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Dog Bowel sickness, dogs inflammation of the small intestine. Also called Enteritis; Peritonitis.
Dog Bowel Inflammation
BOWELS, INFLAMMATION OF (Enteritis; Peritonitis). This is so ably treated by DALZIEL, and by experience I know it to be good, that I here reproduce his article in full. The best plan, however, is to at once send for a veterinarian, providing you have one who understands or has made a specialty of treating dogs anyhow, get the best one in your locality and dont stop to think of what it will cost. For you owe it to your dog to help him out of his trouble if such a thing is possible. "The severity and very dangerous character of this disease in the dog is such that .perhaps the very best advice that can be given to the amateur who finds his valuable dog attacked by it is, send for a qualified veterinary surgeon without delay. The owner may, however, be possessed of sufficient self-confidence as to wish to try his own skill in treating the disease, or the animal may not be considered of sufficient value to Incur the expense of employing a professional man, although there may ne every desire to save the animal's life; and if I can help in any such commendable endeavor without encouraging useless and ignorant experiments at the cost of torture to the dog, I shall feel that I have been of some little service. Whatever course Is determined on, whether home treatment or the calling in of professional aid, the decision should not be taken till the symptoms have been carefully ana minutely observed, and the greatest attention must be paid to them, else thw< Js every fear of the amateur confounding it with and treating it as colic, a disease which, although strongly resembling inflammation in some of its symptoms, differs widely in others, and requires totally different treatment. Colic, if neglected or if wrongly treated, may, and frequently does, end in inflammation, but it is in itself a distinct ailment, and the same remark equally appliesto constipation or obstruction of the bowels. As inflammation of the bowels or enteritis is one of the most fatal diseases to which the dog is liable frequently carrying him off very quickly no half measures will do for it; but, having ascertained clearly from the prevailing symptoms that the disease is actually present, remedial measures must be adopted with promptitude and energy. The main causes of the disease are irregular or improper diet, or it may be irritation caused by the dog having swallowed some hard indigestible substance; exposure to cold and wet may produce it, and it is sometimes the result of ill-usage, such as a kick. "Inflammation of the bowels may bo distinguished from colic in being more gradual in its approach, and is always ushered in by general feverishness; the nose IB hot and dry, the eyes red and inflamed, and the whole countenance is expressive of great artxiety; shivering fits occur, the belly is hard and distended, and the surface hot to the touch; the urine is generally scanty and high colored. As in colic, when standing, the back is arched, the feet are drawn in toward each other, and the tail is tightly tucked between the legs, or the dog may steal into a quiet corner, etretch his legs out before and behind, and crouch with his belly on the ground, probably finding temporary relief by bringing it in contact with the cold floor or ground; the dog may, at the same time, be observed to frequently turn an anxious face toward his flanks. "Another safe and pretty certain way of distinguishing between enteritis and simple obstruction or colic is by pressing the hand along the belly; in the latter disease, especially colic, the rubbing gives relief, whereas in inflammation it evidently causes acute pain; the cry of pain given by the dog in this disease is shorter arid sharper than the rather prolonged howl in colic, but to distinguish by this symptom would require finer discrimination than can be reasonably expected from the comparatively inexperienced, for whom I presume to write. I may here mention the fact that enteritis is very commonly a complication of that 'scourge of the kennel/ distemper, and this fact alone sufficiently shows the folly of trusting to any single medicine, pill, powder, potion, or any so-called specific whatever for the cure of that disease. The treatment proper in the disease under consideration consists in getting the bowels relieved as speedily as possible by the mildest means that can be used, constipation being generally present; for this purpose the use of clysters every fifteen minutes, as recommended in obstruction of the bowels, should be resorted to, and the injections must be used gently and with as little fuss and annoyance to the patient as possible. When the clysters begin to take effect, the evacuation of the bowels should be assisted by a dose of castor oil. From six to twelve leeches, according to the size and strength of the dog, should be applied to the belly, and after they have filled themselves the bleeding from the bites may be encouraged 'by