The term constipation and costiveness have the same significance, and denote insufficient evacuation of the bowels. Constipation exists as a functional disorder, and occurs as a symptom in various diseases. It is extremely frequent among dogs, and while alone it might not be considered as a serious affection. It demands consideration from its importance as giving rise to other ailments, and the difficulty experienced in attempting a cure unless its causes are correctly interpreted, and treatment is judiciously administered.

The affection may be occasional and of short duration, or it may be habitual.

Causation

The causes of this disorder and the circumstances which may contribute to it are very many. Mechanically the abdominal muscles render important aid in the operation of unloading the bowels. These muscles become weakened by distension as in pregnant bitches, and in animals over-fed and excessively fat.

Lazy, sleepy, indoor pets are supposed to be especially prone to constipation, but it is probable other causes are more active in its production; among them excessive neatness and restraint, the caprice of the owner, rather than their own wants, directing when they be allowed out of doors. If nature's calls or promptings are continually disregarded or resisted, the sensibility of the lower bowel, or temporary depot for the excretion becomes lessened, the accumulation goes on and paralysis of the parts follows repeated and continued distension of the intestine.

Food, highly nutritious and digestible, leaving but little residue to be thrown out, contributes to constipation. Active exercise may induce the affection by consumption ot the fluids of the body. If deprived of drinking water, on the same principle the discharges are dry and hard.

A uniform, unvaried diet taken day after day, tends to obstruct the bowels. Again the habitual feeding of very coarse food induces the disorder, the intestinal activity becoming lessened, fatigued as it were, by the continued strain or demand made to throw off so large a residue.

In the constipation occurring in the course of chronic diseases, certain factors show in its production; among the many may be mentioned defective nutrition, degenerative changes in the muscular coat of the intestines, chronic catarrh, and deficient secretion of digestive fluids.

Symptoms

The discharges are dry, hard, and lumpy, passed with difficulty, and often severe pain. The operations in many instances are incomplete and frequent attempts are required to effect relief. The straining efforts of the animal at times, causes an eversion of the bowel and its protrusion through the anus. Associated with these symptoms are often observed vomiting, offensive breath, loss of appetite, a congested appearance of the eyes, coated tongue, and a dull, heavy, listless manner.

Treatment

Occasional and but slight constipation is readily relieved. Dietetic means should be first employed, and if insufficient, medicinal remedies can be resorted to.

Dogs returning from bench shows almost always suffer from this derangement, and all trainers and care-takers have their own peculiar nostrums, with which the animals are dosed after exhibitions, whether the need of medicine exists or not.

The writer has liver in quantity boiled the day-previous to the return of his dogs from exhibitions. This is mixed quite freely with theirfirst meal, the effect watched, and the feeding of it continued until the need is no longer evident. This method will prove quite sufficient in nearly all cases.

If the constipation be more than slight, and yet no marked discomfort is apparent, the syrup of buckthorn or calcined magnesia may be added to the food twice daily until the bowels move freely.

The treatment of habitual constipation requires Judgement and perseverance. The means which may be employed are various. In commencing treatment the object is to completely unload the bowel. If the animal shows by his distress and constant efforts a hardened mass lodged in the rectum, local treatment must be employed, and mechanical means resorted to. Warm soap-suds should be freely injected, an interval allowed for its return, and then another injection be given. If after repeated efforts this is not effectual, several syringes full of sweet or linseed oil should be thrown up and another interval allowed. If that does not suffice, then the linger must be well oiled and introduced into the rectum and the mass be broken down, thereby insuring its passage.

A radical change should then be made in the diet. Meat should be well cooked with vegetables, the latter when well done to be crushed finely and returned to the kettle; then with corn meal, wheat middlings, or oatmeal be mixed and cooked thoroughly. These articles with their indigestible constituents will slightly irritate the entire canal through which the food passes, thereby stimulating it to increased activity- This means most not be persisted in indefinitely, lest the digestive organs become fatigued from the continued strain forced upon them.

If the animal is poor in flesh, the addition of cod-liver oil to the food will act beneficially.

If medicinal remedies are demanded, this general rule is a wise one: better give laxatives twice or three times daily in small doses, rather than give the same in one large dose. Probably no better laxative can be selected for repeated administration than the syrup of buckthorn, which for a short time might be added to each feeding in one or two teaspoonful doses as demanded.

Laxative remedies, when the need of their persistent use is indicated, should have some tonic added to counteract their depressing effect. When it is remembered that habitual constipation in a measure results from a paralysis of the lower bowel, the use of nux vomica and belladonna can be appreciated. Both agents with colocynth are ingredients of the following pill. -

℞ Ext. Colocynth. Comp. ℥ ss Ext. Nucis Vomica gr.iv.

Ext. Belladonnae gr.ij.

Ft. Pil. No. xx. Sig. Dose one pill at night.

Sufficient exercise must be allowed, and this additional fact be remembered that the mind has a powerful influence over intestinal activity. Chain up for a short time each day a perfectly healthy dog and derangement will follow; not from the want of exercise, but from the mental influence of the restraint, as he frets, feels neglected and grows surly constipation will be observed.