Chapter 7

RESPIRATION

The number of respirations per minute varies with the different classes of animals; as a rule, the larger the animal, the slower the respiration.

The Horse 8 to 10 Cattle 12 to 15 Sheep and Goats 12 to 20 The Dog 15 to 20 Swine 10 to 15

The rate of breathing is increased from the processes of digestion immediately after eating, or may increase from exercise.

NORMAL TEMPERATURE OF THE HORSE

From 2 to 5 years old the temperature is 100.6 degrees Fahr. From 5 to 10 years old the temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahr. From 10 to 15 years old the temperature is 100 degrees Fahr. From 15 to 20 years old the temperature is 98.4 to 100.2 degrees Fahr.

Sex appears to slightly influence temperature: Stallion 100 degrees Fahr. Mare 100.8 degrees Fahr. Gelding 100.4 degrees Fahr.

The time of day when temperature is taken is important, the lowest body temperature being at 4 a.m., and the highest at 6 p.m. New born foals' temperature will run from 102 to 104 degrees Fahr.

TEMPERATURE OF CATTLE

Normal temperature is from 101.8 to 102 degrees Fahr.

Compared with the horse, the daily variations are small.

TEMPERATURE OF SHEEP AND GOATS

In these animals the greatest variation in temperature occurs, viz.: 100.9 to 105.8 degrees Fahr. In the majority of cases the temperature probably will be between 103.6 and 104.4 degrees Fahr. The cause of this variation is unknown.

TEMPERATURE OF SWINE

The average temperature is 103.3 degrees Fahr., varying from 100.9 to 105.4 degrees Fahr.

TEMPERATURE OF THE DOG

The dog is subject to important variations depending on the external temperature; it varies from 99.5 to 101.7 degrees Fahr., although in some localities it is as high as 100.9, 101.3 and 101.7 degrees Fahr. Feeding will increase the temperature, and it is also higher toward evening.

PULSE THROBS PER MINUTE Per Minute The Horse 36 to 40 Cattle 45 to 50 Sheep and Goats 70 to 80 The Dog 70 to 80 Swine 90 to 100

The pulse in the young is much more rapid than in the adult animal; that of a foal at birth beats 100 to 102 per minute, while that of a calf will go to 130 per minute. In old age the pulsation becomes reduced and the arteries much weaker. The pulse rate in large animals is less than in smaller ones, as for instance, an elephant's pulse rate is from 25 to 28 beats per minute. The more rapid the pulse, the greater the quantity of blood in circulation.

AVERAGE PERIODS OF GESTATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Mare 11 months Ass 12 months Cow 9 months Sheep 5 months Goat 5 months Sow 3-1/2 months Bitch 9 weeks Cat 8 weeks

AVERAGE PERIOD OF INCUBATION

Chicken 20 to 22 days Geese 28 to 34 days Duck 28 to 30 days Turkey 27 to 29 days Pigeon 18 days Guinea Fowl 28 days Pheasant 25 days Ostrich 40 to 42 days Canary Bird 14 days

VETERINARY FACTS AND ADVICE TO REMEMBER

1. Cleanliness of body and surroundings is a necessity in the treatment of animals.

2. Pure air, avoiding drafts, is equally essential.

3. Light, excepting in the treatment of eye diseases, is greatly to be desired. Darkness, while soothing to the eye, tends to prolong germ life and disease.

4. Keep dry--dampness breeds disease.

5. Keep warm--in chilly weather, blanket the sick animal, hand rub limbs and bandage with woolen cloths.

6. Exercise with care--excessive and insufficient exercise are both injurious.

7. Feed with care--green grass, in medium quantity, and vegetables are cooling to the blood, easily digested and exert a slight laxative effect. Grain feed is nutritious and strengthening, but it is not required in any quantity by a horse not working. Be sure that all feed is fresh and clean.

8. Drinking water must be pure--impure water carries many disease germs. Also avoid giving water in large quantities, especially if water is very cold.

9. Disinfection involves little time or expense, but is invaluable. Coal tar products which emulsify in water (1 part coal tar products to 50-75 parts water) should be freely and occasionally sprinkled about yards and buildings.