bathing the whole surrounding parts freely and continuously with warm water. Many of the best writers on dogs recommend giving calomel and opium combined, and it may appear presumptuous in me to offer a contrary opinion, but experientia docet. I have given calomel to dogs in this disease and many others, but I do not think I ever once gave it without making the patient worse; so I have long discarded it, in the firm belief that it is not a medicine at all suited to the dog, and I am quite certain from my own experience, and feel sure the best veterinarians will bear me out, that the abusive use of calomel and other forms of mercury, given too often in immense and poisonous doses to the dog, by country farriers and others ignorant of its properties, and who work by the rule of thumb, is not infrequently the cause of inflammation of the bowels. Instead of calomel, I have in several cases used the following with excellent effect Take true James' Powder 3 grains Powdered Opium ^ grain In one powder. Give every two hours till three are given; large-sized dogs require double that dose. "If happily the dog gets over the attack, with signs of returning health great weakness will be evident, and this must be met by good nursing and a generous,, but easily assimilated, diet. Beef tea, thickened, with bread, rice, etc., will answer well. The diet must be so varied as to keep the bowels open without the use of medicine." When well on the road to health progress will be accelerated by giving Clayton's, Dent's or Sergeant's Condition Pills for a while. To allay the pain, give 5 gr. To 10 gr. Of chloral, with 5 to 30 drops of tincture of opium; also apply hot flannels to the abdomen. The following treatise on this trouble was *vritten especially for this book by DENT. "An affection of the small intestines. This disease is of the most dangerous Character and unfortunately prevalent. It will carry off a dog in a few hours, and in its treatment there is always danger of its being confounded with common colic, which is, as a rule, not fatal. The diseases can be distinguished from each other as follows: Colic comes on quickly and is relieved by rubbing the stomach the pain is more intense and spasmodic. Enteritis comes on mere slowly with greater general depression , the pain is continuous and is increased by rubbing the stomach.
Causes of Dog Intestine Gut Inflammation The common cause of inflammation of the small intestines is the reeding of an improper diet, the indigestible substances setting up an irritation that inflames the delicate lining of the bowels. Cold, exposure, wet, blows, kicks, or anything that will injure the small intestines. The parts affected in this disease are ah'o causes. This disease is also a common complication of distemper. Symptoms of Dog Intestine Gut Inflammation This disease is always ushered in by feverishness, the eyes are red and swollen, nose hot and dry, mouth sticky, the belly is hard, tense and hot to the touch, the patient has frequent shivering fits, and the countenance is most expressive of pain and anxiety. The animal will steal away into some corner and stretch itself out on the floor so as to bring the belly next to the cool floor or ground, and in this way may be relieved, turning his head every few moments and look at its Hanks. When standing the tail is tucked between its legs, all four feet are drawn in toward each other, and the back is arched. Treatment of Dog Intestine Gut Inflammation Warm comfortable quarters are of the first importance, and a thick woolen jacket carefully padded and adjusted over the belly, chest and flanks will protect the parts and give relief. In all stages of the disease it is of the utmost importance that the bowels be relieved of their irritating contents. Give injections of lukewarm water and castile soap or thin oatmeal water containing one ounce of glycerine until the lower bowels are emptied. Then give a dose of olive oil and castor oil, in equal parts, to which can be added from 10 to 20 drops of laudanum for each ounce of the oils, so as to relieve the pain. One ounce of this combination of oils can be given as a dose to a 40-lb. Dog. Smaller dogs less in proportion to size. "After the bowels have been opened to further allay the pain give a 401b. Dog from 5 to 10 grains of chloral with from 5 to 30 drops of the tincture of opium, as often as necessary. Tho diet and feeding must be carefully looked to. The food must be soft, semi-liquid, bland and unirritating, fed only a small quantity at a time, and three grains of pepsin given after each meal. "Drink must be allowed only in very small quantities. Milk with the addition of lime water is excellent. If there is a tendency to vomit give the subnitrate of bismuth in 5 to 10 grain doses, three times a clay. When the dog begins to recover from the disease the proportion of solid food can be increased, and a good tonic condition pill will facilitate convalescence and build up the patient." Dent's, Sergeant's or Clayton's, either one will be good to use now.
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