Causes.—General Debility, brought on by want of food; diarrhea suddenly checked; damp lodgings. It may follow various diseases, such as inflammation of the lungs, or retroceding skin disorders; or be caused by a diseased state of the mesenteric glands, or of the liver.
Symptoms.—Ascites is accompanied by enlargement of the abdomen; the water is sometimes collected in the abdominal cavity; at other times it is between the skin and the peritoneum; in the former case there is not that tense feeling which characterizes the latter. The presence of water may be ascertained by resting one hand on one side of the abdomen and striking the other side, when fluctuation will be felt. Water in the chest is accompanied by oppressed breathing and cough; both symptoms are aggravated by lying down. In either form of the disease there is loss of appetite, disinclination to move, the urine is passed in small quantities, the dog loses flesh and becomes weak.
Treatment.—H. H., by increasing the action of the kidneys, is often efficient, a dose once in three hours. If not efficient, alternate I. I., with the H. H., at the same intervals.
Abscess
Definition.—A collection of matter, generally appearing between the skin and the cellular tissue—occasionally close to the joint, and rarely (in the dog) upon some internal organ. It may appear on any part of the body.
Causes.—Injuries are the chief causes of abscesses in the dog, but they sometimes appear from weakness after certain diseases, especially distemper. When internal abscesses form, they are due to too great care, too high feeding, or want of sufficient exercise.
Symptoms.—A swelling appears, which is hot, painful and inflamed; it increases in size, and finally bursts, when the matter is discharged. In other cases there is but little heat or tenderness, and the swelling increases slowly, and is occasionally hardened. If hardening takes place, instead of suppuration, there is usually a sub-cutaneous fungoid growth.
Treatment.—The I. I., is the remedy for such forms of disease, and may be given, a dose of from one to three drops, according to the size of the dog, three or four times per day.
Accessory Treatment.—If an abscess appears to be forming, the part should be narrowly examined to ascertain if there has been any injury from a thorn, etc. If anything is found, it must be at once carefully removed, and Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel or Veterinary Oil applied to the part. This, if attended to in time, will often prevent the formation of the abscess. But if the swelling continue, and it is certain that pus is forming, it will be hastened by fomenting the part with warm water, three or four times a day; if the swelling has increased in size and becomes softer, but does not break, it will be necessary to open it with a lancet or sharp pen-knife.