This means that food taken into the stomach is not digested or made fit for the nourishment of the body, and that the stomach has altogether or partially lost its power of performing its most important office. This is caused in various ways; want of exercise, improper food, or having'been fed irregularly. Having been overfed or having fasted too long will produce indigestion, but to cause a serious attack, the causes must have been of some standing.

Symptoms

A vitiated appetite, wholesome food he will turn his nose up at, or eat it mincingly, with a preference for filth and garbage. Considerable thirst it present, and often vomiting. Flatulence is also an accompaniment and the gums become inflamed, and breath is foul and offensive when of long standing. Indigestion causes many other forms of disease, following neglected cases - attacks of diarrhea, sometimes alternating with fits of constipation, as derangement of the bowels are almost inseparate from it. Confirmed constipation sometimes exists. The dog may become excessively fat and suffer from asthma accompanied by a cough. The dog's temper is often snappish during the attack.

Indigestion is the cause of many other forms of disease, which are sure to follow neglected cases - derangement of the bowels being almost inseparable from it. Diarrhea attacks occur, often alternating with fits of constipation; or confirmed constipation may exist. A dog will often become excessively fat and suffer from asthma and asthmatic cough.

A secondary symptom is skin disease in one form or another. In treating for indigestion the most important thing to do is to remove the cause or causes. Give a sufficiency only, of plain, wholesome food, and keep within the dog's reach a supply of clean, fresh water. Remedies must be given according to existing circumstances - diarrhea for instance, treated as recommended under that head. The main object is, however, to tone up the stomach and get this organ again into good working shape. Use the following aperient bolus:

Barbadoes aloes ............................ 45 grains.

Jalap...................................... 1 dram.

Powdered ginger............................ 1 dram.

Castile soap ............................... 2 drams.

Make up info a mass and divide into 15 grain balls. Dose, one, two or three balls, according to size of dog.

When bowels have freely acted then give the following, twice daily, until health has returned:

Powdered rhubarb .......................... 1 scruple.

Powdered ginger ........................... 1 scruple.

Extract of gentian .......................... 4 scruples.

Divide into twenty-four pills and give one to four pills twice daily. If much flatulence, put a little bicarbonate of soda on back of tongue and let dog have water.

With careful diet and exercise, these means will be found successful. Add a little lime water to the milk that is given to drink. By treating the patient thus and paying strict attention to his dietary and exercise, the disease will soon yield.

I have used with good results in lieu of the above pill, Clayton's Digestive Pills and believe to be very good.

The following article I found somewhere, and as it is worth reproducing here entire, I give it space in this book:

"As in man, and many animals, indigestion in the dog may be acute, chronic and passive. In acute indigestion the attack is sudden and painful, and is the result of an overloaded stomach. The disorder is called chronic when the dog suffers for a continued time and his stomach and intestines are in a weakened condition. It is active when the attack is brought on by some extrinsic cause, passive when it is the result of some other disease, or is due to an intrinsic cause.

"The breeds of dogs most likely to be affected by indigestion are the pug, the Japanese spaniel, the black and tan, the greyhound, the Yorkshire terrier, the French poodle and the fox terrier.

"Pugs are probably the greatest sufferers. As a rule, they are encouraged in laziness, while sweetmeats are fed to them indiscriminately, so that it is not surprising they should become fat and dyspeptic.

"The foods which are richest in fats and those which are prone to fermentation are the most indigestible, but it is not so much the nature of the food as it is the quantity consumed at one time which injures an animal's stomach. Small dogs are more voracious in their feeding than large dogs. Some dogs never or seldom get a bone to gnaw. The dog is a carnivorous animal, and in a state of nature he lives only on the flesh of other animals. As he swallows his food with but little mastication, Nature has provided him with a desire to gnaw the bones into small pieces. When these small pieces are taken into the stomach they bruise and lacerate the food until it is made thoroughly digestible. It is believed that 70 per cent of the cases of indigestion in dogs are due to their being deprived of bones to gnaw. Domestication has to a great extent modified the habits of the dog. Some pets are pampered and spoiled to the degree that they will eat only certain foods, which must be fed to them with a fork or from some particular dish. Such peculiarities are predisposing causes to indigestion.

"A symptom of acute indigestion is vomiting after feeding. Later this is followed by general dullness; the dog isolates himself from his friends, his eyes .roll with an expression of fear. The muzzle may be dry. Rumbling sounds in the bowel sare heard, accompanied by distension of the abdomen, which is filled with gas. If the animal is forced to move, he shows great uneasiness and is stiff in his posterior limbs, his back arched to relieve the tension of the abdominal muscles. If the abdomen is manipulated he evinces acute pain. The bowels are constipated.. These symptoms may continue for an hour or more, and the attack may pass off as suddenly as it began, or it may last for some length of time, during which the dog suffers the greatest pain. Then the pain ceases, his eyes brighten, he becomes cheerful, and off he goes for a run, apparently perfectly well.

"The symptoms of chronic indigestion are the same as those of the acute attack, only they are less intense and they continue for days at a time. The dog often grows irritable to a state of fenzy, and will run about snapping and biting, exposing himself to be shot for mad by some over-zealous policeman.

"As regards treatment, it is more important to regulate the diet than to give medicines. Feed the sufferer once or twice a day, not oftener, and feed him sparingly. Give him five (5) grains of saccharated pepsin before meals, and five (5) grains each of subnitrate of bismuth and bicarbonate of soda after meals. For small dogs, such as terriers, black and tans, Japanese spaniels, etc., the dose should be reduced one-half,"