The Veterinarian Part 25

WHIP WORM

This worm is very uncommon, but occasionally is found in the large intestines.

CAUSE: The eggs become imbedded in the manure, bedding, etc., and then mix with the feed and drinking water and are taken into the digestive ca.n.a.l where they develop into matured worms. This worm is from one to three inches in length, the hind extremity of which is very thin, hence the name, "Whipworm."

SYMPTOMS: They produce very little disturbance, even though present in large quant.i.ties, except when other worms a.s.sist in their irritating the lining membranes of the large intestines.

MEDICAL TREATMENT: Withhold all food from eighteen to twenty-four hours, then give one teaspoonful of Gasolene thoroughly mixed with milk, to everyone hundred pounds of hog weight. Small hogs, reduce the dose in proportion to their weight. It is advisable to follow this dose for two or three consecutive days. Feed food that is easily digested, and see that they have fresh water to drink.

DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS

Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

[Ill.u.s.tration: Photograph of sheep with numbers referring to the parts named below.]

1. Mouth 2. Nostrils 3. Eyes 4. Forehead 5. Poll 6. Ears 7. Neck or Scrag 8. Throat or Throttle 9. Brisket or Breast 10. Shoulder vein 11. Shoulder 12. Legs 13. Fore flank 14. Heart girth 15. Crops 16. Back 17. Loin 18. Rump 19. Coupling 20. Ribs 21. Belly 22. Sheath 23. s.c.r.o.t.u.m 24. Rear flanks 25. Leg of Mutton 26. Twist 27. Tail or Dock 28. Rump

CHAPTER IV

ABORTION

CAUSE: Is usually produced by injuries, or by the ewes being poisoned from eating poisonous foods, plants, etc. It has never occurred in infectious form in this country, although sometimes an outbreak is thought infectious on account of several ewes aborting about the same time, but all such outbreaks have been traced to some irritating poison which they had taken with their food or drinking water.

PREVENTIVE TREATMENT: Remove the aborted lambs or kids and afterbirth from the yards, and also withdraw the ewe or nanny and place her in comfortable quarters. She requires care and extra nursing, or she will become very poor and lose a large portion of her fleece.

MEDICAL TREATMENT: If due to poisonous plants, etc., when the first symptoms of Abortion or poisoning are noticed, give six to ten ounces of Castor Oil. Warm the oil so it will run freely. Set the sheep or goat upon its haunches and pour very slowly. Great care must be exercised so as not to let any of the oil enter the lungs, as it may produce fatal pneumonia. Feed food that is easily digested and supply them with pure water to drink. When the general condition is weak or run down, so to speak, the following tonic is recommended: Pulv. Gentian Root, one ounce; Pulv. Nux Vomica, one ounce; Pulv. Pota.s.sium Nitrate, one ounce; Hyposulphite of Soda, three ounces; Protan, three ounces. Mix and make into twenty-four powders. Give one powder two or three times daily well back on the tongue.

REMEMBER all tonics are bitter, therefore beware of any so-called tonics that the animals eat readily as these possess no real tonic values.

BLACK SCOURS

(Verminous Gastritis--Strongylosis)

CAUSE: Due to a worm (Strongylus Contortus) measuring one-fourth to one inch in length, inhabiting the intestines and the fourth stomach of sheep and goats. This disease is frequently seen in low, marshy pastures, where animals infested with the worm pa.s.s the ova or egg with the feces, the eggs developing into an embryotic worm which is again taken with the food or water by non-infected animals, whereby this disease again attacks the intestines and fully matured worms develop.

SYMPTOMS: Naturally, the symptoms vary according to the violence of the attack. In well developed cases, the animal strains to defecate, and pa.s.ses shreds of intestinal mucous along with blood-stained feces.

Finally a severe dysentery takes place, the animal becomes correspondingly weak, and death takes place in two or three days. Some cases become chronic, in which death does not take place for a month or more. However, the latter is uncommon. Other signs are staggering gait, trembling, eyes fixed, showing wild expression, neck turned to one side.

Then the animal appears as if in pain, and looks around at the flank frequently. There is a chopping of the jaws, and a very free flow of stringy saliva dropping from the mouth. When an animal dies from the symptoms just described, it should be cut open and carefully examined for this particular parasite, which can be easily seen with the naked eye.

TREATMENT: Very successfully treated when the first symptoms appear by administering one ounce of Gasolene with a pint of Milk. To lambs or kids give half the dose. Every precaution should be taken so as to prevent the drench from entering the lungs. Perhaps the best method is to set the animal on its haunches and pour the liquid slowly and carefully; if they cough, let them down. Any drench entering the lungs produces fatal pneumonia. Feed good nourishing food, and supply them with fresh water to drink.

