When an animal shows signs of illness, it should be immediately cared for. The horse, unless in cases of very slight Colic, or other ailment, when the medicine be given at once, and his work continued, should be placed in a roomy, convenient and warm stall, well littered, with plenty of dry bedding, and well blanketed, unless in very warm weather. Cattle, Sheep and Hogs, as soon as it is noticed that they are sick, should be separated from the herd or flock, and placed in comfortable, well littered and especially dry apartments. This is necessary not only to prevent disease spreading to other stock on the farm, but for the convenience of nursing them, giving them medicines, and also to place them in the very best position for a cure. Often a little timely care and nursing will save and restore an animal, which, if permitted to run with the stock, and take its chance, would unquestionably be lost. A sick animal as truly needs attention as a sick child. Not always will mere nursing restore a sick animal, but it always places it in the best possible condition to effect a cure, and without it the best medical treatment will often be fruitless.
Diet of Sick Animals
In general, when animals are seriously ill, they are without appetite, and will take little or no food—nature thus indicating the propriety of abstinence. But in all cases the food given or allowed should be quite limited in quantity—one-half, one-third or fourth of the usual quantity, and only that which is nourishing, easily digested, and generally relaxing. With these general restrictions, the usual kinds of food may be permitted, except in the case of dogs, where only stale bread and milk should be allowed in urgent cases, and but little or no meat, and no salted or spiced food in any case. After the more urgent symptoms of disease have passed over, and the animal is recovering, we should be careful and not give full feed, as a relapse may thus easily be provoked, and prove very stubborn and dangerous.
At least half an hour or an hour should intervene after taking a dose of medicine before the animal should be fed as the system is more susceptible then than at any other time.
To evacuate the bowels—injections of water, soap and water, or salt and water are always allowable, and may often be used with great benefit. They are usually administered without difficulty, in no case injurious, and should one fail to produce an evacuation, another or more may be repeated, until the result is accomplished.
How to Feel the Pulse
In the horse, this is best done by placing the finger on the artery, where it passes over the lower jaw, about four inches below its angle. Place the forefinger on the side of the lower jaw at its angle, and trace the jaw along gently towards the mouth. Some four inches below the angle a notch will be found, in which the artery passes over the jaw, and the throbbing of the pulse will be readily felt. Some attention may be required as the pulse beats in health slowly, and often apparently indistinctly.
The pulse makes in the healthy horse from thirty-six to forty-two beats per minute; in spirited lighter horses the latter, and in heavy older horses the former. When the pulse reaches fifty to fifty-five, there is some degree of fever. Seventy-five will indicate a dangerous condition, and few horses will long survive a pulse of one hundred. Care should be taken not to excite an animal before or while examining the pulse, as it may thus readily be increased ten or fifteen beats to the minute, and mislead as to the true condition.
In cattle the temple is the best place to feel the pulse and usually runs forty-five to fifty beats per minute.
In sheep and hogs the femoral artery which extends across the inside of the thigh is most easily felt. This should run seventy to eighty for both sheep and hogs.