Symptoms of Abscesses in Dogs
The symptoms of an abscess can depend on where it is located. For those in the skin, a soft or firm lump is the most common indication of trouble brewing. The area around the lump will often be red, and the dog may lick or bite at the spot in an effort to relieve the pain. The inflamed skin usually will feel warmer than the surrounding skin, as well.
If your dogs skin abscess is hidden by thick fur, its possible you wont even realize it is there unless it bursts, releasing pus and fluid that typically has a strong, foul odor. But you might discover the abscess prior to that if you notice your dog biting or licking at the sore spot or you feel the lump while petting your dog. If the abscess is present for a long time, hair loss over the spot is not uncommon.
Your dog might seem more lethargic than usual, or reluctant to participate in activities it usually enjoys, such as walks. Fever might also develop, particularly with a large or widespread abscess.
When dogs develop abscesses in their anal glands, they often scoot their rear ends along the ground in an attempt to relieve the pain. The dog might also lick or bite at the area, and there may be fluid or pus coming from the wound.
Dogs with abscessed teeth typically become reluctant to eat, due to the pain. Your dog might especially refuse kibble, as the hard food is more painful to chew than soft, canned meals. Often, the dogs face will appear swollen up under the eye, as the roots of the teeth extend into this area.
My dog was diagnosed with an abscess. What exactly is an abscess?
The simple description of an abscess is a “pocket of pus” located somewhere in the body. Abscesses are typically described anatomically by where they are located – for instance, a tooth root abscess occurs at the tip of a tooth root, and a subcutaneous abscess occurs under the skin.
Typically, an abscess appears suddenly as a painful swelling (if it is not located inside a body cavity or deep within tissue) that may be either firm to the touch, or compressible like a water balloon. The abscess may be large or small, will often cause redness if it is under the skin, and may cause local tissue destruction. Some abscesses will rupture and drain foul-smelling material.
A dog with an abscess will often have a fever, even if the abscess has ruptured and drained to the outside of the body. Should the abscess be located inside the body – in the liver, for instance – fever would be expected, and there may be the additional complication of a disseminated internal infection – that is, bacteria in the bloodstream – if the abscess has ruptured internally.
There are many potential causes of abscesses in dogs. One of the most common causes is a bite from another animal. The bite injury introduces bacteria into the wound, the wound becomes infected, and depending on the bacteria involved and how deep the bite is, an abscess can develop. Penetrating injuries from objects like sticks and grass seeds can also lead to abscesses, as can a previous infection in that site.
Certain bacterial species are often responsible for abscesses including
Causes of Abscesses
Abscesses are usually caused by a bacterial infection taking hold within some type of wound. If the surface of the wound heals quickly, bacteria can become trapped beneath the skin, creating a pocket of infection. Some of the species of bacteria that are especially likely to be the culprit include Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Mycoplasma, Escherichia coli, Bartonella, Nocardia, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinomyces. But while bacterial infection is the underlying cause of the abscess, there also needs to be some type of event that allows the bacteria access inside the body.
Bite wounds from another animal that plant infectious organisms deep into the tissue are a prime cause of abscesses in dogs. This is especially common in dogs that tend to fight with other dogs, or dogs who tangle with cats and get scratched or bitten. But any animal bite can potentially become infected and abscessed.
Any injury that penetrates the skin can lead to an abscess. A poke from a stick, an accidental needle prick, stepping on a thorn, or an insect bite are all potential causes of this type of infection.
Abscesses may result from chewing an inappropriate object that splinters and injures the mouth, such as a bone, stick, or piece of plastic. In these cases, the abscess may develop on the tongue, gums, cheek, or behind the eye. A dog can also get an abscess in the root of a tooth that breaks or cracks due to chewing a hard object.
Dogs also commonly suffer from anal gland abscesses, in which the area around the rectum becomes red, swollen, and tender. If the abscess bursts, you may notice smelly, wet hair at the infection site.
Abscess Drainage At Home
An abscess is a pocket of inflammation that typically has a “wall” of tissue surrounding it. The center is filled with either thick liquid or solid material consisting of white blood cells, dead tissue, and sometimes bacteria.
Teeth: In a dental abscess, there is infection involving the root of a tooth. The bony socket surrounding the affected root is usually eaten away by the infection, and the surrounding gum is inflamed.
Skin: Trauma from a bite, a splinter, or something sharp your dog has stepped on can insert bacteria and other foreign debris under the skin. As the wound heals, it may seal up quickly, trapping bacteria and/or debris and leading to the formation of a fluid-filled, inflamed, painful lump.
A hot spot (acute moist dermatitis) is a type of abscess that forms on the surface of the skin, commonly because of skin allergies. The area becomes itchy, and the dog traumatizes it by chewing or licking excessively. The skin can become infected with bacteria and/or yeast.
Anal sac: There are internal sacs on either side of the anus that normally contain a fluid that is emptied when a dog has a bowel movement. If the liquid substance becomes too thick to drain properly, the anal sac is never emptied. The fluid continues to accumulate, and the sac becomes inflamed.
Infected neoplastic mass: A cancerous mass can become abscessed if it outgrows its blood supply. Sometimes the mass will be unchanged for an extended period, then suddenly become painful and inflamed.