In this peritoAnimal article, we will talk about abscesses in dogs. As we will see, an abscess is a build-up of pus under or on the skin. It can appear anywhere in the body and comes from an infection, being a reaction of the body to this infection. Therefore, an abscess requires veterinary assistance because it requires a diagnosis first and then, in many cases, antibiotic treatment. In the most complex cases, in addition, abscesses should be drained, as we will explain.
Continue reading and discovering with us all about abscess in dogs: causes and treatment.
- An abscess is a buildup of pus caused by an infection anywhere in the body.
- It is a reaction of the body to this infectious process that produces inflammation.
- Observable as a ball under the skin.
- At other times.
- Swelling eventually causes an injury or opening.
- Allowing pus to come out.
- When this happens.
- It is common to think of an infection of the dog’s skin.
- However.
- As we have said.
- The infection does not necessarily have to be skin.
Therefore, the clearest symptom of an abscess in dogs is the appearance of a larger or smaller nodule. However, depending on the location and cause of the abscess, we may experience different symptoms, as we will see below.
As we have already said, abscesses in dogs can appear anywhere on the body. In this section we will highlight some of the most common ones:
If you notice the presence of a nodule in your dog, we should consult a veterinarian to determine what it is, because in the body of the dog we can find nodules of different origin, fat, which are not very serious, to malignant tumors. fibrosarcoma, derived from fibrous connective tissue.
In an abscess caused by a foreign object, the veterinarian should examine the area to determine if the object is still in the body of the dog, to remove it. For mild abscesses, it is usually sufficient for the veterinarian to make a small incision to open them so that the guardian can disinfect the injury with products such as chlorhexidine twice daily. For larger nodules, antibiotics are prescribed for an abscess in dogs. It is also possible, in case of closed and hard abscesses in dogs, to apply heat in the area where they are located several times a day to soften them and help to open them and clean them.
In abscesses affecting the teeth, the veterinarian should have surgery to remove and clean and drain the area, and in some cases it is possible to maintain them. You’ll also need antibiotics and disinfectants to recover.
The drainage of abscesses in dogs is an intervention that can only be performed at the veterinarian. In some cases, especially when it comes to a bite abscess, the veterinarian will make a small incision to make the drainage, which is usually a tube through which fluids come out of the area while the injury heals.
The drainage of abscesses in dogs is a very complicated process and requires consultation with a veterinarian because, as we have already mentioned, only he can perform this surgery. If we are faced with an open abscess in the dog and decide to drain it and treat it at home, the consequences can be very serious, since the infection could be aggravated by the development of a secondary infection by the presence of opportunistic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, present completely naturally in the nasal flora of the dog and that may take time to colonize if the abscess is found in this area.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to Abscess in Dogs – Causes and Treatment, we recommend that you visit our Skin Problems section.