Abscesses

Zac loves the great outdoors. Occasionally, despite copious marking of his territory someone invades his space. Usually they work it out, a growl here, a hiss there, but sometimes the
invader just doesn’t take the hint.
Zac prefers not to fight, but if he has to he goes in with guns blazing.
Last week he came off second best. His carer noticed that he wasn’t walking properly on his left front leg. When she looked closely his lower leg was swollen.

Zac wasn’t interested in his breakfast and retired to bed while she phoned the vet. When she picked him up he cried and shook. Gently she brought him into Canberra Cat Vet.
Dr Georgia found tiny bite marks either side of his arm. His foe’s tiny teeth had pierced the skin and left behind a bouquet of bacteria. The skin closed over almost immediately sealing out the oxygen that would kill these particular bacteria.

Pus had accumulated forming an abscess. The best treatment was to drain the pus and let some oxygen in to kill the bacteria. Zac woke from the anaesthetic feeling much better.

After a few days of antibiotics and pain relief he was back to normal.

Dr Georgia advised Zac to stay indoors or in his outdoor enclosure to avoid further confrontations.

Fortunately Zac is vaccinated against Feline AIDS with the FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) vaccine. Cat bites spread the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Dr Georgia says that all cats with outdoor access should be vaccinated against FIV.