How to Clean a Dog's Ruptured Abscess

Did you know your dog's body is full of cavities? Not the cavities you get in your teeth, but space between skin, tissues, muscles, and organs. If bacteria is introduced to these cavities, an abscess can develop when white blood cells attack the bacteria and then die, forming pus, a nasty fluid buildup of dead cells, under the skin or around organs. The dog's body forms a thick capsule or pocket to contain the abscess and prevent it from spreading. 

Sometimes the abscess resolves itself, and fluid is absorbed or dissipates, but sometimes it continues to build and puts pressure on surrounding tissues, eventually rupturing tissues and skin so the abscess can drain. 

When this happens, foul-smelling fluid is discharged from the site of the rupture, often the original wound where bacteria was introduced in the first place. Abscesses in dogs are commonly caused by bacteria that live in your dog's skin being introduced to your dog's internal tissues when a sliver, bite, or other puncture wound occurs.  The abscess then needs to be cleaned and sometimes treated with antibiotics.

Abscesses hurt!  They are characterized by a hard, painful lump. When the abscess bursts open, it may relieve some of the pressure and pain, but redness, irritation, and foul discharge will be present at the abscess site. Your dog may lick at the area or try to interfere with the wound. 

Pain and discomfort may make your dog listless, and if the abscess starts to spread and become systemic, you will have one very sick puppy on your hands. Your dog may be reluctant to have the area handled due to pain, and they may behave out of character because of the discomfort. 

Be careful handling and cleaning abscess sites and watch your dog for signs of distress and abnormal behavior. Make adjustments as necessary so as not to cause your dog more pain and possibly cause them to become anxious or aggressive.

Cleaning a dog's ruptured abscess can be a tricky and unpleasant task. If you'd rather leave it to an experienced groomer, book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you today.

• Seek veterinary attention if signs of systemic infection occur. These include listlessness, loss of appetite, fever, or severe pain.
  
• If the abscess does not begin to heal within a few days with cleaning and treatment, seek veterinary attention.
  
• Abscesses near the eyes, ears, genitals, or anus need to be seen by a veterinarian.
  
• Clean the area you are working with before and after cleaning the abscess to prevent introducing further contaminants and to thoroughly remove pus and bacteria draining from the wound.
  
• Do not allow draining abscesses to close over prematurely, and don't cover them with bandaging that prevents pus from escaping.
  

Ruptured abscesses are messy and unpleasant to deal with, but they need to be treated, cleaned, and monitored closely to prevent complications from developing.

An abscess is the body's natural way of containing and eliminating bacteria introduced to the body. Helping this process is important to resolve the issue by keeping wounds open and allowing them to drain, by flushing with saline to remove excess fluids, and by applying warm compresses to aid the body's natural infection-fighting abilities.  

Remember to keep the area your dog is in clean and prevent contamination. You may need to limit your dog’s movement so you can keep on top of cleaning up discharge. It's also important to wash your hands and any tools or cloths you use with antibacterial soap and alcohol to prevent the spread of bacteria.

If the idea of cleaning your dog's ruptured abscess is enough to turn your stomach, why not let an experienced Pet Caregiver take care of it? Book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you.