CATARRH

(Cold in the Head)

CAUSE: Atmospheric changes, sudden exposure to cold, wet weather after being accustomed to warm, comfortable surroundings, inhaling dust, smoke and gases or, in fact, anything that will produce an irritation to the membranes lining the nose; commonly seen in the spring and fall.

SYMPTOMS: Chilling, elevation of temperature, nose dry, breathing hurried, sneezing, coughing, dullness, appet.i.te varied. In the first stages of the malady, the nostrils are considerably inflamed, but in the course of a few days the temperature subsides and a yellowish-white discharge flows from the nose continuously.

TREATMENT: Keep the affected animals dry, omit drafts, feed good, wholesome food, and provide bedding for them to lie upon. In the first stages of this malady, it is advisable to confine the animals in a barn, closing the windows and doors and compelling them to inhale steam from boiling hot water and Pine Tar. The best method to accomplish this is by placing a tub about half full of water in the center of the barn and add about one gallon of Pine Tar. Then heat bricks or stones and place them into the tub. In this way a large number can be treated at one time. The sheep should be compelled to inhale this steam for thirty to forty minutes twice a day. In addition to the above, the following is very beneficial: Chlorate of Potash, one ounce; Nitrate of Pota.s.si, two ounces. Make into sixteen powders and give one powder to each sheep in its drinking water two or three times daily. Feed hot bran mashes and vegetables if possible.

DIARRHOEA

(Dysentery)

CAUSE: Diarrhoea, or Dysentery, is a sign of some irritation of the intestines resulting in increased secretions, or increased muscular contraction, or both. The irritation is sometimes the result of chilling from exposure, improper feeding, as contaminated or frozen foods, irritating foods, drinking cold or stagnant water, indigestion, organic diseases of the intestines, or parasitic diseases. (See Strongylosis.)

SYMPTOMS: Movements from the bowels are frequent, at first consisting of thin fecal matter, but as this malady progresses it becomes watery and offensive in smell, and streaked with blood. At first the animal shows no const.i.tutional disturbances, but eventually it becomes weak and shows signs of abdominal pain by looking around to the flank, throwing the feet together, lying down, or moving restlessly. Sometimes this disease is accompanied by fever, great depression, loss of strength, rapid loss of flesh; terminating in death.

TREATMENT: Determine the cause and remove it if possible. When the disease is due to irritating properties of food which have been fed the animal, it is well to give a physic of Castor Oil in two to six ounce doses, according to the size of the animal. When there is debility, want of appet.i.te, and temperature normal, but continuous water discharge from the bowels, give Protan, two ounces; Gum Catechu, one ounce; Pulv.

Ginger, one ounce; Zinc Sulphocarbolates, eight grains. Make into sixteen powders and give one powder on the tongue every three or four hours, according to the severity of the attack. Feed food that is easily digested, as wheat bran mashes, steamed rolled oats, etc. See that the drinking water is fresh and clean.

FOOT ROT

(Foul in the Foot)

CAUSE: Foot Rot is produced by inflammation of the soft structures of the foot between the claws or toes. It may be due to an overgrowth and inward pressure, etc., or from filth acc.u.mulating and hardening between the claws, producing inflammation and softening or ulceration of the skin in the interdigital s.p.a.ce (between the claws). Under some conditions several sheep or goats in the same drove become affected at the same time, leading many to think that the disease is contagious.

When Foot Rot appears in a very short time, among sheep or goats, this condition can almost always be traced to filth, irritation, etc.

SYMPTOMS: The animal is observed to limp when walking. On careful examination of the foot we find it hot, swollen above the claws and in the soft parts between them, frequently spreading the claws apart to a considerable extent, or the inflammation may have advanced to softening and sloughing of the soft structure between the claws. If this condition is neglected at this stage, deep abscesses form and the pus burrows under the h.o.r.n.y wall, and the joints within the hoof become inflamed and destroyed, in which case the treatment is difficult and recovery will be very arduous.

TREATMENT: In the early stages of the disease, before the pus burrows beneath the h.o.r.n.y structures of the foot, any foreign substances impacted between the claws should be removed. Then place a trough about one foot wide, six to eight inches high, and twelve to sixteen feet long, and fill with water and Coal Tar Dip, diluted in proportions of one part dip to fifty parts of water. Build a fence on each side of the trough, just wide enough for one sheep to pa.s.s through, and compel every sheep to walk through the solution slowly.

This treatment should be repeated once or twice a week until the lameness has disappeared. In cases where deep sloughing has taken place under the h.o.r.n.y structures, saturate a piece of oak.u.m or cotton in the following liniment: Oil of Origanum, Oil of Pisis, Oil of Turpentine, each four ounces. Place it between the claws and hold it there by means of a bandage. Repeat this application every other day. The animals that do not show signs of improvement under this treatment in a few days invariably have the joints of the foot affected and should not be driven.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Photograph of four sheep.]

DELAINE MERINO RAM AND EWES.

FORAGE POISONING