If only these few fundamental and common-sense principles were followed by stock raisers, a very large percentage of the ills and diseases of domestic animals would be lastingly prevented.

DRENCHING

Do not drench an animal when you can administer the necessary medicine in any other way. Drench only when absolutely necessary. A horse, in contrast with all other domestic animals, cannot breathe through its mouth. Therefore, in treating horses, drenching is especially dangerous. While drenching any animal, strangulation, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc., are liable to be caused by some of the drenching liquid escaping from the mouth into the lungs. This is a frequent occurrence in which the drenching proves to be the immediate cause of the animal's death, as in case of strangulation, or the originating cause when drenched animals later succumb to pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.

MEDICINE IN CAPSULES

In many of the treatments prescribed in the preceding pages, the use of gelatine capsules has been advised in preference to giving the medicine in any other form.

Capsules, made of gelatine, do not lie in the animal's stomach, as commonly supposed, but dissolve readily; the gelatine itself being beneficial in many cases, especially if the bowels or stomach be irritated. The animal receives the intended dose fully. It avoids any unpleasant taste. With capsule gun, or by hand, medicine in capsules is more easily and quickly given than to attempt to hold animal's head up, as is necessary when administering liquid drenches, the danger of which has been explained.

PREVENTION OF CONTAGIOUS DISEASES

Newly purchased animals or poultry should be segregated for from ten days to two weeks to give opportunity for any infectious diseases with which they may be afflicted, or have been exposed to, to fully develop. This precaution will often save the buyer from loss.

Avoid exhibiting in fairs, shows, etc., where the health of your animals might be jeopardized, especially through the presence of contagiously affected animals. If you cannot be sure proper precautions are to be taken, better forego your pride and possible prize ribbons.

HEREDITARY TENDENCIES

When breeding, it is of utmost importance to select a good female as well as male, for the least faulty conformation in either will in all probability be transferred to the offspring, viz.: an animal with a crooked hind leg is subject to bone spavin, curbs, bog spavin, thoroughpin, ring bone, etc., and is liable to transmit any of these diseases, especially if exposed to slight exertion. A tubercular cow will invariably give birth to a tubercular calf, or at any rate the calf will contract tuberculosis from the milk.

EVOLUTION OF STOCK

During the transformation which our country has undergone, and is undergoing, no one industry has experienced such marked changes as the production and raising of livestock.

At the earliest time of which we have any record, and even up to within comparatively recent years, large herds of horses and cattle ranged over our plains in a wild state. At first no attempts were made to capture or round up these herds, and later but one or two attempts per year, when the young were branded and grown animals shipped, if possible, or driven to available markets.

As the country became more thickly settled and populated these larger herds were broken up, the ranges becoming divided and fenced. With this segregation, attention to breeding and care of animals began to be practiced, gradually causing the animal's evolution from the wild to the domesticated state.

As this process of evolution progressed the animal became farther and farther removed from its natural condition of living, becoming more dependent on man for food and shelter, and with this change the animal's former vitality and power to resist disease decreased markedly.

With the advancement of agriculture, and their resultant prosperity, the farmers and settlers improved their stock by importing blooded or registered males and females, particularly the former, until today our country is second to none in the number of good conformated draft and speed horses; beef and dairy cattle; quick-maturing hogs; large wool and mutton-producing sheep, etc. Poultry has likewise been improved for both egg-laying and meat-producing qualities. The poultry industry is yet in its infancy, and offers large inducements to the practical raiser. Our importation of eggs is enormous.

The average stock raiser and poultryman has just begun to realize the value of proper care and treatment of his stock, and how much unnecessary loss can be prevented by the expenditure of a little time and even less money if given at the proper time.

Animals and poultry are subject, just as humans, to many diseases but, unfortunately, when they become ill are dependent on man to recognize the symptoms of disease and diagnose. Therefore, it behooves all owners of stock to know and practice the fundamental necessities of their animals' health, not only for the welfare of themselves, but also as an act of humanity to dumb animals.

