8.SKIN TROUBLES   

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A fit  which is over in around two minutes does not require immediate veterinary

attention, although  unless  the  dog  is known  to  be epileptic, veterinary advice 

should be sought at the first appropriate surgery  time.  Where a  dog goes from

one  fit  into  another,  in  rapid  succession,  this  is  a  serious emergency which 

requires  immediate  veterinary  help.  Wasp,  bee  and  jellyfish  stings normally 

respond to conventional first aid treatment, unless the sting is in the mouth or on 

the muzzle of short nosed dogs. If this is the case the vet should be consulted at

once as the airway may become obstructed.

Dogs and  cats  possess peculiar structures the anal  sacs- present on either

side of and just below the anus. Each gland is about  the size of a hazel -nut.

The  skin  which  lines these pouches contains many  anal glands which are 

mainly sweat  glands in dogs and both  sebaceous   and sweat types in cats.

These glands secrete a dirty gray, awfully smelling,  fatty  substance  which

is stored in these pouches. The lining of the sacs are often sloughed off and

pass out with the secretion or remains as detritus filling the glandular lumen.

A small duct from each  sac drains their  contents at the floor  of  the anus.

During defaecation, the pressure of the stool against the   anus express the 

anal sac  secretions  along  the  ducts  and  the  fluid oozes   out and   gets

smeared  onto  the  stool.  The secretions  of  the  anal  sacs  thus  gives  a 

characteristic  odour  to   an  individual's  faeces.   It   s   for  this   reason

identification and  communications  that  dogs  are  in  the habit of smelling 

each other's faeces and anal areas  when  they  meet.  It is  probable  that  

eating faeces (Coprophagia)  observed  as  a  part  of   normal behaviour

in some dogs,  is  helping  the  recipient to   recognise   individuals  by the 

scent of  their  faeces.  Therefore,  the  anal  sacs  along  with  their glands 

perform an important function and could also  be  attributing  as  one of the

reasons for the doggy smell.  However, in dogs, anal  sacs  can also result

in creating  certain  problems.  The  secretions   occasionally gets dried to 

a solid state resulting in impaction of  the sacs  and   occlusion of the ducts,

therby the contentsailing to empty properly.  This  results in  local  irritation

to the dog, which  drags  itself.  in a sitting posture, pressing  hard  the anal

region against the ground  and tries to relieve itself. It is advisable to solve

the problems by moistening the  contents  of  the  anal  sacs by injecting a 

softening fluid  through  their  ducts.  This  problems is rarely  seen  in  cats, 

probably because the sebaceous glands  present  in the  wall  of  sacs  add

sufficient amounts of fats to the secretory material. Dogs sometimes exhibit

symptoms of acute local irritation in the area around the anus and suddenly

gets up as if bitten and turns around.  This  requires expression of the anal

sacs so as to completely empty their contents  by slow  squeezing  with the 

help  of   forefinger  and  thumb. The  anal sacs can also  become  infected 

resulting  in   excretion  of   yellow   pus in  secretions.  This  needs  to  be

corrected by giving  antibiotics  a  long   with  flushing of the   contents.  In 

extreme cases, extremely painful  abcesses  are  formed   which  may  even

burst  through the skin. If need be,  the  anal sacs  can  easily be removed

surgically without any obvious problems for the dog.

Gastritis is an inflammatory condition of the stomach characterised by virulent vomiting,

retching, and diarrhoea , occasionally blood -stained.

It is usually the result of an error in diet or eating unsound meat or other decomposed organic

matter, rarely by poison such as arsenic or rat poisons.

Vomiting and retching are the main symptoms, the dog becoming exhausted and large amounts

of fluid is ejected each time which may be bile-stained (yellow) and the dog soon becomes

dehydrated with sunken eyes.

Temperature may be raised to about 105 F but falls below normal during collapse. If sever and

not checked, it can be fatal.

TREATMENT

 This  consists  of  maintaining  the  dog's strength , replacing  fluids  lost  and     giving gastric

sedatives to control vomiting. Teaspoonful  does of white  of egg  with  glucose given iced and

in small amount frequently during the day and night is useful.  Do not give large amounts at a time

even though the dog will take it. Soda bicarb in 5 grain does every  two  hours   should be given

until vomiting is  controlled.  The well known carminative mixture is a great gastric sedative.

