My cat has a head wound with yellow discharge. Is it an abscess?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pearl. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. I worry that he has an abscess which is a bad infection under the skin. This can happen secondary to any wound, but is common after cat fight wounds. If this is the case, antibiotics will be necessary and sometimes surgery is necessary. I hope this information helps!

Hi there. Mush needs to see a vet. This wound looks like an abscess that ruptured open. We don't have Ketomycine in the US so I'm guessing you are in another country? That is a topical antibiotic and it is not the best one for this type of wound. She will need systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatories/pain medication to get this to clear up. This looks very painful so please get her treatment by a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is not likely something you can treat effectively at home. Best wishes.

These each sound like an abscess that healed but trapped the bacteria under neath so it opened up and drained. The yellow inside may be fat or necrotic tissue. Clean it with soap and water on a cloth until you can take her to the vet. typically they heal very well and quickly but will need antibiotics to make sure the infection is gone while it is healing

Poor Panther! That looks like a pretty nasty bite wound. The yellowish discharge indicates that the wound is infected, so I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam - he will likely need prescription antibiotics to treat the infection. In the meantime, I would use a warm washcloth to keep the area clean and wipe away the drainage as often as needed to help keep him comfortable.

This is a draining abscess. Please clean the area with a warm damp cloth until the discharge is gone. Then you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. If he’s not neutered I recommend getting him fixed so he doesn’t get into fights. If he’s sick then he probably has a fever from the infection and should have a veterinary exam and antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jasu.

Hello, It appears that Jacoby may have a local infection, or abscess. This is an accumulation of pus that is generally treated with surgical drainage of the wound and a course of antibiotics. These are rarely life threatening, but the treatment may become more timely and complicated as the infection spreads. I also don't like to make infections on the head wait as they are so close to important facial structures. I would recommend trying to get him into a vet today rather than waiting as it will likely make treatment easier on the both of you. If your vet confirms an abscess, they will likely recommend a short anesthetic procedure to open the infection, and often drains are needed to be placed for the first few days to keep the wound from closing too soon and becoming re-infected. Antibiotic courses generally range from 1-2 weeks and often are available in both liquid and pill forms to make dosing easier. I hope this is helpful for you and Jacoby! If you have any follow up questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, and thank you for your question. This looks very suspicious for an abscess (localized area of infection). The puncture wound may have been the entry point for bacteria to enter. I would recommend getting Angel to the vet within the next 1-2 days. They can take a sample of the fluid to confirm the nature of the mass, and start antibiotic therapy if it is an abscess. In the meantime, I would ensure Angel does not scratch the area, by putting a scarf or e-collar (cone) on (it is difficult to say which would be best, as I can't tell the exact location of the lump in the photo). You can also try to disinfect the area by gently wiping with a dilute solution of betadine and water (1:10). I hope this helps, and that Angel feels better soon.