INDEX

DISEASES OF HORSES

Abortion Abscess Acute cough Anemia Apthae Ascaris megalcephala Atrophy Azoturia Barrenness Bleeding after castration Blood poisoning Bog spavin Bone spavin Bots Bronchitis Capped elbow Capped hock Capped knee Cerebral meningitis Choking Chronic catarrh Chronic cough Coffin joint lameness Cold Colic, flatulent Colic, spasmodic Colic, wind Colt constipation Colt diarrhoea Conjunctivitis Constipation Constipation in colts Corns Cough Cracked heels Curb Dentistry Diarrhoea Diarrhoea in colts Dislocation of the patella Distemper Dropsy of belly Dropsy of legs Dropsy of sheath Dropsy of udder Eczema Emphysema of the lungs Epizootic catarrh Eye diseases Failure to breed Farcy Filariae Fistula of foot Fistulous withers Flatulent colic Forage poisoning Founder Galls Gastrophilis Glanders Grease heels Haemopis Heaves Hernia, inguinal Horse dentistry Inflammation of the brain Inflammation of the membrane of nictitans Influenza Inguinal hernia Lampas Laryngitis Leeches Lock jaw Lung fever Lymphangitis Mange Monday Morning disease Mud fever Nasal catarrh Nasal gleet Navel rupture Navel string infection Navicular disease Nettle rash Open joint Oxyuris curvilis Palesade worm Petchial fever Pharyngitis Pink eye Pin worm Pleurisy Pneumonia Poll evil Purpura haemorrhagica Quittor Red worm Rheumatism Ring bone Round worm Rupture, scrotal Scabies Scrotal rupture Septicaemia Shoe boil Side bones Sore throat Spasmodic colic Spavin, bog Spavin, bone Splints Staggers Stifle joint lameness String halt Strongulus armatus Strongulus tetracanthus Supernumerary teeth Surfeit Sweeny Tapeworm Teeth, supernumerary Teeth, wolf Tenia Tetanus Thoroughpin Thread-like worm Thrush Umbilical hernia Umbilical pyemia Urtecaria Wind colic Wind galls Wolf teeth Worm, maw Worm, palesade Worm, pin Worm, red Worm, round Worm, tape Worm, thread Worm, thread-like Wounds

DISEASES OF CATTLE

Abdominal hernia Abdominal rupture Abnormal Calving Abortion, contagious Abortion, non-contagious Abscesses Absence of milk Actinomycosis Acute cough Afterbirth retention Amaurosis of the eye Anthrax Apoplexy, parturient Ascities Bacterial dysentery Bag Inflammation Barrenness Big head Black leg Black quarter Bleeding Bloating Blood poison Blood suckers Bloody flux Bloody flux in calves Bloody milk Blue milk Brain congestion Bronchitis Bronchitis verminous Calf cholera Calf scours Calving Casting the withers Cataract of the eye Catarrh Chapped teats Choking Chronic cough Chronic dysentery Colic Congestion of the brain Congestion of the lungs Congestion of the spinal cord Congestion of the udder Conjunctivitis Contagious abortion Cough Cow pox Cud chewing Dehorning Diarrhoea Dropsy Dysentery Eczema Epizootica eczema Ergot poisoning Ergotism Eversion of the womb Eye inflammation Eyelid laceration Failure to breed Fluke, liver Fluke, lung Foot and mouth disease Foot rot Foul in foot Founder Garget Grub Hard milkers Hematuria Hemorrhage Hernia, abdominal Hollow horn Indigestion Infectious abortion Infectious aphtha Inflammation of the bag Inflammation of the eye Inflammation of the heart sack Inflammation of the kidneys Inflammation of the penis Inflammation of the womb Joint ill Jones disease Kidney inflammation Laceration of the eyelid Laminitis Laryngitis Leeches Leucorrhea Liver fluke Loss of cud Lumpy jaw Lung congestion Lung fever Lung fluke Mammitis, simple Mange Measly beef Milk fever Navel ill Non-contagious abortion Obstruction of the esophagus Paralysis Parturient apoplexy Penis Inflammation Pericarditis Pharyngitis Physiology of rumination Pneumonia Pyemia Red Water Retained afterbirth Rheumatism Ring worm Round worm Rupture, abdominal Scabies Scum over the eye Septicaemia Sore throat Spinal cord congestion Stringy milk Suppression of milk Tape worm Teats chapped Texas fever Ticks Tuberculosis Twisted stomach worm Udder congestion Umbilical Pyemia Umbilical Septicemia Variola Verminous bronchitis Warts Warbles Whites White scours in calves Wolf in the tail Womb inflammation Wooden tongue Worm, lung Worm, round Worm, stomach Worm, tape

