DOG

The effect of medicines on dogs is much the same as on man; but there are some striking exceptions to this rule. Thus, whilst the dog can take a dose of aloes six or eight times as large as that given to man, the administration of half as much calomel or oil of turpentine would be productive of serious injury to the animal. The idea usually entertained, therefore, that medicines may be given to dogs in doses equalling those taken by man requires considerable modification. Dogs have a short and straight alimentary canal, in consequence of which purgative medicines act more quickly upon them than they do on other veterinary subjects. The facility with which dogs can be made to vomit is also another peculiarity or unpalatable matters, as well as from their eating various sorts of gra . A good plan to prevent dogs vomiting their medicines is to keep the head well raised for an hour after the administration; and this may be easily accomplished by attaching a chain or cord to the collar, and fixing it at the requisite height, to any object. The kidneys are acted upon with much more difficulty than with the horse, whilst the skin seems nearly, if not altogether incapable of being affected. We give below a list of medicines for dogs; premising that the doses required vary considerably according to the strength, size, and age of the dog, all of which should always be duly taken into account. The doses prescribed in the following formulæ are for moderately large dogs:— Physic Balls and other Purgative Medicines :— 1. Barb a does aloes, 8 oz., antimonial powder, 1 oz., ginger, 1 oz., palm oil, 5 oz.; beat together into a ma .— Dose. From 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 2 dr. every 4 or 6 hours, till the bowels are relieved. (Youatt.) 2. The same, with the addition of 1 oz. of calomel. He directs from 45 gr. to 2 dr. for a dose. (Clater.) 3. Aloes, 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 2 dr. made into a ball with syrup of ginger. 4. Aloes, 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 1 1 ⁄ 2 dr., calomel, 2 to 5 gr., syrup to form a ball; in inflammation of the bowels, and in worms. (Blaine.) 5. Cape aloes, 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 1 dr., calomel, 2 to 3 gr., oil of caraway, 6 drops, syrup to form a ball. (M′Ewen.) 6. Calomel, 12 gr., aloes, 3 dr., opium, 1 gr., syrup q. s. to form a ma , for 4, 6, or 8 balls; one every 4 or 5 hours till the bowels are relieved. (Blaine.) 7. Croton oil, 1 drop, Castile soap, 20 gr., conserve to form a ball. 8. Castor oil, 3 parts, syrup of buckthorn, 2 parts, syrup of poppies, 1 part.— Dose. From 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls.—Mr Youatt’s purge. [Mr Clark says syrup of buckthorn for dogs should be made with treacle, and the spices omitted.] 9. Epsom salts, from 1 to 4 dr., wrapped in ti ue paper, dividing the doses into convenient-sized packets. 10. In costivene with inflammation: 1 ⁄ 2 oz. to 2 oz. castor oil. (Mr Spooner.) Alterative Balls and Powders :— 1. Sulphur, 2 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; nitre, 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; Æthiops mineral, 4 oz.; linseed meal, 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; palm oil, 1 lb., or as much as may be required; beat together, and keep in a jar for use.— Dose , from 2 scruples to 1 1 ⁄ 2 or 2 dr. (Clater.) 2. Ethiops mineral, 20 to 40 gr.; cream of tartar, 20 to 40 gr.; nitre, 5 to 10 gr.; night and morning, made into a ball with butter. (Spooner.) 3. Tonic Alterative. Mercurial pill, 1 dr.; aloes 2 dr.; myrrh, benzoin, balsam of Peru, of each 1 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; to be divided into 10, 15, or 20 pills: one every evening, for the yellows, after aloes and calomel. (Blaine.) 4. Alterative Powder. Æthiops mineral, 2 to 5 gr.; cream of tartar, 4 to 10 gr., tartarised iron, 1 to 3 gr., once a day. (Clater.) 