Anti-biotics may be needed to help clear up a bad infection but complementary therapies like homeopathy, herbal medicine, ozonated gel, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and others can help to make a big difference and encourage healing. If your pet is unwell, painful, feverish, off their food, lethargic or the abscess hasn't burst then a visit to the vet can help them to feel a lot better. We often treat cat abscesses by surgically lancing and draining them under sedation or anesthetic because they can be so painful. Sometimes we need to remove dying tissue which promotes more rapid healing and resolution of the infection. The wound will often be left open to encourage drainage and sometimes we place a special surgical drain to assist this process. Occasionally dogs develop abscesses but cats are prone to getting them and sometimes it can make them feel quite sick and sore. Abscesses are usually the result of puncture wounds, with cats they are commonly inicted during cat ghts. Infection starts under the skin and pus accumulates as the body tries to ght off the infection. It is very painful when a lump forms, pressure builds and there's nowhere for the uid to go. Generally, most abscesses burst on their own which provides great relief. Sometimes you can feel a scab over the area and when you pull it away pus comes out. Once an abscess is draining cats and dogs will often lick and clean the area which assists with healing. You can help by wiping the area clean twice a day with warm water and a swab or cotton wool pad. Pets with healthy immune systems may be much less prone to developing abscesses and often heal very ABSCESSES With cats, this can be difcult in suburbia as the neighborhood may be densely populated with cats and ghts are often inevitable. Ensuring that you don't have too many cats in your home, that they all have a safe place to rest and in and retreat to and that your surrounding neighborhood doesn't have stray / unowned cats is important. Desexing cats can make a big difference to their territorial behavior like ghting and is very important to promote a healthy environment for cats. the vet off as this may allow drainage l A draining abscess is much more comfortable and if l Sometimes anti-biotics are needed but therapies Points to remember if your pet has an abscess: like homeopathy, herbal medicine, ozonated gel, l If it is unwell, lethargic or off its food then take it to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and others can help to make a big difference and encourage healing. l Pets with healthy immune systems may be much less prone to developing abscesses. l If you can feel a scab over the abscess gently pull it quickly. Optimal immune system function can be supported by feeding a wholesome, balanced diet with optimal amounts of immune supporting nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants. Another important strategy to help support a healthy immune system is to provide your animal with a comfortable and stress-free home environment. Preventing abscesses by supporting your pets' immune system with a healthy diet and preventing cat ghts and trauma is always better than cure but if they do develop an abscess and feel poorly, a visit to the vet can help to make them feel a whole lot more comfortable. kept clean it often heals on its own