Diagnosis—­The diagnostic symptoms are the severe catarrh, combined not only with fever, but speedy emaciation.

Pneumonia, as we might easily imagine, is a very likely complication, and a very dangerous one.  There is great distress in breathing, the animal panting rapidly.  The countenance is anxious, the pulse small and frequent, and the extremities cold.  The animal would fain sit up on his haunches, or even seek to get out into the fresh air, but sickness, weakness, and prostration often forbid his movements.  If the ear or stethoscope be applied to the chest, the characteristic signs of pneumonia will be heard; these are sounds of moist crepitations, etc.

Bronchitis is probably the most common complication; in fact, it is always present, except in very mild cases.  The cough becomes more severe, and often comes on in tearing paroxysms, causing sickness and vomiting.  The breathing is short and frequent, the mouth hot and filled with viscid saliva, while very often the bowels are constipated.  If the liver becomes involved, we shall very soon have the jaundiced eye and the yellow skin. Diarrhoea is another very common complication.  We have frequent purging and, maybe, sickness and vomiting. Fits of a convulsive character are frequent concomitants of distemper. Epilepsy is sometimes seen, owing, no doubt, to degeneration of the nerve centres caused by blood-poisoning.  There are many other complications, and skin complaints are common after it.

Treatment—­This consists firstly in doing all in our power to guide the specific catarrhal fever to a safe termination; and, secondly, in watching for and combating complications.  Whenever we see a young dog ailing, losing appetite, exhibiting catarrhal symptoms, and getting thin, with a rise in temperature, we should not lose an hour.  If he be an indoor dog, find him a good bed in a clean, well-ventilated apartment, free from lumber and free from dirt.  If it be summer, have all the windows out or opened; if winter, a little fire will be necessary, but have half the window opened at the same time; only take precautions against his lying in a draught.  Fresh air in cases of distemper, and, indeed, in fevers of all kinds, cannot be too highly extolled.

The more rest the dog has the better; he must be kept free from excitement, and care must be taken to guard him against cold and wet when he goes out of doors to obey the calls of Nature.  The most perfect cleanliness must be enjoined, and disinfectants used, such as permanganate of potash, carbolic acid, Pearson’s, or Izal.  If the sick dog, on the other hand, be one of a kennel of dogs, then quarantine must be adopted.  The hospital should be quite removed from the vicinity of all other dogs, and as soon as the animal is taken from the kennel the latter should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and the other dogs kept warm and dry, well fed, and moderately exercised.