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My dog's eyelid is swollen with pus. Is lancing necessary for healing?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bichon Frise | Female | 9 years and 7 months old | 20 lbs

hi. my 9 year old Bichon Frise has an infection of some kind on her lower eyelid. my regular vet wants to lance it but I'm worried that this will now be the answer (he is a great vet but likes to cut a lot) her lower eyelid is swollen and inside, there is a yellow blister as if filled with puss I have tried antibiotic ointment and antibiotics which did not help warm compresses and antibacterial eyewash helped a little it's been almost 2 weeks though please help. thank you, nina

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 29th, 2018

When there is pus, and it does look like it, it needs to come out. Pus is usually made up of a lot of bacteria, dead cells and cell debris and inflammatory debris. This is one way of the body to get rid of detrimental material. Unfortunately the body cannot always get rid of this pus by itself, so lancing can speed up the evacuation process and healing time. So, believe your vet and let him help your dog, Antibacterial flushes and ointments will likely not help and can damage the eye. Oral antibiotics may help, however it will take a long time until the body has transported off all the pus. It it much better just to evacuate it. Also an abscess like this is very painful and lancing it is immediate relief from pain.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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