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How to Clean a Dog's Ruptured Abscess

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3. How to Clean a Dog's Ruptured Abscess

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Browse Wellness Plan Options Browse Wellness Plan Options The Clean Up Discharge Method Clean Up Discharge 7 Votes The Promote Drainage Method Promote Drainage 6 Votes

Introduction

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.

Dog's Perspective

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.

Towel Step 1 Wash before and after Wash your hands with surgical scrub or sterilize with rubbing alcohol before and after handling and cleaning the abscess. Step 2 Flush out wound Flush out the wound with saline solution dispensed from a syringe. Step 3 Clean area Several times a day, clean the area around the abscess with saline in a syringe to avoid disturbing inflamed and painful skin, or by wiping with a saline-soaked piece of gauze and very gently wiping away from the wound opening. Step 4 Clean bedding If there is lots of pus and discharge, try to contain your dog to a bed area or crate and change the bedding frequently to reduce contamination. Step 5 Prevent interference Keep your dog from licking, scratching or biting the area. You may need to use an Elizabethan collar. Towel Step 1 Apply warm compresses Soak and wring out a cloth with warm water and gently apply compresses to the abscess site for 5-10 minutes 4-5 times daily. This will increase blood flow to the area, which promotes healing and carries away toxins. It also keeps the wound open to drain. Step 2 Medicate compress You can add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the warm water or apply a plantain tincture to draw out infection. Step 3 Apply pressure Gently apply pressure to squeeze out pus in the wound. Have a disposable cloth or towel available to capture discharge and dispose of pus extracted from the abscess. Step 4 Keep open Make sure the wound remains open as long as pus is discharging. Do not cover abscesses with dressings that prevent draining. Step 5 Apply ointment Once pus has finished draining, apply calendula ointment or antibiotic ointment to the healing wound. Unpasteurized honey can also be used as a dressing that allows fluids to drain, has antibacterial properties and promotes healing.

Caution & Considerations

• 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.

Conclusion

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.

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

Grooming Questions & Answers

Question Drew Pit bull mix 8 Years 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Drew Pit bull mix 8 Years

Just noticed it this morning not sure what it is to me it looks like a cyst popped. He won’t let me touch the area much to clean it have been applying warm wash clothes to it an wound spray to hope for no infection just curious on what to do for my baby boy

2 years, 7 months ago Drew's Owner

I found a little lump under my dog's throat. In a week it was the size of a small grapefruit. Then last night it popped an I woke up to red liquid almost punk looking , it's smaller but still leaking , I've cleaned it , I can't take to get until the 3rd payday.Only get paid once a month . What can I do until then

1 year, 6 months ago Lisa H.

I found a little lump under my dog's throat. In a week it was the size of a small grapefruit. Then last night it popped an I woke up to red liquid almost punk looking , it's smaller but still leaking , I've cleaned it , I can't take to get until the 3rd payday.Only get paid once a month . What can I do until then

1 year, 6 months ago Lisa H. Question Koa American Staffordshire Terrier 2 Years 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Koa American Staffordshire Terrier 2 Years

I just noticed a red lump on my dogs leg yesterday about the size of a nickel and after research I believe it to be an abscess I have been applying warm compress to it and removed some of the hair surrounding it. Is there anything I should be flushing it with? Peroxide? Alcohol? How long should it take for this abscess to go away?

6 years, 6 months ago Koa's Owner Darlene Stott Dog Trainer and Groomer 0 Dog owners recommended

I'm sorry to hear that Koa may have an abscess. I would call the vet to ask their opinion on treatment. An abscess is often caused by bacteria so you'll want to find out whether antibiotics are needed. If so, the medicine will be the best remedy - the abscess could spread systemically and then Koa may get very sick. The abscess can become painful too, so be careful when applying the compress. All the best to you and Koa; I hope this gets resolved soon.

6 years, 6 months ago Question Jimi Springer spaniel 11 Years 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Jimi Springer spaniel 11 Years

Jimi had an abscess on his back that was draining. I've tried to keep on top of cleaning but when it dried up there was some hardened pus around the wound. When I went to clean his fur, some hair chunks came off. Now there is a bald spot when his wound was and I'm still not sure all the pus is cleaned from his fur. Did I not clean him well enough that it made his fur fall out? He can't lick it because it's on his back, and our other dog is kept separate from him now. I want to make sure it's clean, but I don't want more fur to fall out if that hurts him.