5. To give a fine skin. Give a table-spoonful of tar made up with oatmeal. (Mayer.) Astringent Balls , .:— 1. Catechu, 1 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; sulphate of quinine, 20 gr.; opium, 5 gr.; ginger, 1 dr.; conserve of roses, q. s. to form a ma , to be divided into 8, 6, or 4 balls. (Blaine.) 2. Prepared chalk, 2 oz.; powdered gum Arabic, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; powdered catechu, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; powdered oak bark, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; powdered ginger, 1 ⁄ 4 oz.; opium, 15 gr.; palm oil, 1 oz.; beat well together.— Dose , 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 2 dr., morning, noon, and night, in the advanced stage of distemper. (Clater.) 3. Opium, 5 gr.; catechu, 2 dr.; gum Arabic, 2 dr.; ginger, 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; syrup of poppies, q. s.; divide into 12, 9, or 6 balls: in diarrhœa. (Blaine.) 4. Myrrh, 1 dr.; ipecacuanha, 1 scruple; opium, 3 gr.; chalk, 2 dr.; carbonate of iron, 1 dr.; as No. 3. (Blaine.) 5. In obstinate cases: Alum, 1 dr.; chalk, 2 dr.; opium, 6 gr.; resin, 3 dr.; into 4, 6, or 8 balls. 6. In diarrhœa, after 1 to 4 dr. of Epsom salts; prepared chalk, 1 to 3 scruples; catechu, 5 to 10 gr.; opium, 1 ⁄ 4 to 2 gr.; twice a day. (Spooner.) Cough Balls in Asthma , .:— 1. After a few emetics. Calomel, 3 gr.; foxglove, 3 gr.; cream of tartar, 1 dr.; antimonial powder, 12 gr.; honey to form 6 boluses. One twice a day. (Blaine.) 2. is, 20 gr.; antimonial powder, 40 gr.; nitre, 2 dr.; sulphur, 3 dr.; palm oil, 3 dr., or q. s. Divide into 10, 15, or 20 balls, according to the size of the dog, morning and night, interposing an emetic every third or fourth day. (Clater.) 3. In old cases. P. squill, 1 ⁄ 2 gr. to 1 gr.; gum ammoniac, 5 gr.; balsam of Peru, 8 gr.; benzoic acid, 1 gr.; balsam of sulphur to form a ball. 4. Extract of hemlock, 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; extract of henbane, 10 gr.; p. is, 20 gr.; conserve of roses to form a ma . Divide into 8, 10, or 6 balls. One night and morning. (Blaine.) Distemper Medicines :— 1. Turbeth mineral, 1 to 3 gr.; a afœtid a, 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; aloes, 20 gr.; soap, 10 gr.; syrup of poppies to form a ball. To be preceded by an emetic, and given every third day. 2. After an emetic, give a physic ball; and afterwards the following, two or three times a day:—Antimonial powder, 2, 3, or 4 gr.; nitre, 5, 10, or 15 gr.; ipecacuanha, 2, 3, or 4 gr.; form a ball. If the disease proceed to the debilitating stage, give the Tonic Ball No. 2; in the putrid or malignant stage give the Astringent Ball No. 1. (Blaine.) 3. After the Emetic Powder No. 1 (which should be repeated every 3rd or 4th day) give the Cough Ball No. 2, from 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 2 dr. in weight. And if the dog lose flesh, give equal parts of the cough ball and the Tonic Ball (No. 1). In the more advanced stages give the tonic alone; or the astringent ball if diarrhœa comes on. (Clater.) 4. Give a third of a paper of James’s powder mixed with butter, and afterwards warm broth or milk. In 2 hours, another third; and if this neither vomit nor purge, give the other third at the end of 4 hours. (Daniel.) 5. Blaine’s distemper powders, which are sold in packets, with directions for use. 6. Camphor, 3 to 5 gr.; charcoal, 10 gr.; opium, 1 gr.; aromatic confection, q. s. to form a ball.—In the malignant stage, with diarrhœa. 7. Antimomal powder, 2 to 4 gr.; nitre, 5 to 10 gr.; is, 1 ⁄ 4 to 2 gr. Afterwards the Tonic Pills No. 4. (Spooner.) Poudre Kusique : a French nostrum. Mix 45 gr. of nitre, 45 of sulphur, and 1 charcoal. Divide into 3 doses. Give 1 for 2 succe ive mornings, and the third on the 4th morning, mixed with lard or butter, or in milk. For a large dog a second packet (of 3 powders) may be required. (Habert.) Another French nostrum. Hemel’s Powder is of a similar kind. 8. A strong solution of salt, to the amount of 1 ⁄ 2 pint daily. 9. Powdered tin, sulphur, gunpowder, of each 1 oz.; lard sufficient to form a ma . The size of a nutmeg to be given twice or thrice a week. 10. Physic Ball No. 11. 11. 