How to Recognize and Treat Abscesses in Cats

Cats can be very friendly creatures to us, but are often not so cordial with other felines, or other animals in the wild world outside the house. Cats commonly get into fights with other animals, which results in them getting wounds which fester with bacteria, otherwise known as abscesses. Recognizing and treating abcesses is vital, as if they go untreated, they can be deadly. Read on to learn how to recognize and treat abscesses in cats.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gauze
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Small scalpel blade
• Clippers
• 20 gauge needles and syringe
• Penicilin
• Thermometer

1. Be aware of what an abscess looks like. They are often lumps which appear on the cat which are filled with thick, white, purulent (infected) fluid. If your cat isn't feeling right, or is limping, or feels hot to the touch, or has temperature of over 102.6 degrees F, these can accompany the absesses. Clip the hair around the suspected area and look for bite marks.

2. For suspected areas, wash the skin with perixide. Squeeze gently and see if puss comes out. If it doesn't, poke the area with a syringe hooked up to a 20 gauge needle. Try to pull fluid out. If you get red reddish fluid that looks like diluted blood, you probably have a hematoma, a blood bleed that is best left alone. If no fluid comes out, gently lance the area with tip of a scalpel blade. If fluid coming out is thick, purulent, white and stinky, make a second hole in the abcess and drain it out. If you can, and if you can safely do it (without damaging vital body parts), flush the first hole with peroxide and see if it drains out the other hole. This will cause pain in the cat, but needs to be done if there is an abscess.

3. Give cat Penicilin as antibiotic with, if possible to get, clindamycin. You need to give antibiotics to treat abscesses. If cat has not been vaccinated against rabies in the last three months, give a booster (you need to do this through a vet, most probably). Continue clindamycin (by mouth) for at least seven days.

Tips & Warnings

• Abscesses need to be treated. They may break on their own and drain but some don't, and spread bacteria to other areas.
• If in doubt about any procedures and diagnostics, see a veterinarian first--and fast.

Who Can Help Sponsored

[lldyhwke]

on 3/10/2009 My make cat has a lump at the base of his tail. He was put on antibiotics. Then he started having urine and diluted blood come from his bottom. The antibiotics seemed to make him feel better. He was eating soft cat food and the bleeding and urination stopped. Two days ago he stopped eating. And tonight he had a bowel movement all over his botoom. I gave him some warm milk with sugar in it to get some nourishment in him. I still give him antibiotics. What do I do?

[lldyhwke]

on 3/10/2009 My make cat has a lump at the base of his tail. He was put on antibiotics. Then he started having urine and diluted blood come from his bottom. The antibiotics seemed to make him feel better. He was eating soft cat food and the bleeding and urination stopped. Two days ago he stopped eating. And tonight he had a bowel movement all over his botoom. I gave him some warm milk with sugar in it to get some nourishment in him. I still give him antibiotics. What do I do?