6 years, 7 months ago Jimi's Owner Darlene Stott Dog Trainer and Groomer 0 Dog owners recommended

Thank you for inquiring about Jimi's abscess. Good job on keeping the area clean. Abscesses usually form because of bacteria. If not eliminated, the abscess can become chronic or lead to tissue (and even organ) damage if the infection grows. The vet can give you medication to clear up the abscess and avoid further hair loss around the wound. Good luck and I hope Jimi heals soon!

6 years, 7 months ago Question Lexi Chihuahua 1 Year 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Lexi Chihuahua 1 Year

How much for a fresh cut

6 years, 6 months ago Lexi's Owner Darlene Stott Dog Trainer and Groomer 0 Dog owners recommended

Hi there, Lexi is a sweetie! The grooming costs vary - there are several factors. The size of your pup, breed, temperament, and how long and thick the fur is all make a difference. Your location may affect the price (city versus rural). Call your local groomer and they'll ask the appropriate questions to give you an estimate. Thanks for the question!

6 years, 6 months ago Question Blackie German Shepherd 9 Years 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Blackie German Shepherd 9 Years

My dog was given antibiotics for an infection as his leg was swollen. , I large pus filled swelling formed and has now burst , I have squeezed out the pus , what else should I do

6 years ago Blackie's Owner Darlene Stott Dog Trainer and Groomer 0 Dog owners recommended

Thank you for the inquiry. I would call the vet to let them know; it is good that Blackie is already on antibiotics. If you want to clean it, I would use a wet towel (warm water) and gently press on the area. Not too hard, in case it is sore. I am not a vet so cannot advise further, but again, call the vet to get advice on what cleaning product to use. All the best!

6 years ago Question Raphael Mixed 3 Months 0 found helpful Question 0 found helpful Raphael Mixed 3 Months

First of all I have lots more photos but do not think they are necessary the first photo is today where there are 3 more antibiotic pills left the second one was also today the other two photos taken of both sides of his face was yesterday. Moving on my dogs face started swelling about two weeks ago now I didn’t have money to take him to the vet at first but as soon as I received the money I immediately took him. They sedated him because he didn’t want to lay still for them to look at him. They then started to inject a solution into his abscesses to remove the pus then sent me home with antibiotics and three days worth of puppy pain killers (petcam) we went home and started treatment as the vet advised he has gotten better and got his old traits back and became himself again but now there are one and a half days of antibiotics left and there still is pus coming out of his ears and he still has abscesses that haven’t opened up yet I don’t know what to do

5 years, 11 months ago Raphael's Owner Darlene Stott Dog Trainer and Groomer 0 Dog owners recommended

Thank you for the question about Raphael. Because he is under the care of the vet, you can feel comfortable calling them for advice. Tell them exactly what you told me, and explain how Raphael is doing and as well, let them know of your financial situation. They may prescribe more medication without a vet visit. Additionally, they may have a payment system in place that lets you pay a portion of the bill every week or every month, etc. I would inquire because you do not want your little pup to become severely ill and have an even larger vet bill (along with a dog who doesn't feel well). Remember, the vet is there to help your pup - ask them, and they will. All the best to you both!

5 years, 11 months ago

If he has pus and discharge he definitely needs to see the vet again. They will likely continue this or another type/course or antibiotics. They should also check for foreign object that could be causing the infection. Sometimes vets also prescribe an anti fungal depending on the type of access.

5 years, 10 months ago Kat L.

Grooming Success Stories

Success Masha King Charles Spaniel 8 Years

Masha had an abscess on the flabby part below her neck as a result of a dog bite. It has been well drained and cleaned by the vet, plus she is on antibiotics. However, while the abscess is dry, the vet is saying the capsule of the abscess is quite hard (maybe it is fiberous?) and said that maybe surgery will be required unless it softens. How can we soften it and avoid surgery?

3 years, 5 months ago

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