Symptoms.—The disease begins with irritation of the skin, which causes the dog to be continually scratching; from inflamed patches a serous fluid exudes, which mats the hair and forms scabs; these fall off together, leaving the skin bare, inflamed, red, and discharging a thin, watery fluid. This fluid dries in thin scales, which cause considerable irritation. The scabs and scales are scratched and rubbed by the dog, and are thus aggravated till pustular and vesicular eruptions give the appearance of general ulceration. The patch usually occurs on the back, at the root of the tail, outer surface of thighs or rump.
In other cases, in fat, over-fed animals, the skin is devoid of hair, is greatly thickened (especially along the back or before the tail), and is almost devoid of sensation. The dog is very foul, and smells very offensively; the skin is wrinkled, chapped, cracked, ulcerated, emitting disgusting serum or pus; thick, yellowish crusts are formed; and the dog lies dull all day long, sleeping, licking, scratching, biting its sore places, a disgusting object to look at.
The disease may be confined to certain parts, when it receives the name of the part attacked. In sporting dogs there is frequently an eczematous eruption between the toes and at the roots of the nails, which causes redness, swelling and tenderness of the feet, together with lameness.
Puppies almost invariably inherit the disease when it has occurred on one of the parents.
As it is a constitutional disease, its duration is uncertain, its cure difficult, and its return probable.
Treatment.—In old cases, give the I.I., each morning, and the J.K., at night, and anoint, once per day, the sore, rough or scabby places, with Zinc Ointment. In urgent recent cases, the remedies above referred to may be given, four doses in a day. But in general the treatment first named will suffice.
Accessory Means.—Strict attention must be given to diet; flesh must be utterly prohibited, except in the case of weak puppies, or when the disease has occasioned great debility, and then broth will be better than solid flesh. To gross dogs a few days’ abstinence will do no harm; they may thus become willing to take boiled rice, which should be offered fresh every day; but if declined, withdrawn at once. If the dog refuse to eat more than three days, an ounce or two of meat (according to his size) may be given to keep him alive, without satisfying his hunger. Vegetable or farinaceous food should still be offered sparingly, and when taken, the morsels of flesh should be discontinued. Do no more washing than is necessary. Dirt scabs, etc., should be removed with olive oil. The dog’s bed should be repeatedly changed, and his kennel well ventilated; he should have free, moderate exercise in the open air, and be fully supplied with fresh water.
Boils—Furuncles
Boils, which may appear on any part of the body, are small, round, red, hard, painful tumors, with raised centers, from which they supperate. When ripe, the boil should be opened and the pus pressed out. Warm fomentations will hasten the ripening.
Treatment.—Give A.A., a dose three times per day, one to three drops, according to the size of the dog. If the boil is red and painful, apply Humphreys’ Veterinary Oil, two or three times per day. The boils should be opened when they have come to a head.