Cystitis or acute inflammation of the bladder, is a disease uncommon among dogs.

Probably the affection more commonly has its origin in traumatic injuries, such as blows, kicks, and crushes. Chemical irritants, among them cantharides and turpentine injudiciously used, may induce the disease. Among other influences may be numbered chills, calculi, and long retained urine which decomposing becomes exceedingly irritating. Dogs shipped long distances and not removed from their boxes for several days, are liable to contract cystitis. An acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the kidney may be transmitted along the passage and the bladder be involved. The disease may occur spontaneously, no obvious cause being apparent.

Symptoms

Acute cystitis usually manifests itself suddenly. The gen. eral disturbances are in some cases marked; in others the local symptoms are the more prominent. Fever, thirst, pain, constipation, and often vomiting are not unusual.

The frequent efforts to void the urine are the first to attract attention. The quantity passed at each attempt is very small, often but a few drops, and at times the attempts are ineffectual and suppression is complete. The urine voided may be in appearance nearly normal, but more often it is thick, dark reddish in color, and blood is intermingled. The pain and distress are often great as shown by outcries and restless movements. When standing the animal's back is arched, the abdomen somewhat hard, possibly swollen and tender over the region of the bladder.

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When the attack is due to cantharides, the external genitals may be affected by the spread of the irritation.

Prognosis

The disease usually runs a rapid course, and if uncomplicated tends to recovery. Irritation by cantharides soon subsides.

When the inflammation is due to calculi, the course will necessarily be protracted unless the cause is removed. Sometimes acute cystitis may eventuate in the chronic form of the disease.

Treatment

If the attack is of moderate severity, reducing the diet to milk, applying hot cloths to the loins, and keeping the animal in a warm room may suffice. If the pain is severe one teaspoonful of paregoric, or fifteen drops of laudanum should be given and repeated if needed. Warm injections thrown into the bowels afford some relief.

Warm loin baths are advised if the symptoms are severe; they should be prolonged from one half an hour to two hours, their usefulness depend-ing upon their duration.

Some authors have advised cold applications instead of warm; while the former might act well in some cases, they would be unwise in others and therefore should be cautiously used if at all.

If no water is passed, and the position and actions of the animal indicate great distress, then a surgeon should be called in to pass the catheter. After its use, sweet spirits of nitre in half teaspoonful doses should be added to the opiate. .

Rectal suppositories of opium and belladonna can be used instead of giving drugs by the mouth, if vomiting occurs. These may be made as follows. -

℞ Pulv. Opii gr.xv.

Ext. Bellad. gr.ij.

01. Theobromae q. s. Ft. Suppositories No. xij. Sig. Use one from three to six hours as needed to subdue pain.

To introduce these properly the linger should be oiled, and by it the suppository should then be pushed well up into the rectum.