the ongoing saga of Rosie' s paw

pukkamum

Ok just a bit of advice before I can speak to the vet tomorrow would be appreciated otherwise going to worry all night.
She has had an abscess on her paw which she had cleaned out under general on tuesday.
Vet nurse told me to bathe with salt water twice a day which I did.
She went back for check yesterday and the vet told me I should be reopening the wound and squeezing it out.
She did this and showed me gunk still coming out.
Last night I did it and this morning, only a small bit of stuff came out this morning.
Went to do it again earlier and it has completely sealed, no scab like there was which the vet told me to pick off, just sealed.
She didn't even flinch or fuss when I cleaned it and tried to open it so clearly isn't hurting.
Do I get tougher and really force it open?
Not sure I'm just being soft and need to really squeeze it but I did give it a good squeeze.
Has anyone any experiences of abscesses?

mum2one

The salt water will be acting as a natural antiseptic, and bring any ious etc to the forefront - so really your getting what would have been at the rear of the absess. x

krlyr

Use a warm compress to bring any gunk up to the surface - you could even make a poultice, lots of 'recipes' online

meritaten

GG NO! if its healed its healed! and tbh, I was told by my mum never to pick a scab as its 'natures plaster' and stops infection!

UKTigerlily

I'd just give them a call, just as quick as asking us but they will have the cats record

pukkamum

UKTigerlily wrote: »

I'd just give them a call, just as quick as asking us but they will have the cats record

I will call but not open til tomorrow just hoping that someone with experience of this might be able to reassure me a little.
Think I might give it another go before bed.

pukkamum

meritaten wrote: »

GG NO! if its healed its healed! and tbh, I was told by my mum never to pick a scab as its 'natures plaster' and stops infection!

This is what I assumed meri, I was really pleased to see the scab but the vet said it needs to heal inside to out but to be honest can't see the wound opening with a bit of squeezing, it's sealed tightly!

coinxoperated

Don't start digging about opening anything!!

meritaten

if there is still infection there it will become apparent. the skin will be inflamed, red and sore to touch! if its none of those - then, I think its safe to assume it is healing! and I wouldn't be forcing a healing wound open - why didn't the vet put a 'drain' in?

pukkamum

meritaten wrote: »

if there is still infection there it will become apparent. the skin will be inflamed, red and sore to touch! if its none of those - then, I think its safe to assume it is healing! and I wouldn't be forcing a healing wound open - why didn't the vet put a 'drain' in?

No idea meri, I bathed it a bit more vigorously before bed and it opened slightly, a small amount of clear stuff came out, will phone them later.
Shes not going back til next week surely I've got to let it heal at some point!
I should have asked all this when I was there last but I was a bit freaked out when she started squeezing it again!
Now wondering what the point of putting her under in the first place was if the vet was going to squeeze it again when she was awake.
The vet I saw the second time was older than than the first I saw, I suspect she would have done it without sedation had we seen her first!

krlyr

meritaten wrote: »

GG NO! if its healed its healed! and tbh, I was told by my mum never to pick a scab as its 'natures plaster' and stops infection!

Not with an abcess. The body will create a scab but this can trap an infection inside.

With humans and abscesses, a drain may be put in, or a wet dressing used to keep the wound moist and prevent scanning. Animals may remove these though. Hence the requirement to remove scabs to allow the infection out an abcess must heal from the inside out.

Allowing it to scab up could lead to a repeat abcess and possibly evenblood poisoning as the infection spreads. I had a pet rat that was supposed to have the abcess cleaned out daily, unfortunately the friend entrusted to continue the care whilst I was away for a few days failed to do so and the infection ended up spreading to the ear and/or brain and the rat developed a permanently balance issue so was euthanized when I got home.

OP, please do follow the vet's instruction here. If you can't find a scab to pick, give your vet a call to discuss the next step.