Carnivora. The colicy dog is very restless, changing from place to place, sitting on his haunches, lying down curled up, starting up suddenly with a yelp, and repeating the restless movements. He looks anxiously at his flank, sometimes bites at it, and cries plaintively. The bowels are usually torpid, and defecation effected with straining.
There are distinct intermissions but these are cut short by a new accession of pain.
The attack is usually transient and ends in recovery.
Treatment. Solipeds. For nervous colic the hypodermic injection of sulphate of morphia (2 grs.) is very effective. This will commonly bring relief in less than five minutes. Should there be no effect at the end of this time it may be repeated with advantage, but should a second dose fail, it is well to resort to other measures. Eserine and barium chloride are contraindicated as being liable to increase the spasm, and if there is no irritant to expel there is no object in their exhibition. The old prescriptions of laudanum and turpentine; laudanum and ether; sweet spirits of nitre with belladonna, or hyoscyamus, and other stimulants and narcotics are of little avail as they are not absorbed from the horse’s stomach and cannot operate until they have reached the duodenum. If given at all, their action may often be hastened by injecting them into the rectum.
When the morphia fails it is the safest treatment to give a moderate dose of aloes or other laxative, in combination with extract of hyoscyamus or chloral hydrate. This takes time to pass into the duodenum, and be absorbed and secreted anew in order to have its full effect, and therefore it may be necessary to keep up a moderate action of the morphia as a palliative. In four hours, however, at the latest, the aloes can be counted on to bring permanent relief. This appears to come as soon as the active principles have been absorbed, the nauseating effect operating at once on the overexcited nerve centres. The action is more perfect still when a free secretion has been started from the intestinal mucosa, and the circulation and innervation in the intestinal walls are essentially changed. This measure which was long successfully practiced and advocated by the late Joseph Gamgee, is even more perfectly adapted to the colics of indigestion and irritation, of impaction and fermentation. There are of course cases of complete obstruction in which it must fail, but it is probably the most successful method for colicy affections in general.
In addition to the above, other methods of correcting the disordered innervation are available. Active friction of the abdomen with straw wisps is often effective, also fomenting the abdomen with hot water. Simply leading the animal around acts as a nervous derivative, and may be employed to prevent his dashing himself down so suddenly as to injure himself. Then copious injections of warm water soothe the rectum, solicit its peristalsis and by sympathy affect the other intestines in the same way. They may often be made more effective by the addition of antispasmodics (extracts of belladonna or hyoscyamus or chloral hydrate).
In all cases a soft bed should be provided to secure the animal against injury in his sudden reckless movements.
Ruminants. Simple spasmodic colic is usually transient and may be successfully treated by driving around, giving copious warm water injections, and using morphia subcutem. Frictions to the abdomen with straw wisps, or with oil of turpentine should be tried. Should these fail there is a presumption of further trouble and no time should be lost in giving a laxative (Glauber salts) 1 to 2 pounds, or castor oil 1 quart, with antispasmodics and stimulants as for the horse.
Swine. The antispasmodic treatment may be tried on the pig, but usually it is well to give a purgative at once in combination with the narcotic. Castor oil 4 ounces, laudanum ½ drachm, or jalap 2 drachms, and extract of hyoscyamus 20 grains in electuary. Warm injections and embrocations to the abdomen are desirable.
Dog. It is usually well to give a purgative at once (jalap ½ drachm) with 10 to 20 drops laudanum according to size. Copious injections of warm water and a warm bath may follow. Chloral hydrate 20 to 60 grains, may be exhibited by the rectum; also ether 1 drachm, in olive oil.