If these simple measures do not control the vomiting, consult your Veterinarian at once.

After treatment is important, and diet must be gradually increased and in small quantities at a time.

Start with meat juice, bovril, marmite. Avoid milk as it may ferment. Give glucose lierally.

Enteritis alone is rare and is always combined with gatritis and referred to as Gastro-

enteritis. Symptoms depend upon the cause. It may be a simple diarrhoea or in the

more serious cases with blood and mucus with severe vomiting and dehydration

followed by collapse.

Treatment is best left to the Veterinarian. 

Epilepsy is a chronic paroxysmal disorder of cerebral function characterised

by frequent attacks involving changes in the state of consciousness, sudden

in onset, and brief in duration.

The dog without warning suddenly falls to the ground with tonico-clonic

spasm of the musculature followed by a series of convulsive movements

of his limbs, body, jaw, and tongue with excessive foam-like saliva, sometimes

blood stained from biting his tongue; respiration is held and he becomes

cyanosed. He soon passes into a comatose state and remains so for a few

minutes to longer periods when his corneal and tendon reflexes are found

to be absent. Occasionally, there may be incontinence of urine and faeces.

On regaining consciousness,  he is dazed, drowsy, and confused, and may

 make a sudden attack on one near by.

Frequency of attacks very from several a day to an occasional one off

and on. Each attack leaving him exhausted, and if frequent, he loses

condition and eventually dies.

As the actual cause is difficult to ascertain, treatment can only be

symptomatic and Bromides and Chloral hydras being the only drugs to

calm his nervous condition.

When mental deterioration is pronounced and outlook poor, it is humane

to destroy him.

A virus disease also known as Rubarth's Disease. It affects dogs in

there distinct forms:

1- A fulminating lethal type.

2- A sub-acute type and an acute type.

In the fulminating type the dog is dead within hours following an

acute haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis.

In the sub-acute type, the attack varies from a mild to a more severe

attack, sometimes hardly noticeable, and recovery is usual.

In the acute type, there is a sharp rise of temperature, vomiting,

which soon become bloody with diarrhoea. Prostration is severe

death ending within about 12 hours following a convulsion.

Practically all the organs are damaged, the liver in particular.

It is sometimes epidemic in some kennels spreading from time

to time. It attacks all ages from three days old pups, and so, is

often considered a possible cause of 'fading-pups' getting their

infection through their dam who may be a carrier following mild

attacks. Immunization is only temporarily lasting for only about

three weeks.

TREATMENT - Is symtomatic though early administration

of serum may help.

Eczema : Eczema is a very common disease affecting dogs

and is distinct from mange.

It is non-parasitic, non-infectious, or contagious but an erythe-

matous condition of the skin, which if untreated has a tendeney

to become chronic. It may develop in any part of the body, but

usually in the region of the tail, thigh, back and neck. There are

wet and dry types.

Cause are various which differ in each individual. It seems to be

more prevalent during the summer months when fleas and lice

are on the increase, during  shedding of the coat, and in those

dogs lacking exercise and when the dogs are chained continuously

lying in areas soiled with urine setting up an irritation. Diet mainly

of carbohydrates and deficient in fats are a predisposing cause.

Severe irritation causes the dog to bite himself to raw patches

which soon discharge a serous fluid forming dry crusts, followed

by pustules, papules, and vescicles with loss of hair. Violent

scratching tears the skin deep which soon become infected with

secondary organisms, such as, staphylococci and streptococci.

TREATMENT

Increase proteins and fats in the diet and feed meat raw

occasionally and cut down carbohydrates to a minimum.

Each case must be considered individually. Remove matty hair

in and around the area using a mild solution of some antiseptic

such as savlon.

If oozing is severe use a dusting powder containing boric powder,

starch, and zinc oxide in equal parts frequently. Of  the advertised

drugs, Nixoderm has given very good results. Antibiotics such as

Crystapen given intramuscularly in doses of 50,000 units twice

daily for two days and an application of Crystapen Ointment has

also given good result in clearing secondary organisms and on

the third day apply liberally Nixoderm with olive oil and repeat

for a few days which will allay irritation and heal.

