My cat's ear has a burst cyst draining pus. Does it need a vet?

I recommend cleaning the area with a warm damp cloth to remove the discharge. Then you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Actually, now that it’s draining the infection his fever should break and this should heal quickly. It’s important to keep it clean and for the wound to stay open so the infection doesn’t stay under the skin. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Smudge.

You can apply a warm and damp washcloth to the area, which will help the area continue to drain. Gently trim back Hocus's fur, and clean the area with antiseptic soap. I would not put any antibiotic cream on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. I would keep an Ecollar on Hocus to keep her from licking at it, and keep her indoors if she is allowed outside. Monitor the hole for signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. Should you see any of those signs, I would take her into the vet as she will need antibiotics to treat the infection.

This is an abscess and the white substance is puss. These are often caused by something under the skin that gets infected. It could be a thorn or from a bite. It's best if a vet examines this and explores the wound, because if the cause of the infection is not removed, then the infection will never clear. Sometimes these infections have potential to cause infections elsewhere, or can get worse, so a vet may need to prescribe medication to prevent this. For now, keep the area clean by flushing with water twice a day. I hope that helps and Mittens gets better soon.

I can't tell you for sure without seeing your kitty, but from what you describe I think there is a good chance it will heal on its own without further intervention. It must have been a cyst all along and finally ruptured. Sometimes I go in later and surgically remove these only if they become a recurrent problem that is not well-managed with antibiotics alone.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. That does appear to be a burst abscess. Without examining her it's impossible to know for sure, however it resembles and has acted like an abscess. Ideally she would be seen by a vet, they would flush it out with warm (not hot) salt water (1 teaspoon in 1 cup of water- your vet would use sterile saline) and then likely get antibiotics and pain meds. An E-collar also prevents Littlecloud from licking and introducing more bacteria into the wound. If you cannot go to a vet, I recommend flushing it/cleaning it with salt water. Do not use any topical creams, just leave it open to drain. Clean it twice a day with the salt water, and try to prevent Littlecloud from licking at it or chewing at it. The main pain has now gone since the abscess has burst (the pressure is relieved) . Do not give any human pain medications as these are often very toxic to cats. Best of luck with Littlecloud!

I would gently clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap, and keep Bella from licking at it with an Ecollar. You can get an Ecollar from a pet store or you can make one yourself. I would have Bella seen by a vet in the morning, as the cyst may need to be removed to prevent it from reoccurring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ffR-LzyW1M

Hello. This is a cat bite abscess that has ruptured. There is really nothing you need to do until the appointment. Kelly probably feels a whole lot better now that the infection has drained out of the abscess. When you see the vet, antibiotics will be prescribed & Kelly will heal soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.