Abscess in a cat and its treatment

A cat is a free-spirited animal. If she knows and uses all the steps and exits to the street, will thoroughly check everyone and everywhere. Trees, the roof, other people's yards, and in private yards - barns, buildings, basements. Protects the territory of walks zealously, biased, considering her as his own. But such is the mobility of a cat, the ability to move "in all planes" is dangerous for the animal. It can get hurt, often complicated by suppuration.
Most often an abscess (purulent inflammation) occurs in a cat, but can also be in a cat or kitten. Let's talk about that, why it happens, what is dangerous, what to do and how to treat.

What is an abscess in a cat??

An abscess is a boil, which is formed in a cat under the skin inside, which requires treatment. An ailment occurs due to an infection. The skin rises, swelling is visible (sometimes large). Purulent contents accumulate in the cavity between the skin and muscles. Abscess in cats (in the photo) can occur in any part of the body, if it is traumatic in nature. Possible (often happens) in the area of ​​the cheek, under the eye, when caused by inflammatory dental disease. The classification of abscesses in cats depends on the place of their occurrence and the reason for their occurrence. They distinguish dental (tissues around the root of the tooth become inflamed) and combat (consequences of injuries in cat fights) abscesses in cats. According to the type of course of the disease, both types are divided into:

1. Superficial - a small abscess, close to the surface, usually reveals itself. There is not much manure, not complicated, heals easily.
2. Deep. A bite with a fang creates a small, but goes inside the morning. The infection penetrates deeper, the disease is more severe. Sealing is palpable at the damaged place, the appearance of the skin is not necessarily changed.
3. Acute - rapidly flowing, so-called "hot" abscesses. They often reveal themselves.
4. Cold. The name does not reflect the seriousness of the process, although this is a chronicle. Usually — a kind of deep, may be repeated (recrudesce) over a long period (years).
5. Benign. The process proceeds with the formation of thick yellowish-white masses. There is no sharp smell, the prognosis is favorable.
6. Malignant. The name is informative: immunity is weak, pathogenic organisms take over, the infection spreads (spillage) on adjacent tissues. An abscess of this kind in the mouth emits a sharp unpleasant smell when breathing in a cat.

Causes of abscess in cats

Scratch, wound, the bite of another "neighbor on the roof" - any damage to the skin opens the entrance of infection. The less trauma, the greater the risk of an abscess in a cat. The reason is simple. When the wound is open, then the microbes that got into it can come out together with blood or pus, the animal recovers. Small surface damage, especially pointy (like an injection), heals very quickly, drags on. Foreign microorganisms that got inside remain alive. If the cat "fought" with another pet, was bitten or scratched, then the probability of infection with the subsequent occurrence of a purulent abscess is high. There could well be pathogenic microbes on the enemy's claws or in his saliva. The problem is common, although there are not many causes of abscess:

1. Immunity is included in the work, phagocytes flock to the site of invasion of pathogenic flora, leukocytes. Purulent content is formed, and the way out (outflow) he doesn't have. The site of this battle of microorganisms swells, swells up, a purulent abscess develops.
2. Inflammatory process, caused by dental disease. This happens from trauma to the tooth with excessively hard food (example, bone), age is also not the last factor.
3. Secondary infection during treatment can also be the cause of the disease. Carrying out medical intervention, that breaks the skin (injections, dissection of abscesses) with non-observance of sterility. An abscess in a cat can occur even at the injection site. All manipulations are carried out with a sterile instrument, animals are not immune to infection.

Symptoms and during an abscess in cats

It is difficult to notice a small wound under the coat. It lasts quickly, traces are almost invisible. Therefore, the animal's lethargy is often the first sign of illness. If the problem in the mouth is related to the teeth, then the cat stops eating or tries to chew on one side, pitying the other. Sometimes spits out food, rubs his cheek against the litter or the ground.

The cat is in pain, she is patient, don't cry, therefore, it is worth watching her behavior carefully. An abscess in a cat (especially in the mouth) not only painful, but also dangerous complications, up to general infection of the blood.

Prone to sick and feline AIDS (immunodeficiency), the risk of contracting it persists after recovery.

Missing the first stage will cause the painful process to intensify. A tumor will appear, it can no longer be seen.

Without treatment, the abscess continues to worsen, its development scheme looks like this:

• the introduction of infection through the site of damage (it is not noticeable yet);
• slight swelling, sometimes redness of the skin;
• the area becomes hot to the touch (local temperature increase);
• morbidity (the cat withdraws, does not allow to be felt);
• intense redness of a rounded shape;
• swelling increases, clearly visible;
• the contents of the affected cavity are visible through the skin;
• unless revealed independently or under duress, then the purulent content of the abscess spills over other tissues.

An abscess is a boil, which is formed in a cat under the skin inside, which requires treatment. An ailment occurs due to an infection. Source: Flickr (Julie_Krawczyk)

Treatment of a purulent abscess in a cat at home

Having probably established the diagnosis based on the listed symptoms, the animal must be shown to the doctor. An abscess in a cat's mouth or body is a common phenomenon. A veterinarian can easily diagnose, will choose treatment tactics. Most often, the abscess has to be cut, open to drain the contents. The clinic can perform this operation under general or local anesthesia, depending on the stage of the process and the condition of the hairy patient. Naked cats are less prone to abscess — this is not a paradox, and the result of the conditions of detention. They usually do not walk on roofs, they do not have to fight with their relatives. And the owners watch their teeth, know the characteristics of the breed.