1 ⁄ 4 oz. to 1 fl. oz. of cod-liver oil twice a day, according to size. 12. Emetics, gentle laxatives, milk diet, and from 5 to 15 gr. of chlorate of potash twice a day. (Finlay Dun.) Worm Medicines :— 1. Carbonate of iron, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; Æthiops mineral, 1 dr.; gentian, 1 oz.; ginger, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; levigated gla , 1 oz.; palm oil, 9 dr.; beat well together.— Dose , from 3 ⁄ 4 to 2 dr. (Clater.) 2. As much very finely-powdered gla as will lie on a sixpence, mixed with butter (Blaine). Mr Youatt says from 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 1 dr.; powdered gla , with a little ginger, made into a ball with lard. 3. Aloes, sulphur, prepared hartshorn, and juice of wormwood, made into a ma ; the size of a hazel nut to be given three times a week, fasting, wrapped in butter. (Daniel.) 4. Tin filings, or pewter filings, 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 1 dr., with butter or lard. 5. Jalap, 10 to 15 gr.; calomel, 2 to 3 gr. mixed with butter; no cold liquid should be allowed. (White.) 6. Cowhage, 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; iron filings, 4 dr.; conserve q. s. to form a ma , to be divided into 4, 6, or 8 balls; one every night and morning; and afterwards the purgative No. 4. (Blaine.) 7. Epsom salts, 1 oz.; common salt, 1 dr.; give a small or large teaspoonful daily. 8. Give green walnut leaves boiled in milk. (Mayer.) 9. From 1 ⁄ 2 dr. to 2 dr., according to size. Betel nut in coarse powder, made into a ball. 10. For Tapeworm. —Oil of turpentine, 1 ⁄ 2 dr., mixed with yolk of egg; for very large dogs, 2 scruples. Some writers prescribe larger doses (1 to 2 dr.), but these sometimes prove fatal. (Blaine.) 2 to 6 dr. of cu o according to size. 11. For Tapeworm. —Oil of turpentine and olive oil, of each 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; mix, and give carefully; 3 or 4 hours after give 1 oz. castor oil. But see No. 9. (White.) 12. For Stomach Worms. —Give the emetic powder (see further back) and afterwards a physic ball. 13. Threadworms. —These are destroyed by an aloetic clyster. Ointments and Lotions for the Mange :— N.B.—An alterative ball should be given daily and a physic ball occasionally. Bleeding is sometimes prescribed. For Scabby Mange. —Sulphur, 4 oz.; sal ammoniac, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; aloes, 1 dr.; Venice turpentine, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; lard, 6 oz.; mix. After four applications, wash well with soap and water. (Blaine.) 2. Horse turpentine and palm oil, each 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; train oil, 1 ⁄ 2 pint. Melt together, and while cooling, stir in 3 lbs. of flowers of sulphur. (Clater.) 3. Aloes, 2 dr.; hellebore, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; sulphur, 4 oz.; lard or train oil, 6 oz. (McEwen.) 4. Sulphate of zinc, 1 dr.; snuff, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; white hellebore, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; sulphur, 4 oz.; aloes, 1 ⁄ 4 oz.; soft soap, 6 oz. (Blaine.) 5. Charcoal powder, 2 oz.; sulphur, 4 oz.; salt of tartar, 1 dr.; Venice turpentine, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; lard, 6 oz. 6. For Red Mange. —Add 1 oz. of strong mercurial ointment to 6 oz. of either of the above. 7. Charcoal, 1 oz.; chalk, 1 oz.; sugar of lead, 1 dr.; white precipitate, 2 dr.; sulphur, 2 oz.; lard, 5 oz. (Blaine.) 8. Wash for Red Mange. —Corrosive sublimate, 20 gr.; spirit of wine, 2 dr.; di olve and add milk of sulphur, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; lime-water, 1 ⁄ 2 pint. Apply by means of a sponge. (Clater.) 9. For Ulcerated Mange. —Ointment of nitrated quicksilver, 2 dr.; sugar of lead, 20 gr.; flowers of sulphur, 1 ⁄ 2 oz.; lard, 1 oz.; mix. (Blaine.) Fleas :— 1. Rub the skin with the powdered resin and bran. 2. Let the dog sleep on deal shavings. 3. Scotch snuff steeped in gin. (Meyer.) (This requires caution.) 4. Oil of aniseed. (Finlay Dun.) 5. Persian insect powder.