Causes:
Abscesses in most cases are caused by fighting with another cat.
When a tooth or claw penetrates the skin, it causes damage to underlying tissue. Bacteria are deposited in the tissue at the time of penetration.
Foreign bodies, such as a splinter of wood or a grass seed, are not a common cause of abscesses in cats.
Signs:
An abscess is a collection of pus, circumscribed in a sac, and enclosed within the tissues of the body.
- Pain is felt by the cat when touched at the site of the abscess.
- The cat may be lethargic, without an appetite and/ or have a temperature.
- The abscess is at first a hard lump which softens as it matures and finally may burst.
- Puncture wounds from a bite or a sharp foreign body are common causes.
Treatment:
Cut away surrounding hair and bathe the wound with a cloth or cotton wool soaked in hot water for 10 minutes twice a day.
- If a puncture wound is obvious, clean with iodine-based scrub or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Remove any foreign body that may be embedded in the wound.
- If the abscess bursts, clean as suggested and gently squeeze out any evident discharge.
- · If the abscess does not burst, the veterinarian will open the abscess, drain out the pus and administer antibiotics.
- If the abscess continues to drain after being opened, it should be irrigated twice daily using a syringe containing 3% hydrogen peroxide.
READ ALSO:
- Part 1: How to approach an injured cat
- Part 2: How to handle an injured cat
- Part 3: Assessing the injured cat
- Part 4: When to take the injured cat to a veterinarian
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