Camino Animal Clinic #A

Abscesses are a frequent problem in cats, especially un-neutered males who get into territorial or breeding disputes. During these disputes, the pet may receive a bite or a scratch. If the wound becomes infected, an abscess may form. Neutering your male cat will reduce his desire to fight.

An abscess is the formation of an accumulation of infectious material containing a thick, yellow fluid. The surrounding area is often very swollen and painful. An abscess that has fully formed feels like a "water-filled balloon" when touched. It may feel hot, swollen, and is usually very painful when touched.

Abscesses are caused by bacterial contamination of a puncture wound, such as a scratch or bite wound. The skin over this type wound heals quickly on the outside which encloses the bacteria pushed in by the puncture. Because the bacteria are trapped underneath the skin, an infection begins to form.

If an abscess is not surgically drained, the bacterial infection can spread in the surrounding tissues and throughout the body via the blood stream. Blood poisoning may occur which can threaten the life of the animal. Signs of blood poisoning from an abscess include depression, dehydration, fever, lack of appetite, and vomiting. Prevention of abscess formation includes prompt examination of possible puncture wounds and use of appropriate antibiotic therapy.

A fluid-filled swelling
If the abscess has not ruptured, the animal will most likely be feverish, resulting in listlessness and appetite loss. Depending on how long the swelling has been present, the skin involved may be tender or fragile.

A odorous, draining sore
The fluid pocket will eventually rupture and release foul-smelling purulent discharge. You may not see the wound, but you will probably smell it.

A wound that is not healing
Some animals will lick the fur away from the wound, making the area more visible. At this point, it is likely to look raw and may no longer be actively draining pus. Sometimes the overlying skin is especially fragile and simply tears away, leaving a large raw area.

A tender area
Sometimes the wound is buried in the fur so deeply that it is not apparent. You may only find a tender area and possibly notice the odor characteristic of deep infection.

Common areas for bite wound abscesses include the facial cheeks, the legs, and the base of the tail. These are the areas where fighting animals tend to bite one another.

Abscesses should be examined by a veterinarian within 24 hours.

Do not attempt to open the abscess yourself.
Do not apply medicines or herbal remedies to the area unless directed to by a veterinarian.

If the abscess has not ruptured, it will need to be lanced. Once the abscess is open, it will need to be flushed clean of infected debris. If the abscess is large or especially painful, sedation or anesthesia may be required to accomplish this.
Older abscesses may have enough devitalized overlying tissue to require surgical trimming and stitches. Some abscesses are large enough to require an indwelling rubber drain to assist with removal of the purulent discharge.

Your pet will need antibiotics at home. You will need to administer either pills or liquid medication.
Warm compresses are helpful for the first few days following surgery. The heat helps with swelling and drainage. To hot pack the area use a warm (not hot) washcloth applied to the wound for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day.
Most abscesses heal over approximately 1 week after surgery, though larger abscesses can take longer. Be sure to notify your veterinarian if your pet’s abscess is not healing. Be sure you understand how to give medications, perform hot packing, and manage rubber drains if your pet has them.

Feline leukemia (Felv) and feline immunodeficiency viruses (FIV) represent serious contagious infections spread by bite wounds. Testing, accomplished by a simple kit that can be done in your veterinarian's office, ideally should be done 60 days or more from the time of the bite. Outdoor cats should be tested annually for these viruses regardless of vaccination status. We recommend testing at the time of the abscess treatment if a test has not been performed in the last year. This test will not rule out any infection initiated by this bite, but will test for any infection from past bites.

If you have an outdoor cat, it is especially important to make sure his or her Felv and Rabies vaccines are current. These vaccines are not required by law at this time.

All dogs 4 months of age or older are required by law to be vaccinated for Rabies. The Rabies vaccine is repeated after the first year and then every 3 years. This vaccine prevents the transmission of rabies from another dog or wild animal to your dog if it is bitten.

Sources:

www.veterinarypartner.com
Whitford Client Education Series, 3rd Edition

BITE ABSCESSES