A bite abscess is a pocket of pus under the skin that forms after a cat bite or scratch seals over bacteria from the mouth of another cat. It is among the most common reasons for cats to be presented after fighting, and it is also an opportunity to talk about FIV, FeLV and neutering.
Key facts
Abscesses at a glance- Species and system: cat; integumentary (skin and subcutis).
- Cause: polymicrobial infection from bite wounds, with Pasteurella species and anaerobes of the feline mouth prominent (Love 2000).
- Classic presentation: painful, warm, fluctuant swelling, often with fever, lethargy and inappetence; sometimes a ruptured, draining abscess.
- Risk: free-roaming, intact male cats; multi-cat households with conflict.
- Treatment cornerstone: drainage, with antibiotics.
- Zoonotic: Pasteurella multocida can infect people through bites and scratches.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 3 self-test questions and 7 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.