The Dog's Medical Dictionary: An encyclopædia of the diseases, their diagnosis & treatment, and the physical development of the dogSewell, Alfred Joseph
Science
The Dog's Medical Dictionary: An encyclopædia of the diseases, their diagnosis & treatment, and the physical development of the dog
Sewell, Alfred Joseph
Dogs -- Diseases -- Dictionaries
_Treatment_: The only treatment to effect a radical cure is an operation,
but in the case of umbilical hernia, so long as it remains soft and
small, say not larger than a hazel nut or walnut, according to the
size of the patient, it may be left alone, as it does not cause any
inconvenience even to a bitch required for breeding purposes. Inguinal
hernia, which is only seen in bitches, and nearly always on the left
side, does not cause any inconvenience so long as it remains small; but
this form of hernia has a tendency to increase in size, and when such is
the case, more especially if it is intended to breed from the bitch, it
is advisable to submit to an operation, and, provided it is performed
under aseptic conditions, is unattended with danger.
In cases of old bitches suffering from this form of hernia, when from
some reason an operation is objected to, care must be taken to avoid
constipation. When this is done, seldom any harm occurs unless the hernia
is very large, and becomes hard and painful, caused by some obstruction
of the bowel in the hernical sac. If this happens, attention is required,
and means taken to reduce the hardness and swelling. This is best done by
placing the bitch, if a small one, upon a person’s knees. She should be
put on her back, with the head downwards, and then the swelling should
be carefully manipulated and massaged until it becomes soft and can be
returned into the body. In obstinate cases laudanum, from three[1] to
twenty drops in water, may be given every three or four hours; and after
the hernia has been reduced, a dose of aperient medicine is to be given.
The treatment of perineal hernia is always unsatisfactory. An operation
is not practical, and the only thing to do is to prevent constipation,
and then the dog may live for years without much discomfort. Should the
hernia become hard and distended, enemas of warm salad oil are to be
administered, the swelling softened by careful kneading, and the contents
of the rectum evacuated by means of a greased finger or handle of a small
spoon. A course of the following pills is useful in these latter cases:—
_Recipe_:
Extract of Belladonna, 2 to 6 grains.[1]
Powdered Nux Vomica, 1 to 4 ”
Powdered Rhubarb, 3 to 12 ”
Reduced Iron, 12 to 30 ”
Mix.
Divide into 12 pills—one twice a day after food.
=Hiccough=:
_Symptoms_: A sudden, jerky expiration of breath. Common in puppies.
Result of indigestion caused by worms. It is not a serious complaint.
_Treatment_: If a puppy, treat for worms. To relieve the spasmodic
breathing, give from three[1] to twenty grains of bicarbonate of soda in
milk; repeat in half an hour. If this fails, give from three to twenty
drops of turpentine in a little milk.
=Hoarseness=:
_Symptoms_: The bark is husky and hollow. May be the result of cold, also
from persistent barking, as when a dog is shut up in a strange place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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