| Powdered Boracic Acid, | 10 grains. |
| Camphorated Chalk, | 1 ounce. |
| Well mix. | |
Removing the tartar from a tooth that is somewhat loose does not tighten it, though it preserves the tooth, and for a time often prevents it becoming looser. It is impossible to remove tartar from a very loose tooth, and for the dog’s comfort, it should be extracted at once.
Temperature:
To know the temperature of the body is very important in treating disease, more especially in cases of distemper; for it is a fact that so long as a dog does not have a high temperature when suffering from this complaint, the attack is not a severe one, and the dog, bar accident or relapse, has a good chance of recovery. When the temperature is high, say, 104 or 105, and continues so for some days, the case is always a serious one, and if it continues, complications, especially those of the nervous system, are almost sure to ensue. These remarks not only refer to distemper, but to all other diseases in which a high temperature is one of the symptoms; as, for instance, inflammation of the womb, blood poisoning, pneumonia, peritonitis, diseases of the brain, formation of abscesses, etc.
In many cases it is not necessary to take much notice of the temperature beyond watching it carefully, and keeping a daily record of its rising and falling, but when it keeps persistently high, say, such as over 104, then special medicine must be given to try and reduce it. There are many medicines which have the power of reducing the temperature, and when they are going to have a good effect they generally work quickly, and if they do not succeed in reducing the temperature, say, within forty-eight hours, they should not be persevered in, as then they only do harm.
Antipyrin, in doses from two[1] to ten grains, given in a cachet, is one of the best antipyretics. Phenacetin, given in doses varying from half a grain[1] to five grains; salicylate of soda, aspirin and salicine, in doses from two to fifteen grains[1] in a cachet, tablet, or dissolved in water, and repeated three or four times a day.
In some cases when these fail, salicylate of quinine will have the desired effect, in doses from one[1] to five grains, given in a cachet. If this fails to reduce the temperature, then an ice-bag may be tried, applied to the top of the head for an hour at a time, and then all medicines discontinued. A little brandy, say, from five drops[1] to a teaspoonful, given in water or milk every two, three, or four hours is advisable.
A very low temperature, say, when the thermometer will not rise above 95 degs. F., is much more dangerous than a very high temperature. In such cases, prompt measures must be taken to try and warm the animal. Hot sponges should be applied to the head; also hot-water bottles applied to the back and to the feet. From five[1] to twenty drops of sulphuric ether may be given every hour or so, in from a teaspoonful[1] to a tablespoonful of water. Strong coffee may also be given, from a teaspoonful[1] to a tablespoonful, repeated every half hour. If the dog is very much collapsed, and unable to swallow, strong coffee may be given as an enema, say, from a dessertspoonful[1] to two ounces, and repeated every half hour. Brandy may also be given, injected under the skin, say, from ten drops[1] to a teaspoonful, or very minute doses of strychnine may be given, from the four hundredth part of a grain[1] for a small dog to the one hundred and fiftieth part of a grain for a large one. This medicine may be given dissolved in from two[1] to ten drops of tincture digitalis.
In such cases as these the dog must be given, if he will swallow, small doses of some strong beef essence, as from ten drops[1] to a teaspoonful of Valentine’s beef juice, in from a teaspoonful[1] to a tablespoonful of milk, and repeated every half hour or so.