Does your cat have an abscess? Do this at home
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You see a swelling at your cat’s tail base. Your cat may be lethargic with a fever, or just painful when you palpate his lower leg.
One of the MOST COMMON diagnoses I made in cats was a cat fight, leading to a puncture wound, and abscess!
Many of these can be treated at home, but it really helps IF your cat has a thriving immune system to help fight the infection (much less likely for this to get more serious).
Nutrients such as antioxidants, probiotics, medicinal mushrooms and probiotics can help.
ALL of these are in are Best Selling Cat supplement, which most cats LOVE 🙂
Keep Your Cat Thriving with Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula
Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula
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Abscess in Cats: How to Identify, Treat, and Heal
As a veterinarian, I often see abscesses in cats, especially in those that have been in fights. Knowing how to recognize and treat these can make a big difference for your pet’s health. Let’s break down the key signs, causes, and solutions for dealing with abscesses at home.
Signs of an Abscess
One of the first signs of an abscess is a red, swollen area on your cat, often at the base of their tail. This is common in cats that have been in fights, as they are often bitten while running away. You may also notice puncture marks, and in some cases, bleeding if blood vessels are damaged. If the puncture affects a leg, you might see lameness as well.
Causes of Abscesses
The sharp teeth of cats can easily cause small puncture wounds that lead to abscesses. Your cat’s mouth is full of bacteria, and when bitten, these bacteria multiply, causing the abscess to form.
Solutions: When to Seek Help
It’s important to know when you can treat an abscess at home and when you should visit the vet. If your cat is lethargic, not eating, or not drinking, you need to see your veterinarian right away. Abscesses can lead to septicemia (blood poisoning) if bacteria spread throughout the body.
If your pet has a large swelling that isn’t draining, this will require surgical drainage by your vet. However, if the abscess is small, open, and draining, you can often manage it at home safely.
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At-Home Care for Abscesses
1. Barber Time: Trim the Hair
The first step is to trim the hair around the bite or wound. Use scissors to cut larger sections, and carefully use a disposable razor to trim closer to the skin. This will help keep the wound clean.
2. Keep It Clean
If possible, place your cat in the sink or bathtub and run lukewarm water over the bite or abscess for five minutes. If they don’t tolerate water, use a damp cloth or gauze sponge. Clean the area well with an antiseptic soap like chlorhexidine, available at most pharmacies. Perform this cleaning twice daily for 5-7 days.
3. Stay Open
The key to preventing the bite from turning into a more serious abscess is to keep the puncture wound open. Vigorously scrub the wound with a damp cloth and antiseptic soap. The puncture marks must stay open for at least three days to allow proper drainage. For larger abscesses that are draining, keep them open for three days after cleaning.
4. Licking: When to Allow It
For the first 3-4 days, let your cat lick the wound. Their saliva contains antibacterial properties that can help prevent abscess formation. After this time, discourage licking to allow the skin to heal. You can use an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) or apply a bad-tasting product like bitter apple around the wound to prevent licking.
Natural Remedies for Abscesses
1. Colloidal Silver
Many pet owners have successfully used colloidal silver to treat wounds and even cancers. It’s a suspension of tiny silver particles, available at health food stores and pharmacies. The dosage is half a teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight, given twice daily.
2. Herbal Remedies
- Goldenseal: A traditional antimicrobial herb. Apply a few drops of the tincture directly to the abscess twice daily until it heals.
- Oregon Grape: Another anti-inflammatory herb. Apply tincture drops twice daily to help the healing process.
3. Homeopathic Treatments
- Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum (Hepar Sulph): This remedy is particularly useful for abscesses that are foul-smelling and painful. Dose 30C two to three times daily for 3-5 days.
- Silicea: One of the top homeopathic remedies for abscesses. It helps draw out the abscess and remove debris from the wound. Dose 30C, twice daily for 3-5 days.
