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Before making an explicit statement of the practical feeding routine, it would be well to mention a few words about the eating of grass. The ancestral dog probably ate grass when he was nauseous, toxic, constipated, or otherwise indisposed. The grass would exercise a beneficial laxative effect, causing the animal to vomit and to move its bowels, accompanied by relief of the indispositions. This seems to have been a wholly instinctive activity; the modern dog has retained this instinct. It still eats grass and apparently does so for the same reason as the ancestral dog. However, while the eating of grass does actually have salutary effects on many vigorous modern dogs, it also often produces harmful effects on a goodly percentage of animals maintained as household pets. It commonly causes an inflammation of the lining membranes of the stomach and intestine, with resulting vomiting and diarrhea that persist until the grass eating is stopped.
NIACIN OR NICOTINIC ACID: Deficiencies of this vitamin will result in a disease of dogs called black tongue. This disease is related to pellagra in humans, from which a synonymous term for niacin deficiency has been coined: the Pellagra Preventive Factor. Deficiencies of this vitamin are extremely rare in ordinary household dogs since commercial dog foods and meat have more than enough of this vitamin to meet the dog’s needs. This is a problem found only in areas of extreme poverty.
An antibiotic may be administered to dogs with bad teeth before the dental to eliminate the infection and minimize complications. Fasting will also be required the night before anesthesia application. The check-up itself will involve looking for cavities, gum pockets, loose teeth, tartar and unusual palate or gum growth.
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Animals with uremia usually present a picture of extreme depression, intermittent vomiting and diarrhea, and a strong, fetid odor from the mouth. The veterinarian makes a positive diagnosis of this disease by urine analysis. It may take months and sometimes years before there is sufficient destruction of kidney tissue to give rise to symptoms of uremia. Unless the diagnosis is quickly established and bold therapeutic measures are taken, the animal will usually die. If too much destruction of tissue has already taken place, the animal will die no matter what is done. The routine manner of handling this condition is to apply heavy doses of dextrose and saline so that the animal does not get depleted. A nonirritating diuretic, such as ascorbic acid, is also indicated. Blood transfusions are of further help. Unfortunately the ordinary case is usually presented to the veterinarian when the animal is beyond hope. The owner is generally advised to have the animal put to sleep because of the hopelessness of the condition and the expense of the treatment. However, if the owner is willing, the veterinarian will throw everything in the book at the animal, and if it does happen to recover, it will be due less to the skill of the veterinarian than to an aggregate of factors beyond his direct control.
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Obesity is not good for the wellbeing of the animal. It often leads to derangements of the vital organs, especially the heart, and seems to predispose the animal to digestive disturbances and anemia. It is advisable, therefore, to administer appropriate measures to eliminate or control the condition.
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Proper ear hygiene consists in keeping the hair of the ear clean and thoroughly combed out, free from parasites at all times, and in maintaining the cleanliness of the inside of the ear. To clean the inside of the ear, dampen a piece of absorbent cotton with alcohol, squeeze out the excess moisture, and clean out all the accumulated scurf as far down into the ear as the finger can conveniently reach. There need be no fear of doing damage to the inner ear, for the finger simply cannot penetrate that far. The cleaned surface should be dried with a piece of cotton. The next step is to put some boricacid powder on the back of a spoon handle or other convenient object and dump the powder into the ear. Then manipulate the ear so that the powder will penetrate as far into the ear canal as possible. After this is done to both ears, allow the animal to shake out the excess powder. A clean film of boricacid powder will remain. It is apparent that there need be no concern about putting too much powder into the ear since the animal will shake out the excess anyway. If this procedure is followed about two or three times a week, it is very unlikely that the dog ever will be affected by the common ear ailments.
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