Abscess in Dogs

An abscess in dogs is a lump that contains pus which may rupture and drain. Typically, abscesses form in the mouth of a dog in the form of a tooth abscess, or at the anus in the form of an anal gland abscess. This page looks at the symptoms, causes, and treatment of canine abscesses.

An abscess is basically a localized lump or a pocket that contains pus.

Common examples of small skin abscesses include pimples, boils, and pustules.

Abscesses are mostly caused by bacteria and sometimes parasites or foreign materials that have got under the skin, triggering a reaction of the body's immune system by increasing blood flow to the affected area. The blood vessels dilate and inflammatory cells (mostly white blood cells) flow to the area in an attempt to get rid of the bacteria, parasites, or foreign material. The pus in an abscess is actually an accumulation of dead bacteria and dead inflammatory cells.

The formation of an abscess is the body's way of "walling off" the infection, keeping the infection localized so that the rest of the body is not affected.

If the white blood cells are able to destroy the bacteria, the abscess will heal on its own without any treatment. In this case, the source of infection is elminated by the white blood cells and the body will slowly absorb the pus and the abscess will eventually go away.

However, if the white blood cells in the abscess cannot clean up the infection on their own, the pus will accumulate and eventually the abscess will rupture under the pressure from the pus. In most cases, the rupture allows the pus to drain to the outside of the body and facilitates elimination of the infection. Rarely, however, the rupture may drain into a body cavity (e.g. the abdomen), which may cause serious problems and requires immediate medical treatment.

When an abscess keeps draining but does not heal, it is called a fistula. This is usually due to the presence of a foreign object (such as foxtails, porcupine quills, splinters, etc.) in the tissue.

Types of Abscess in Dogs

Common positions for abscesses in dogs are the anal glands, and the oral cavity in the form of tooth abscesses.

Other parts of the body may also be affected, such as the prostate, mammary glands and eyes (orbital abscess).

Rarely, abscesses can occur in the brain, liver or the lungs.

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Symptoms of Abscess in Dogs

The hallmark symptoms of an abscess are pain and swelling or mass in the area which seems to appear quite rapidly.

In addition, a dog with an abscess may show the following signs:

Redness and increased temperature of the skin overlying the abscess.
The mass may feel either fluid-like or very hard.
A yellowish (sometimes blood-tinged) foul smelling discharge (pus) may be draining from the abscess.
The dog may have a fever and become lethargic.

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Treatment of Abscess in Dogs

Treatment depends on whether the abscess has ruptured.

If an abscess has not ruptured, the hair around the abscess is clipped and the skin over and around the lump is cleaned and the abscess is lanced. Pus will drain from the lump. Sometimes, a surgical drain may have to be inserted to ensure successful drainage.

After draining most of the pus, a disinfectant solution is used to further flush the abscess and remove additional pus. Often the wound is left open to drain during the healing process.

The underlying problem causing the abscess will also have to be addressed. For example, if the abscess is caused by a dental problem, then dental treatment will be required.

Antibiotic treatment will be given to hasten healing and eliminate infection. Commonly used antibiotics include amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and trimethoprim/sulphadiazine, among others.

Although an abscess in dogs may look serious to the dog parent, most abscesses do not pose big problems and, with treatment, usually the outcome is good with the majority of dogs recovering within a week to ten days. However, abscesses that occur in the brain, liver or lungs and abscesses that rupture internally are more serious and may cause complications.

You can try to prevent abscesses from recurring by taking some measures, such as:

Preventing your dog from chewing materials that are likely to cause abscesses in the oral cavity.
Keeping your dog away from other aggressive animals to minimize fights.
Practicing good dental hygiene and having regular dental check-ups.
Expressing your dog's anal glands regularly to prevent impaction.