What is a Dog Abscess and How is it Treated?
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If you suspect that your dog has an abscess then it is something that can be treated at home. However, you are likely to need some advice from your vet even if you don’t need to take your dog to the surgery. If you are in any doubt about any aspect of the treatment process for an access then you should consult your vet. The information contained in this article should also help.
What Is An Abscess?
An abscess can occur anywhere on your dog’s body. It is a collection of pus under the skin and occurs to protect the dog from the bacteria in the pus from spreading throughout their body. An abscess can be painful and there is a good chance that your dog will let you know that something is wrong. However, some dogs have a high tolerance for pain and so it is always a good idea to check your dog over on a regular basis just in case they do have an abscess. You should also treat an abscess, even if it does not seem to be bothering your dog.
Does An Abscess Always Need To Be Drained By A Vet?
It may not always be necessary to visit a vet if your dog has an abscess. You will need advice from a vet and they will also need to prescribe antibiotics but you can carry out the treatment yourself at home. However, you do need to aware that abscesses are not at all pleasant to look at let alone touch. You will also need to make sure that the wound stays sterile and clean so that the risk of infection is minimized. If you have any doubt about your ability to do either of these things then you should take your dog to the vet for treatment.
What Things Do I Need To Treat An Abscess At Home?
There are certain bits of equipment that you will need to make sure that you have before you start the treatment. It is vital that your hands are clean throughout the whole treatment and so you will need alcohol to wash your hands with as often as is needed. It will also be needed to clean any other surface that you touch while you are treating the abscess. You will also need some sterile saline solution which will be needed to wash out the abscess. Your vet should also give you some ointment which you will have to apply to the wound as directed by the vet.
What Is The Process For Treating An Abscess?
The following steps should be taken when you are treating the abscess at home. The first step is to drain the abscess if it is not already ruptured and this stage can be quite messy. You should get a warm towel and press on the abscess which will make the pus drain out. It is a good idea to have another towel on the floor to catch the liquid as it is drained. The pus may accumulate in little pockets within the abscess so you will need to check for these and make sure that they are drained. You do not need to cover the abscess as it will heal quicker if the air can get to it. However, this does mean that the pus may still continue to discharge from the abscess after it has been drained so you will have to keep on top of making sure that the wound is always clean.
What Other Things Should I Be Aware Of?
Your vet will give you advice about treating the abscess and you need to make sure that this advice is carried out and that their instructions are followed closely. They will tell you how often the antibiotics should be administered and how often the wound should be cleaned. It can take a long time to treat an abscess and it is more likely to be months rather than weeks before it is completely healed. Although you will need to monitor the access to make sure that it is clean, try not to become too obsessed with it and remember that there will be a long way to go. Treating an access at home is not the most pleasant task but it does give you an opportunity to bond with your dog.
