Symptoms: A general increase of the fatty constituents of the body; the neck becomes thick and seems shorter; the body is enlarged, especially the abdomen, which is hard and distended. The dog walks with difficulty, is constantly panting, and often has an asthmatical cough. The heart’s action is generally weak and feeble.
Treatment: More good is to be done by dieting in these cases than medicine, and often great benefit is derived by feeding sparingly and entirely on lean raw meat. As to quantity, this, of course, must depend on the size of the dog, but if half the quantity in bulk is given to what the dog has been in the habit of having, this should be about the right amount. Feed twice a day. Also give, at least once a week, a dose of purgative medicine, and make the dog take some exercise, which should be gradually increased. Do not allow the dog to drink much water.
Stye:
Symptoms: A small hard red swelling on the edge of the eyelid. This condition sometimes occurs in dogs during or after distemper.
Treatment: It can often be cured at once during the early stages by extracting the eyelash around the roots of which the stye has formed. If treated later, the parts should be fomented with hot poppy-head tea, with the addition of boracic acid. This should be made by boiling for ten minutes two crushed poppy-heads in a quart of water, then strain through fine muslin and add a dessertspoonful of boracic acid. Apply with piece of absorbent wool for ten or fifteen minutes as hot as can comfortably be borne. Repeat three or four times a day.
Suffocation:
Symptoms: Those of interruption to breathing. May be the result of partial drowning, also from a piece of food or some foreign body being fixed in the fauces or throat. The dog gasps for breath; the eyes are staring and prominent; the mouth is generally fixed open, and the tongue is of a dark blue colour.
Dogs are often suffocated in hot weather whilst travelling, through being shut up in a too small or badly-ventilated box. As a rule, such cases are not found out until the dog arrives at his destination, when the box is opened, and he is found lying dead at the bottom of it. Sometimes the dog is not quite dead, though unconscious. The breathing is very slow and shallow; the pulse imperceptible. The body is cold, and the tongue a dark blue colour.
Treatment: At once remove the cause if possible. If some foreign body or food is lodged in the throat, it must be removed—brought up or pushed down. If no forceps are at hand, one can often remove the substance with the finger, bent in the form of a hook. If it cannot be brought up, it must be pushed down, so that the breathing may be relieved as quickly as possible. If the dog is unconscious, dash cold and hot water alternately on the face; slap the body hard with the hand. If the suffocation is due to partial drowning, artificial respiration is necessary. (See [article on that subject].)
In cases, the result of insufficient air, take the dog out into the open, that he may have as much air as possible. Hold from one to three drops[1] of nitrate of amyl upon a piece of blotting-paper or handkerchief to the nose; repeat in ten or fifteen minutes. Well hand-rub and work the limbs to promote circulation; and if not soon better, bleed rather freely from the jugular vein if possible; if not, then from both ears.