What is an abscess?
An abscess is defined as a collection of pus in a body cavity most often following an infection by bacteria.
Abscesses can therefore:
- locate under the dog's skin where they form a subcutaneous collection (a "ball" under the skin). They are most often secondary to the bite of another animal or the presence of a foreign body (splinter, spikelet, broken glass) that has stuck in the animal's skin,
- or be in an internal organ of the dog.
Symptoms of an abscess
If the abscess is superficial
A superficial abscess, located under the dog's skin, is often the easiest to detect. It initially takes the form of a lump under the skin, hot and erythematous (red) painful for the dog who then shows signs of discomfort such as:
- untimely licking of the body area concerned,
- a loss of appetite if the abscess concerns his oral sphere,
- a lameness if a leg is affected,
- scratches or the sign of the sled (the dog advances by rubbing its hindquarters on the ground) if the abscess concerns its anal glands etc.
Secondly, the abscess may rupture and fistulize, allowing a purulent liquid to flow.
The dog may show depression and fever.
If the abscess is deep
If the dog's abscess is deep, it concerns one of its internal organs (kidney, uterus, eye, dental root, lungs) and is, by definition, not directly visible to the owner of the animal .
On the other hand, infection can lead to a deterioration in the animal's general condition, which may manifest itself in depression, refusal to eat, fever, prostration, etc.
If your dog has one or more of these symptoms, it is then necessary to make an appointment with your veterinarian without delay.
My dog has an abscess: what to do?
If you suspect the presence of an abscess in your dog, the only thing to do is to consult your veterinarian without delay. A consultation is necessary even when you think that your dog is "only" suffering from a superficial abscess because it can be easily confused with certain cancerous skin tumors, which are much more worrying for your dog's he alth!
While waiting for the consultation, and if your dog suffers a priori from a superficial abscess, you can administer 3 homeopathic granules of Pyrogenium 5CH morning and evening and ripen the abscess by applying compresses soaked in water. lukewarm water on the lump. If your dog has long hair, it will be necessary to mow the abscessed area beforehand, taking care not to hurt your dog. If your dog is in pain, he may be aggressive. Do not put yourself in danger: muzzle your dog or simply wait for the intervention of the veterinarian.
If the veterinarian confirms that it is indeed a superficial abscess, he can treat the animal by prescribing local antibiotic therapy. If the abscess is old, surgical debriding under general anesthesia followed by cleaning of the abscess is sometimes necessary.
If the abscess is deep and/or if the animal is weakened, the veterinarian will generally choose to place the dog under general antibiotic treatment.