From licking in skin disease. Symptoms: of obstruction. Treatment:
manipulation, enemata, oil, antispasmodics, eserine, barium chloride,
laparotomy, diet in convalescence.
The hair balls of _dogs_ come mainly from licking themselves when
affected with skin diseases or parasites. In _pigs_ they are mostly
attributed to depraved appetite.
The hair balls of the _dog_ are small, open in texture, and easily
disintegrated, having little mucus and no earthy salts in their
composition.
The bristle balls of _pigs_ take the form of straight or curved rods of
firm consistency, but without earthy salts. The projecting ends of the
bristles render them particularly irritating.
The _symptoms_ are those of obstruction of the bowels, and the
_treatment_ consists in efforts to dislodge them. If situated near the
anus they may sometimes be reached with the finger, or copious oily
injections may facilitate their passage. Manipulations through the
abdominal walls may be helpful in the dog. Oleaginous laxatives and
antispasmodics may be tried, or these failing, eserine or barium
chloride. As a last resort laparotomy may be performed, the ball
abstracted and the intestine and abdominal wall carefully sutured
(Siedamgrotzky). In such a case the diet should be restricted for a week
to beef soups, buttermilk, and well boiled gruels, especially flaxseed.