The following also works well and is an excellent all purpose skin

dressing:

D.D.T.                  :   :  1/2 oz.

Shark                    :   :   3  oz.

Neem oil               :   :   3  oz.

Coconut oil           :   :   3  oz.

Sulphur Sub          :   :   1  oz.

Liq Picis Rectified :   :   1  oz.

Shake well and apply liberally.

RED ECZEMA(ECZEMA RUBRUM):

Acute eczema of the thickly haired parts of the body, frequently

begins below the ear or the neck.

It is non-parasitic and non-infectious like that other eczema.

It first appears in patches of the size of a six-pence but repidly

spreads in size. It develops from redness of  the skin, papulation,

vesiculation to oedema of the skin, weeping and crust formation.

The affected areas are usually round in shape sharply defined and

surrounded by a ring of dark red color with pustules and vescicles

and greatly swollen orifices of hair follicles. Within the circle the skin

is orange, yellow or red, shining, oozing and covered with thin

yellowish crust. Continuous serous or purulent exudate  is noticed

and there is much pain and itching. The inflammatory condition

spreads into deeper layers of the skin sometimes resulting in

abscess formation and even affecting the regional lymph glands.

Healing usually takes place within 3 to 4 weeks but is often

followed by relapses; thus the whole course of the disease

becomes protracted. Even after complete healing the skin remains

thickened. This disease is seasonal, cropping up year after year

during the summer months.

TREATMENT

The following remedies are found useful:

Ichthyol Ointment 2%.

Ichthyol Tar Soap moistened and rubbed on the itching part

and allowed to dry.

Permanganate of Potash Solution 1 to 3% where the skin is

irritant.

Where the area is wide-spread, dust with Starch, Boric and Zink

(equal parts).

Lorexane Powder or Ointment ICI or Antiseptic cream M & B can

safely be used as an application. Injections of Phenergan 0.5 to 1 ml.

of a 5% Solution given intramuscularly for three days or Acetylarsan

9.4% in doses of 1 to 2 ml. given subcutaneously for 4  to 5  days

also gives excellent result.

MANGE:

Mange is a serious condition as it is highly contagious and spreads

through a kennel particularly where large number of dogs are housed

together. There are two definite and distinct types, both being caused

by mites, which invade the skin burrowing through the upper layer of

the epidermis. There is the sarcoptic and follicular type requiring

microscopic examinations of scraping from the skin to confirm the

type, though certain signs and symptoms distinguish them from each

other. In the sarcoptic type, there is intense itching of the part effected

starting as grey patches, where the skin is thickened having a leathery

feel. The disease is spread to other parts of the body by scratching

setting up either papules, vescicles, or pustules which give out an

unmistakable musty odour.

In the follicular type the hair follicles are destroyed and not so much

itchiness present. The skin is swollen and hair falls out and the skin

becomes thickened and wrinkled.

TREATMENT

As reinfection is certain every effort must be made to thoroughly 

disinfect the whole kennel with a combination of DDT and Pyrethrum 

in solution or dust.

Local applications of the following preparation has proved valuable:

Pix Liquidae                ...  1 oz.  }

Sapo mollis                 ...  1 oz.  }Mix well and apply

Spt vunum Rect.         ...   2 ozs.}

                 Or

Zinc Oxide                 ...   1  oz.  }

Sulphur Sub               ...   1  oz.  }Make into ointment.

Paraffin mole              ...   16 oz. }

                   Or

Sulphur Sub               ...    1 oz.  }

Creosote                   ...    1  oz  } Mix well and apply Give a liberal diet

Neem oil                   ...     8 ozs.} and exercise.

Liq Arsenic et Hydrargyri Iodide (Donavan's Solution) or Liq Arsenicalis

(Fowlers Solution) in 5 min doses daily for about a week is a good tonic.

Shave the parts or the whole body if necessary and treat with local

applications every other day.

Pustules should be squeezed out before application of ointments. This

prevents re-absorption.