
| Tincture of Digitalis, | 90 minims. |
| Bromide Potassium, | 120 grains. |
| Water to | 6 ounces. |
From one teaspoonful[1] to a tablespoonful to be given three times a day one hour after food.
Paralysis:
Symptoms: Not uncommon after distemper, and may follow fits; injury to the back and rheumatics are frequently the cause. More often seen in dachshunds than other dogs. The whole body may be affected, including all four legs, but the back part of the body, including the two hind legs, is the favourite seat of the disease. The dog is unable to stand, but drags the back legs after him when he moves. The bowels are constipated, and the dog is unable to pass water, though later it may dribble away. The dog may not be ill in himself, and will generally take his food. When the seat of the mischief is in the brain, all four limbs are useless, and the dog lies on his side in a miserable, helpless condition, often even being unable to raise his head from the ground.
Treatment: The condition of the bowels and bladder must first be attended to. Aperient medicine should be given, and if it does not act in a few hours, an enema of warm soapy water (from two tablespoonfuls[1] to half a pint) administered, and repeated in a couple of hours if it does not operate. The urine must be drawn off with a catheter if relief cannot be obtained by pressure over the seat of the bladder. This, as a rule, is sufficient, and should be repeated two or three times a day, until the dog is able to relieve himself. If a catheter has to be used, twice a day should do, but care must be taken to keep the instrument very clean. It is a good plan to keep it lying in a saturated solution of boracic acid when not in use.
When the paralysis is the result of an injury, do not give any medicine at first, except a purgative, but keep the patient quiet and allow time for the injured parts to heal. If there seems much pain—and there is sometimes when there has been an injury—give two or three times a day from three[1] to fifteen drops of liquor morphia in a little water. Do not let the dog lie always on one side, but change him over about every six hours. If in about a week there are no signs of movement, or return of strength in the legs, give the following pills:—
Recipe: