When the patient is a small dog, the homœopathic preparation of Nux vomica is the best medicine; of this, give five grains of the trituration 3 × three times a day.
Cases of hemiplegia are sometimes very slow in mending, and it is a long time before the dog regains the proper use of his legs again; in such instances, electricity should be employed, and a blister to each side of the neck along the course of the spine applied. They should run from just behind the back of the ears to just in front of the shoulder-joint, and be from one to two inches wide, according to the size of the dog. The blisters may be repeated in about a fortnight if necessary.
Hernia:
Symptoms: It is a rupture, or protrusion of an organ from its natural position. The most common positions for rupture are the navel; here it is called Umbilical Hernia, the Groin or Inguinal Hernia, and Perineal Hernia, which shows itself by the side, or sometimes both sides, of the anus.
Treatment: The only treatment to effect a radical cure is an operation, but in the case of umbilical hernia, so long as it remains soft and small, say not larger than a hazel nut or walnut, according to the size of the patient, it may be left alone, as it does not cause any inconvenience even to a bitch required for breeding purposes. Inguinal hernia, which is only seen in bitches, and nearly always on the left side, does not cause any inconvenience so long as it remains small; but this form of hernia has a tendency to increase in size, and when such is the case, more especially if it is intended to breed from the bitch, it is advisable to submit to an operation, and, provided it is performed under aseptic conditions, is unattended with danger.
In cases of old bitches suffering from this form of hernia, when from some reason an operation is objected to, care must be taken to avoid constipation. When this is done, seldom any harm occurs unless the hernia is very large, and becomes hard and painful, caused by some obstruction of the bowel in the hernical sac. If this happens, attention is required, and means taken to reduce the hardness and swelling. This is best done by placing the bitch, if a small one, upon a person’s knees. She should be put on her back, with the head downwards, and then the swelling should be carefully manipulated and massaged until it becomes soft and can be returned into the body. In obstinate cases laudanum, from three[1] to twenty drops in water, may be given every three or four hours; and after the hernia has been reduced, a dose of aperient medicine is to be given.
The treatment of perineal hernia is always unsatisfactory. An operation is not practical, and the only thing to do is to prevent constipation, and then the dog may live for years without much discomfort. Should the hernia become hard and distended, enemas of warm salad oil are to be administered, the swelling softened by careful kneading, and the contents of the rectum evacuated by means of a greased finger or handle of a small spoon. A course of the following pills is useful in these latter cases:—
Recipe:
| Extract of Belladonna, | 2 to 6 grains.[1] |
| Powdered Nux Vomica, | 1 to 4 ” |
| Powdered Rhubarb, | 3 to 12 ” |
| Reduced Iron, | 12 to 30 ” |
| Mix. | |
Divide into 12 pills—one twice a day after food.