DISEASES OF SWINE

Abortion Administration of medicine Bag inflammation Black tooth Blood poisoning Bronchitis Castration Catarrh Choking Cholera, hog Cold in the head Congestion, kidney Diarrhoea in young pigs Heat stroke Hind quarter paralysis Hog, administration of medicine Hog cholera Hog lice Hog regulator and tonic Indigestion Inflammation, bag Inflammation, lung Inguinal rupture Jaundice Kidney congestion Kidney worms Lice on hogs Lung fever Lung inflammation Lung worm Mange Nasal catarrh Navel rupture Nettle rash Paralysis of the hind quarters Pig diarrhoea Pig scours Piles Pin worm Pleurisy Prolapse of the anus Pyemia Regulator and tonic Rheumatism Rickets Round worm Rupture, inguinal Rupture, navel Rupture, scrotal Rupture, umbilical Septicemia Scours in pigs Scrotal rupture Sore feet Sore mouth Sows eating their young Sun stroke Thorn headed worm Thumps Tonic and regulator Urticaria Worm, kidney Worm, lung Worm, pin Worm, round Worm, thorn headed Worm, whip Yellows

DISEASES OF SHEEP AND GOATS

Abortion Acute indigestion Acute typanitis Apoplexy, pulmonary Black scours Bloating Bronchitis Catarrh Cold in the head Congestion of the liver Congestion of the lung Congestion of the udder Diarrhoea Dysentery Dyspepsia Foot rot Forage poisoning Foul in foot Garget Gastritis, verminous Gid Grub in the head Head grubs Head maggot Hoven Indigestion Indigestion, acute Inflammation of the liver Inflammation of the udder Jaundice Lamb disease Liver congestion Liver fluke Liver inflammation Louse fly Lung congestion Lung fever Lung worm Mange Pneumonia Poisoning, forage Pulmonary apoplexy Scab Scours, black Strongylosis Sturdy Tick Typanitis, acute Udder, congestion of Udder, inflammation of Verminous bronchitis Verminous gastritis Worm, lung

DISEASES OF POULTRY

Abortion Abscesses of the feet. Air sac mite Apoplexy of the brain Aptha Ascites Baldness Beak and throat obstruction Black head Body lice Body scabies Brain apoplexy Bronchitis Bronchitis verminous Bruises of the feet. Bumblefoot Catarrh Catarrh of the crop Chicken pox Cholera of the fowl Congestion of the liver Constipation Corns Crop impaction Diarrhoea Diarrhoea, white Difficult laying Diphtheria Diphtheritic roup Double yolked eggs Dropsy Egg bound Egg eating Egg incomplete Eggs with two yolks Eggs without shells Enteritis Favus Feather eating Feather pulling Feeding of young poultry Fowl cholera Gapes Gastro intestinal catarrh Gout Head lice Hemorrhage of the brain How to feed young poultry Impaction of the crop Incomplete egg Infectious entero hepatitis of turkeys Inflammation of the crop Inflammation of the mouth Intestinal obstruction Jaundice Leg weakness Lice, body Lice, head Liver congestion Mange Mite, red Mouth inflammation Obstruction of the beak and throat Obstruction of the bile duct Obstruction of the crop Obstruction of the intestines Obstruction of the oviduct Paralysis of the crop Paralysis of the legs Pip Pulmonary congestion Red mite Rheumatism Roup, diphtheritic Scabies of the body Scabies of the legs Scaly leg Soft shelled eggs Sore head Sore mouth Throat and beak obstruction Thrush Tuberculosis Vent gleet Verminous tracheo bronchitis Warts White diarrhoea Worms

MISCELLANEOUS

Average Period of Gestation Average Period of Incubation Deposit or Investment Table Drenching of Animals Evolution of Stock Hereditary Tendencies Medicine in Capsules Normal Purse Throbs Normal Respiration Normal Temperature Prevention of Contagious Diseases Six Per Cent Interest Table Table of Valuable Drugs and their Doses Veterinary Facts and Advice to Remember