My car has an abscess

namechangedforth · 2023-08-16T08:30:40+00:00

It's on the front of his neck, got him booked in the vets for later, what can we expect? It's like a scratch with a lump coming out of it, does that sound like an abscess?

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 09:31

Oops not car CAT here he is

OP posts:

JudyJulie · 16/08/2023 09:33

Could well be. Our vet gives antibiotics and pain relief, both by injection. We are frequent flyers.

AnnaMagnani · 16/08/2023 09:33

Mine have just had antibiotics each time.

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 09:36

I'm worrying he's going to need sedating and it draining or something is this not usual ?
He hasn't eaten his breakfast this morning. I called him in from the garden, he looked at me like I was going to hurt him and ran off !

OP posts:

JudyJulie · 16/08/2023 09:39

I had one cat who needed a GA to sort an abscess out, but he had hidden it very well and we didn't spot it until it was covering half his head. If the vet's a good shot, they can get a needle in a small one, no problem.

Funny how it's like they know though. Maybe crack open the emergency sardines?

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 09:43

JudyJulie · 16/08/2023 09:39

I had one cat who needed a GA to sort an abscess out, but he had hidden it very well and we didn't spot it until it was covering half his head. If the vet's a good shot, they can get a needle in a small one, no problem.

Funny how it's like they know though. Maybe crack open the emergency sardines?

Well, he isn't a lap cat or anything, but last night I noticed his fur looked abit wet on his neck, picked him up to look at his neck and he wasn't happy !! So he probably thinks I'm going to try and pick him up again 😆

OP posts:

ChelseaGem · 16/08/2023 09:44

I don’t know but he sure is handsome! 😻

I hope the vet can sort it easily.

MattRifesFutureWife · 16/08/2023 09:47

Our cat has had a few abscesses. It’s always just been antibiotics and pain relief medication. The vet has usually managed to give it a good clean without sedation because our fierce cat turns very placid for vets!

Hope your boy is ok. He’s absolutely gorgeous.😍

VariousVeins · 16/08/2023 09:50

Your cat is a beauty! If it’s a bit wet then the abscess has probably burst which is a good thing because all the pus can now come out. I expect the vet will treat him with antibiotics and pain relief. My cat had an abscess last year and they treated her with antibiotics and pain relief. She’s fine now!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 10:30

Usually it's antibiotics and a quick recovery.
Very occasionally it's hideously expensive, GA, and surgery to clean out and stitch the wound together.
It's not a bank holiday or a Sunday though so you'll probably be ok.
And yes - he's a very handsome chap 😁.

bathshebaeverbusy · 16/08/2023 10:37

Mine had an abscess in the same place. Vet attempted to drain it with a syringe and gave antibiotics and pain medication but we had to return a few days later to get it drained properly under sedation. My cat was very subdued whilst he had it. Annoyingly though as soon as we got back from the vets, he waltzed out of the cat flap snd returned two hours later with a huge gash on his front leg. Had uk go back to the vets for stitches under GA. £££££ I hope your kitty recovers well!

Sgtmajormummy · 16/08/2023 10:46

DS has a rescue cat who had a hard start in life.
She had already lost a few teeth (malnutrition? fights?) when he got her so her diet is soft.
He woke up and found her bleeding profusely from the mouth. Took her to the vet and was told either a €300 operation for an abscess or PTS. He had no idea but it was quite large for a cat.
She isn’t insured but he went with the general anesthetic operation. 2 days with a cone and now she’s back to normal.

TheSkull · 16/08/2023 11:23

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 10:30

Usually it's antibiotics and a quick recovery.
Very occasionally it's hideously expensive, GA, and surgery to clean out and stitch the wound together.
It's not a bank holiday or a Sunday though so you'll probably be ok.
And yes - he's a very handsome chap 😁.

Yes unfortunately our local vet failed to spot the cat’s abscess. We brought him home and it burst during the night. It was awful. We called the emergency mobile vet who came that evening and gave the cat GA because the abscess needed draining etc. About a week after we sent photos of the wound as he had requested us to do and he said it was infected so the poor cat had a second GA to clean and restitch. Cost us an absolute fortune but he’s worth it 🐈‍⬛

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 11:31

Oh bloody hell ! I do have pet insurance but hopefully won't have to claim on it.
Regarding the antibiotics, will I have to attempt to shove tablets down his throat or can they get an injection??

OP posts:

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 11:33

Regarding the antibiotics, will I have to attempt to shove tablets down his throat or can they get an injection??

In my experience it's usually both. An injection at the vet and a course of pills for a week.

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 11:38

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 11:33

Regarding the antibiotics, will I have to attempt to shove tablets down his throat or can they get an injection??

In my experience it's usually both. An injection at the vet and a course of pills for a week.

Any tips on how to get them in him? 😩😩

OP posts:

MattRifesFutureWife · 16/08/2023 11:40

Regarding the antibiotics, will I have to attempt to shove tablets down his throat or can they get an injection??

You can get a long lasting antibiotic injection.... so much easier! I think it covers them for a week or two. Our cat doesn’t do tablets. 😼

Theunamedcat · 16/08/2023 11:41

You can ask for liquid antibiotics and mix it in with food my one cat will have it with felix fish soup he doesn't spot it

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 11:41

Now that's another thread 😹.

Our technique is to force mouth open by pressing on the sides of the mouth. Throw pill into back of throat, shut mouth then suddenly blow on the cat's nose.
Sounds easy 🤣🤣🤣. It does work quite well on all of our cats.

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 11:47

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 16/08/2023 11:41

Now that's another thread 😹.

Our technique is to force mouth open by pressing on the sides of the mouth. Throw pill into back of throat, shut mouth then suddenly blow on the cat's nose.
Sounds easy 🤣🤣🤣. It does work quite well on all of our cats.

I think we will die if we try this with him 😂😂

I remember years ago he had a bad scratch, again on his neck ! And we had to put a sock over it, my god the noises that came out of him! Dh was terrified shouting 'take it off him take it off him' 😂😂 anyone would of thought it was a lion!

OP posts:

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 11:48

Liquid or long lasting injection sounds like a plan !

OP posts:

Crazymadchickenlady · 16/08/2023 12:27

I always get the long lasting injection. No need for tablets then! It’s a bit more expensive but worth it. Last for two weeks.

MattRifesFutureWife · 16/08/2023 12:33

I do remember trying to get tablets down our cat years ago. I’d tried to do it alone, then with my partner after failing miserably and we still couldn’t do it and were scratched and bleeding. 😅

Call reinforcements so now a 3 person job, all with gloves on and long sleeves. One caught him and wrapped him in a towel to minimise scratching. One to try to hold his head still ish and another to open his mouth an administer tablet. Tablet in, mouth held closed. Rubbing throat to encourage him to swallow. Squirt a bit of water in as advised by the vet. After a few minutes he’s calm and we’re all proud we’ve won the tablet battle. Cat is released and everyone relaxes. Sweeping the floor later that night, guess what I found. 🤣 We persevered a few more times but we always opted for the injection after that. Little git! 🤣

Get the injection OP! 😅

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/08/2023 14:05

You can crush most vet tablets. I mixed them into food.

I never even attempted pilling the Bengal.

Original poster

namechangedforth · 16/08/2023 14:13

Well, he still hasn't come home ! Which isn't unusual in itself when the weather is nice but what is unusual is he hasn't eaten all day, I usually can't get rid of him until he's been fed so that makes me abit concerned as to why he's not come back. Will have to go and look for him soon as the vets app is at 4.30

OP posts: