Abscess
Abscess:
A deposit of pus that may occur in various parts of the animal's body as a reaction
to infection. Often abscesses are caused by wounds suffered in fights that become
infected by germs, from the enemy's claws. They cause a painful swelling, with
fever frequently present. An abscess should never be squeezed but brought to a
head with localized bathing with warm water and salt. It can be cleaned out with
hydrogen peroxide and a cotton-tipped swab.
Don't Ignore An Abscess On Your Cat Abscesses
in cats are serious conditions. Unlike abscesses in humans and dogs, for example,
they function deep below the skin and like the legendary iceberg, it is this unseen
portion that does the damage. An abscess in a cat is not "just an abscess"
as so many people offhandedly observe. It is a condition which requires medical
attention and antibiotic therapy. Cause
Despite the great natural resistance of cats to infection, abscesses are common
among them, and are caused by a break in the skin through which bacteria can enter.
All cats carry lethal bacteria in their mouths and these bacteria cause the vast
majority of cat abscesses when they are left behind in a bite wound, or when they
are deposited in an open wound by the cats licking the site.
Bite wounds from fighting are the most common causes of cat abscesses. Young male
cats are often found to be suffering from an abscess at the base of the tail.
This location usually denotes a bite wound inflicted by a mature tomcat who has
been defending his "territory" by attempting to bite off the testicles
of inexperienced competitors. (Studies show that a tomcat marks a distinct "territory"
for himself by spraying landmarks around it's perimeter. Other male cats cross
his perimeter at their own risk.) Mouth abscesses, especially in older cats, often
come from lack of dental care. Signs
of Abscesses
The signs of an abscess are heat and swelling of the skin, at the site of the
infection. The owner can usually feel a soft lump at this location and it will
be obvious from the cat's reaction that the area is painful. The cat's temperature
rises, and he (or she) may later on refuse to eat. Often, the original wound or
opening in the skin through which bacteria have penetrated, can be seen. Complications
and Side-Effects of Abscesses
Neglected abscesses may extend into the deeper tissues unnoticed by the cat's
owner, while the infection itself can enter the bloodstream causing a Septicemia
(blood poisoning) with subsequent damage to the heart, kidneys and other vital
organs. This damage will likely only be detected clinically, later on in the cat's
life. It will also shorten the cat's lifespan by a substantial number of years.
Sometimes, such Septicemias become overwhelming and actually cause the cat's death
at the time of the abscess. Bite wounds in the tail or the limbs may set up a
bone infection necessitating amputation unless treatment has begun early. Bone
infections are extremely difficult to treat. Ear abscesses often spread to the
brain causing convulsions and a slow, painful death.
Abscess wounds on the flanks or other areas where the skin is loose, may lead
to what is called a Cellulitis condition. This means that the abscess, instead
of localizing in one lump, spreads under the skin throughout the loose tissue
areas.
This type of infection is difficult to treat and is often let pass unnoticed by
the cat's owner because no definite lump forms as a warning. By the time it becomes
evident that the cat is ill or does need veterinary attention, deep infection
of a large area may have already set in. At this stage of a Cellulitis condition,
the cat is often extremely toxic (suffering the effects of blood poisoning) and
requires extensive medical treatment. If this infection is near the spinal column,
it may even enter the spinal cord and lead to complex damage of the nervous system
itself, or kill the cat outright. Treatment
of Abscesses
Many cat abscesses will break down of their own accord, discharge a considerable
volume of pus, and appear to be healing well only to flare up again. This recurrence
is due to the unique tendency of a cat's skin to heal more rapidly than the tissues
it covers, thereby sealing in deep-seated infection which has not drained adequately.
Proper medical care of a cat's abscess will involve local surgery (wide excision,
debridement and drainage) in order to remove the deep infection and promote complete
satisfactory healing. This must also be accompanied by supportive antibiotic therapy.
Abscesses already draining satisfactorily may require antibiotic therapy only. A
Risk
All surgery that involves anesthesia carries with it a certain element of risk.
Fortunately, today's techniques have overcome many of the dangers formerly associated
with the use of anesthetics in sick cats. Cat
Abscess Wounds Are Not Sutured
Veterinarians often find that a cat owner is upset because his cat has been discharged
from the hospital with a big gaping
wound, after abscess drainage. While the wound may be esthetically displeasing,
it is medically essential. Cat owners must clearly understand that abscesses have
to be opened extensively in this manner, and be kept open until the drainage is
complete and the infection has subsided. For this reason, cat abscess wounds cannot
be sutured. Apart from the incision, owners may ponder the large shaven area.
Like the incision, surgical procedures dictate extensive shaving. The hairs grows
in fully in a few months. How
To Avoid Abscesses In Cats
Many observant cat owners may avoid the formation of an abscess in the first place
if they bring their cats to the veterinarian antibiotic injections immediately
following the injury. This often prevents infection at the site and saves the
owner the expense of surgery and hospital care. Besides, clean wounds can be sutured
and scarring thus avoided. (Extensive scar formation often results when infected
wounds have to be left open for drainage.) Post-Operative
Care Following
surgery, three to five days of continued treatment and observation are usually
necessary. The period may be longer if complications are involved. Following discharge
of the cat, the owner should watch for a continuance of the healing process begun
in the hospital. If there are any signs of an abscess re-forming, the cat should
be brought back immediately for further treatment in the hospital.
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