My dog's cyst burst. What's the best way to clean and treat it safely?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Without a picture it is difficult for me to advise you on the most appropriate way to handle this. However, if it has ruptured and it is a small opening, you can keep it clean twice daily using a mixture of water and betadine so that you have a light brown solution. Use this to clean the cyst until it heals. If it becomes infected or does not resolve, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine this so that the most appropriate treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the pictures, it appears as though this is a cyst. I would clean this using a combined solution of water and betadine (mix until light brown) and keep the area clean. The cyst will likely close back up now that it has ruptured. If it continues to drain material or becomes infected, then I would have a veterinarian take a look at this and plan to have it removed. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

You've cleaned Chulo's cyst already, you don't need to clean it daily. That will interrupt the healing process. Leave it be for now. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps.

The problems with cysts is that they open reoccur, and typically need to be removed surgically. In addition, removing the fluid from a cyst should be done in a sterile manner, and I would be concerned that you may accidentally be introducing infection into the cyst yourself by pressing on it. I would take Akkiko into the vet first thing in the morning. The vet can drain any remaining fluid with a sterile needle and syringe, and can discuss removing it with you. There is also the chance it could be a malignant adenocarcinoma, so it is a good idea to have the vet biopsy it just to make sure it is benign.

Poor Sock. Everything you've done so far is helping to keep this managed (except no Neopsorin should be placed on a wound that is this open); however she ultimately needs this mass to be removed. It is likely not going to heal very well with wound management. I would recommend taking her in to your vet for oral antibiotics, shaking of the hair around and in top of the mass (hair carries a lot of bacteri) and it needs to be cleaned with an antiseptic (Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water or Chlorhexidine solution 3% diluted). Nothing else topical really should be placed on top of this area. A loose fitting t-shirt should also be placed on Sock and an Elizabethan collar to prevent her from licking the area. Getting her scheduled for surgical removal of the mass may ultimately be the only curative for this wound. Best wishes with Socks wound and getting this resolved. Take care. Here are some financial resources if needed. Carecredit.com Redrover.org http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Oreo. Potentially it could heal, but keep in mind that the cyst will likely grow back because the cyst sac has not been removed. So this could be a continuing problem when it heals, fills up again, and then opens. While the best thing to do is have it removed, you can hold off to see if it fills up again. Clean the area with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps!