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Pet Health Information
Abscesses
An abscess is often the result of a wound or injury becoming infected and developing into a pocket of infection that contains pus. Sometimes abscesses can form secondary to moderately severe dental disease or other systemic illness such as cancer.
Abscesses may be large or small, single or multiple. An abscess in the skin feels hot, looks swollen, and is painful, when touched. Often abscesses will rupture, in which case you will notice the wound draining. Abscesses can result from puncture wounds such as bites and scratches or from a foreign body such as a stick or wire. The surface may seal over enclosing bacteria and debris from a tooth, claw, wire, etc. It is the bacteria and debris that causes the infection. If the abscess does not rupture and heal, the bacterial infection can infiltrate surrounding tissue, even spreading throughout the body. Your pet will often develop a high fever and show lethargy and loss of appetite.
The treatment of an abscess depends on the type and state of each individual case. If the abscess has not ruptured, it is lanced to provide an opening for drainage. It is then flushed well with an antiseptic solution, and an antibiotic ointment is instilled into the wound. Others are treated by addressing the underlying problem (like removing diseased teeth). It is important that the abscess heals from the inside out; if the skin heals over while a pocket is still present, another abscess will form. The goal of treatment is to keep a drainage opening present while the wound itself is healing. Instilling an antibiotic ointment into the abscess daily may help. Sometimes flushing needs to be continued at home as well. In general, as the pocket heals, the treatment is gradually decreased. When the pocket is gone the treatment is stopped. This can take as little as a few days or up to several weeks. Oral antibiotics are extremely important and will be prescribed during the entire healing period.
Contact your veterinarian, if any of the following occurs:
Your pet remains lethargic and won’t eat or drink.
The abscess does not seem to be healing.
The abscess heals over but is still swollen underneath and you can not get the drainage hole open.
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