In this Animal Expert article, we will talk about abscesses in cats: symptoms and treatment. Abscesses are accumulations of pus that can be seen on the skin in the form of larger or smaller nodules. The affected area, in addition to inflammation, can become red and even form a sore or ulcer, if the skin is injured. Also, if the cat’s abscess breaks, the pus inside leaks. Behind an abscess, which can occur anywhere in the body, is an infection that must be treated by the veterinarian.
Abscess in cats is one of the most common skin problems in cats. The basic characteristics of abscesses are, as already mentioned:
- Therefore.
- If you notice lumps in your cat’s body.
- You should inform the veterinarian.
- Since before starting treatment it is necessary to confirm the nature of the inflammation.
- Since not all nodules will be abscesses.
- Cats may also have more or less severe skin tumors.
- Fat nodules are rare in cats.
Let’s start this review of the most common abscesses in cats by those that may appear in the mouth. When an infection affects a dental part, a buildup of pus can occur, resulting in abscess. They are very painful and you may notice that the cat will stop eating or will do so with difficulty. If you can look inside the mouth, you can see the abscess and/or pus, however, it is difficult to perform this scan due to the pain the cat will feel when it is hit in the area. Some dental abscesses in cats can affect the eye, causing inflammation or discharge of pus.
In such cases, it is customary to opt for the removal of the affected tooth part(s) in addition to performing oral cleaning and prescribing antibiotics. Diagnosis is based on x-ray.
This type of abscess in cats can be located in the area around the anus. There are glands that, among other problems, can become infected and allow the formation of an abscess, which you will see as inflammation. The skin may appear red, form a sore or open, in which case you will notice that pus comes out. This usually causes bad odor. There are cases that get worse with a perianale fistula, which is a channel through which pus can reach the outside. It is a painful process, which the veterinarian should treat with antibiotics and hygiene in the area.
Below you can see images of abscesses in the cat
Injuries caused by conflicts with other animals, especially dogfights, which cause bites, are very likely to become infected by the bacteria these animals carry in their mouths. In such cases, it is common for the wound to appear to have healed from the outside, but inside, the pus accumulates until the abscess is visible. These abscesses are painful and, depending on where they are located, they can cause other problems, such as difficulty opening the mouth or keeping your head straight.
To avoid, in addition to preventing the cat from leaving alone, especially if it is not neutered, you have to pay attention to all wounds to make sure they heal smoothly, including wounds that appear minor. Treatment, as already mentioned, includes disinfection and/or use of antibiotics. Abscess in more complex cats may require drainage.
In previous sections, we’ve seen how to treat abscesses in cats. Now we list here the steps to follow, always according to the veterinary recommendation:
In the following video of the Manat Veterinary Clinic, located in Spain, you can observe the drainage of an abscess in a cat, which helps to underline the importance of the search for a specialist, because at home it would be impossible to carry out this practice. Also, without proper equipment and hygiene, the wound could worsen, lead to further infections and therefore worsen the clinical situation.
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 want to read articles similar to Abcs in cats: symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you visit our skin problems section.