CARE OF SICK ANIMALS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 86, 28 April 1937, Page 15

CARE OF SICK ANIMALS

rnn ii-tr-tTp j Nursiiiig Methods For Stock USE OF MEDICINES The fcare of iick animals is often more important than the actual adihittIstration of drugs, Animals possess 4 great degree of resistance, afld there is always a desire to live, which is undoubtedly a gfeat aid to recovery, Man can UBually give the greatest assistaUce to a siok animal simply by doilug for the phtient those things it obviously cannot do for itself. In many cases the provision of stieh attention i and nursing eare is suffioient to enable nature to effect a reCoveiry, There are, of course, many eases in which eurgieal aid is necessary, ag in the caSe of extranedus growths ete., but In all cases of ordiuary siekness the attitude of tke attendant should be that of one who is endeavouring to assist nature. Very often more injury is dotte in the attempt to adminlster drugs, or by the dfUg itself after administration than by the malady from which the animal is suifering- It is not intended to decry the value oi medicines when Correctly used for a speciho malady, the nature of which is fully tinderstood, but the administration of medicines in a haphazard fashion without bding assoeiated with nursing care is likely to be less effective thatt care without medicine* Oleanliness is oue of the most important aids to the recovery of A sick animal. Every ammal is discharging from its body injurious and poisonous toxins. in health the animal is able to eseape from these, seeking clean ground,, fresh air, and health-giving sunshine- When sick these excretions are usually more offensive, and there may be, in addition, a discharge of purulent matter from eyes, nostrils, mouth, genital, and other excretory organs. Tnis infective matter should be removed by Bponging or washing with suitable antiseptic solutions, ahd the use of fresh water for bathing the head is alwavs refreshing to the animal. I'he removal of infective material, besides contributing greatly to the coinfort oi" the ammal, is essential to prevent the spread of disease to healthy animals. For this reason, it is alWays advisable, if possible, to entrust the care of sick animals to a special attendaiit, and so further minimise the

nsk oi disease peing carried to healthy stock. If this ls hot possible, healthy stock should be attended to first and the hands and arms should always be washed in antiseptic solution after tendiug to the sick. it would be advisable also to wear epeciaJ overalls and boots while attendmg to animals suflering from ony Contagious disease. Isolation of the sick animal is also aecessary. Where valuable stqd stock ii re kept a hospital looae box ia Lnvalliablo. This should be situated well out oi the way of healthy stock, |t should be ventilated, ftee frotu draughts, and should pfeferably have cemettt walls that may be readily oleansed and disiufected The patient should be made comfortable and given a plentiful supply oi clean straw for bedding Glean drinking water should be ac'cessible to the patient at all tirn.es, atid excepting iu the case of gastric troubles, no restricfcioh need be placed UpOn iis use. General ly the appetite of the patient may be depended upon to prevent ex•okh being takett