Causes: gastro-intestinal inflammations, metritis, trauma to walls of
abdomen, pyæmia, septicæmia, tuberculosis, cancer, tumors, parasites.
Symptoms: dullness, hiding away, movements tardy, painful, arched
back, retracted abdomen, tense and tender, drags hind limbs, vomits,
yawns, bloats, hopeless look, snappish, death in 2 to 8 days.
Treatment: anodynes, saline laxatives by mouth and rectum, damp
compress, warm bath, antiseptics, diuretics, in effusion, puncture,
antiseptic irrigation, laparotomy.
_Causes._ All inflammatory and other serious affections of the stomach
and bowels may be associated with peritonitis. Metritis and injuries to
the womb, and all injuries to the walls of the abdomen (kicks, blows,
penetrating and castration wounds), may have a similar complication.
Pyæmia and septicæmia may also have localization in the peritoneum. It
must be borne in mind, however, that purulent and septic infection are
less likely to occur in the dog than in cattle, the leucocytes of the
dog having much more resisting power. On the other hand the dog, and,
still more so, the cat has a fair measure of susceptibility to
tuberculosis, cancer and various forms of tumors, which show a strong
tendency to localization in the abdomen. Parasites also penetrate and
irritate the peritoneum.
_Symptoms._ The animal becomes dull, retiring, and inclined to lie in a
quiet place, though his suffering may lead to frequent change of bed, he
moves slowly, painfully, with arched back, retracted abdomen, and
drooping head, and dragging his hind limbs stiffly. The abdomen is tense
and firm, hot and very tender, drawing forth whines and yelps when it is
handled. There are hyperthermia (104°), small, weak, accelerated pulse,
hurried, catching breathing, vomiting, yawning, tympany and
constipation. The face has a hopeless, stupid look and the eyes are
sunken and at times glazed. Some patients become ill natured and
snappish. The animal gradually sinks into a condition of prostration and
finally of collapse and dies in two to eight days.
_Treatment_ does not differ materially from that given for larger
animals. Pain may be moderated by belladonna, hyoscyamus, chloral, or
even opium, while the sulphate of soda is employed by both mouth and
rectum. The abdomen may be enveloped in a damp compress, or a warm bath
may be given. Diuretics will be in order and above all antiferments, the
latter by enema as well. Distension of the abdomen with fluid may be
relieved by puncture, followed by antiseptic irrigation. If there is
good ground to suspect a gastric or intestinal lesion or tumors,
laparotomy is a much more hopeful resort than in the larger animals.