Pharyngitis, or inflammation of the back part of the mouth, is a rare disease in the dog. It may be caused by exposure to variations of temperature, and by the local irritant action of some foreign body.

Symptoms

The cough is at first slight and dry, then moist and hoarse, and followed by a discharge from the nose; there is little or no appetite; swallowing is difficult; the floor of the mouth is red; the tonsils are sometimes swollen; the flow of saliva is profuse; the throat is tender to the touch; and when the part affected is touched the cough is excited, and glairy and purulent matter is ejected by the mouth and the nose. Simple pharyngitis may continue seven or eight days; its duration is longer when bronchitis co-exists. It terminates in restoration of the diseased parts to their former state of health, or more rarely, in the formation of an abscess.

Treatment

Belladonna* is required for difficulty of swallowing, swelling of the tonsils, tenderness of the throat, and febrile excitement.

Mercurius is indicated by swelling and redness of the tonsils, difficulty and pain in swallowing, discharge from the nose, etc.

Hepar sulph. may be required in those rare cases which end in the formation of an abscess.

* The dose, etc., of these medicines is stated in the " Introductory Remarks."