Cause.—Insufficient exercise, overfeeding or feeding decomposed or irritating foods. Dogs are predisposed to indigestion as they frequently swallow a large quantity of indigestible food without masticating it. Poor care and exposure to cold also frequently produce Constipation.
Symptoms.—Constipation is often a complication of other diseases, the feces is dry-looking and may be more or less covered with a mucus. A prominent symptom is straining, attempts to defecate, the appetite is greatly impaired, the dog acts dull and stands with the head down or goes off to some quiet place and lies down. Protrusion of the rectum or piles may occur, especially if the animal has eaten freely of dry, indigestible food. Colicky pains are sometimes manifested. Constipation occurring from causes other than a complication of diseases seldom takes on a serious form.
Treatment.—When a dog becomes constipated, all dry, indigestible food should be withheld. A soft, easily digested diet should be fed sparingly and a liberal supply of water allowed. In some cases it is well to exercise the dog. A physic of two to four ounces of Castor Oil should be given, but overdosing with physics avoided. The action of the physic should be assisted by injecting into the rectum warm, soapy water. Tonics which assist digestion by stimulating secretions of the bowels, should be administered, as Ferri Sulphate, one-half dram; Quinine, one-half dram; Pulv. Nux Vomica, one-half dram; Gentian Root, one dram. Mix and make into twelve capsules and give one capsule three or four times a day.
The above treatment must be persisted in until the constipated condition is relieved.
DIARRHOEA AND DYSENTERY
Cause.—Among the common causes of Diarrhoea and Dysentery can be mentioned irritating foods, sudden change in feed, decomposed matter, irritation from intestinal worms, imperfect mastication of food and its imperfect preparation for digestion, eating more food than the digestive organs can well digest, debilitated condition and irritation from indigestible food. The immediate cause is perhaps the irritated condition of the mucous membranes lining the intestines and a profuse secretion from the intestinal glands, nature’s own method of removing poisonous or infectious matter from the digestive canal.
Symptoms.—Undue amount of liquid feces, the dog weakly and sickly, the coat staring and perhaps a sort of curdled fluid passes with the feces. If the fecal matter is tinged with blood, then it is called Dysentery, and this is more serious than common Diarrhoea. These conditions are generally associated with other diseases and should be examined very carefully for complications.
Treatment.—Treatment consists of keeping the dog as quiet as possible, feed sparingly on clean, easily digested food, as raw eggs, etc. It may be necessary to give a dose of physic, as Castor Oil in two to four ounce doses which is an excellent remedy for expelling irritants from the bowels without griping. After the cause or irritant from within the intestines is removed administer Protan, one-half ounce; Gum Catechu, one-half ounce; Zinc Sulphocarbolates, two grains. Make into sixteen capsules and give one capsule every four hours. This dose is prepared for a dog weighing forty pounds. To larger dogs or puppies give the same medicine in doses proportionate to their weight.
DISTEMPER
Cause.—Is due to a specific bacteria that is developed spontaneously, although I am of the opinion that insanitary surroundings, as dark, damp, ill-ventilated quarters play a very active part in its causation as well as food that is decomposed, contaminated or deficient in nitrogenous matter, or any condition that has a tendency to weaken the dog’s constitution.