4. Honey for Healing
Honey can speed up the closure of open wounds. Apply honey twice daily to abscesses or abrasions that can’t be closed with surgery.
5. Propolis (Bee Glue)
Propolis is a fantastic natural remedy, effective for treating skin infections. It can be sprayed topically or given orally in doses of 100mg per 10 lbs daily. Unlike honey, it’s not sticky, making it easy to apply.
The most important part of treating an abscess at home is to keep the wound open and draining for 3-5 days. If your cat has a fever or other signs of infection, check for puncture wounds and seek professional help if necessary. Keeping your cat’s immune system strong is also essential. My Ultimate Feline Health Formula is a great supplement to support their immunity, and most cats love the taste!
Keep Your Cat Thriving with Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula
Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula
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P.S. Keeping the abscess open and draining for at least 3-5 days is crucial.
P.P.S. Boosting your cat’s immune system can help prevent future infections. My cat supplement is a great option, full of immune-supportive ingredients!
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I have a cat who had a chronic abscess just under his tail and less than an inch to the left of his rear. It has come and gone for the past couple years. I’ve kept him indoors during the initial healing attempts. It frequently clean the area, but how do you approach an abscess that won’t heal?
Here’s an article that can help:
SIGNS A red and possibly swollen area appears on your pet. Sometimes puncture marks are visible. There may be bleeding if blood vessels are damaged. Lameness, if the puncture affects a leg. This is commonly seen in cats who have been in catfights and cats with abscesses. Abscesses are often found at the tail base of cats as they are running away, and are bitten in the rear.
CAUSES Your pet’s teeth are very sharp, and even small punctures can lead to abscesses. The mouth is a large cauldron of bacteria, and when your pet is bitten, these multiply into an abscess.
SOLUTIONS
KNOW WHEN TO SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN. If your pet is very lethargic, not eating or drinking, then see your veterinarian immediately. Bacteria from abscesses can spread in the body, giving your pet septicemia (blood poisoning). If your pet has a large swelling which is not draining, then you must see your veterinarian to have it drained surgically. Abscesses which are open and draining, and small bite wounds, can be treated safely at home.
BARBER TIME. Trim the hair around the bite or wound. Trim large sections with scissors, and carefully use a disposable razor to trim the hair next to the skin.
KEEP IT CLEAN. If possible, put your pet in the sink or bathtub and run lukewarm tap water on the bite or abscess for 5 minutes. If your pet won’t tolerate running water, use a damp cloth or gauze sponge. Purchase an antiseptic soap, Hibitane, available at your local pharmacy, and wash the area well. Keep the wound clean and perform this water therapy twice daily for 5-7 days.
STAY OPEN. The most important thing you can do to prevent the bite from turning into a costly abscess is to vigorously scrub the puncture wound with a damp cloth and antiseptic soap. The puncture marks must stay open for at least three days to drain properly. For large abscesses that are open and draining, keep them open for at least three days after you have thoroughly cleaned them and clipped the surrounding hair.
WHEN TO LICK AND WHEN NOT TO. The saliva from your pet’s tongue contains antibacterial properties, so this will prevent initial abscess formation. Allow your pet to lick them for the first 3-4 days. After this time you want to discourage licking to allow the skin to heal. You can prevent licking by purchasing an Elizabethan Collar (E -collar) at your local veterinarian. You can also apply a bad tasting product, such as Bitter Apple to the skin around the bite wound to discourage licking.
HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM (HEPAR SULPH). Use specifically for pets with an abscess that is foul smelling and painful . Dose is 30C, 2-3 times a day for 3-5 days.
SILICA. A top homeopathic remedy for healing. It is the most common homeopathic used for abscesses. The dose is 30C given twice daily for 3-5 days. It will help the body remove debris from the wound, in other words, help draw out the abscess.
Thank you, however this is essentially a copy/paste of the article. Additional detail, we’ve gone to the vet a couple different times and basically walk away doing what we always do but with antibiotics. I’d like for this to heal completely.