Abscesses

Published: November 18, 2022

An abscess is a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue, a condition that occurs when bacteria get under the skin. Animals with these infections are often unwell: Not only can they vomit, lose weight, and be fatigued, the tissues can necrose and the animal can die if the abscess is left untreated. 

Abscesses in cattle and horses are treated surgically by incising, compressing, and draining the pus-filled pocket. 

This week, I assisted with the drainage of two abscesses: One located on the lower jawbone of a bull (Figure 1) and the other located on the raised cheekbone of a horse (Figure 3). As is sometimes the case, the infected pocket on the bull contained a substantial volume of pus, making its drainage dramatic (Figure 2 - video). 

Both animals recovered fully after being treated with antibiotics.