This is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes or wind pipes that convey the air to the lungs, the upper portion called the larynx. It is caused by exposure to damp and cold, neglecting a common cold, of being kenneled where foul emanations are breathed. Excessive barking, as dogs often do at their first bench show, will cause a slight inflammation of the larynx. When the larger air pipes are only affected, the cough is a short, dry, intermittent one at first, but in a few days it becomes more frequent and moist, mucus is discharged from the nose and coughed up as well. When the smaller brancnes are attacked the cough is more severe, there is a constant wheezing, and frothy matter tinged with blood is expectorated; the breath is hot, mouth and nose dry and hot, the tongue is parched, the pulse is weak and considerably increased, eyes are red and inflamed, the discharge from the nose becoming thick and copious, and the dog suffers from violent sneezing.

Treatment

Put the dog in a room tolerably warm, one with a fire in it is best, where a tea-kettle is kept boiling, as the steam thus distributed throughout the room is very beneficial, but ventilation is also essential. A room with a fireplace in it would insure this. Give the dog one dose of from three to five grains of true James' Powder. As a mild laxative, give a dose of castor oil. For food, give broths or porridge, with -bits of boiled liver added.

Where there is an accumulation of phlegm, and the animal endeavors to dislodge it, dive a dessertspoonful to a tablespoonful of ipecacuanha wine to act as an emetic. This will greatly relieve the patient. If the cough is troublesome, give from a dessertspoonful to a tablespoonful of the following twice a day:

Liquor morphiae niur ......................... 2 drams.

Spirit of ether sulp. co ........................ 2 drams.

Tincture of camphor co........................ 3 drams.

Ipecacuanha wine ............................ 1 dram.

Water to make .............................. 3 ounces.

Or 3 gr. to 5 gr. of benzoic aid will relieve the cough. Apply hot linseed poultices to the chest and sides, and always place a coat upon the dog. A woolen cloth or blanket will do for this, covering his chest and around his body two-thirds towards rear, fastened with safety pins.

The following medicine, in the form of a thin electuary, should then be administered to the patient every three hours:

Electuary For Bronchitis And Sore Throat

Chlorate of potash ........................... 3 drams.

Wine of ipecacuanha ......................... 3 drams.

Tincture of opium............................ 2 drams.

Powdered licorice root . . . ."....................1/2 ounce.

Powdered gum acacia .........................3/4 ounce.

Honey ..................................... 1 ounce.

Vinegar of squills.............................1/2 ounce.

Mix and give to small dogs, up to 2 5-lb. weight, half a teaspoonful every three hours, and to large dogs a teaspoonful as a dose. Shake bottle well before giving, as these ingredients have a tendency to separate. It should be placed well back on the tongue and should be swallowed gradually.

Is is sometimes advisable to blister the throat and front of the chest, and in most cases a good rubbing with a strong stimulative liniment will be of service. Vinegar and mustard may be used, or the following mixed:

Spirits of turpentine..........................1 1/2 ounce.

Oil of origanum ............................. 1 ounce.

Tincture of cantharides ....................... 1/2 ounce.

Spirit of hartshorn .......................... 1 ounce.

Rape oil ................................. 2 ounces.

Bronchitis often assumes a chronic form, especially in old dogs, when the cough is husky and constant, retching and discharge of phlegm, the breathing short and thick, and the dog is incapable of much exertion. Chronic cases are incurable, but alleviation can be given when it is unusually bad by giving a desertspoonful to a tablespoonful, according to size of dog, of equal parts of oxymel of squills and thick mucilage of acacia several times a day.

Another veterinarian advises as follows:

"This trouble is of frequent occurrence and is due to an inflammation of the air passage leading down into the body of the lung, and may be the result of a cold or chill or the breathing of smoke or novious vapors. The symptoms are more or less difficulty in breathing, severe and constant coughing and the accumulation of phlegm in the windpipe. In bad cases the patient will not lie down, but sits with the forelegs braced and the chest expanded. In treating place in a room comfortably warm without being overheated, and moisten the air by keeping a kettle going. If the throat is so full of phlegm that breathing is difficult give an emetic of the wine of ipecac in doses of a half to two teaspoonfuls, repeated in one hour, if necessary. After the stomach is erupted and the patient has quieted use the following mixture: Paragoric six drams, Hoffman's spirits two drams, ipecacuanha wine one dram, syrum of squills one ounce, water to make three ounces. The dose is a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful every four or six hours. Keep the bowels open by occasional doses of aperient medicine and repeat the emetic if the breathing has not improved in forty-eight hours, and after the acute stage of the disease has passed and the cough is better give cod liver oil emulsion. Feed on milk,, meat broths and soup during the early stages of the disease, and as the severe symptoms abate meat may be given.