Can an Abscess Kill a Dog?

Can an Abscess Kill a Dog?

Has your dog ever had an abscess before? If so, then you know how terrifying these little pus things look on their skins.

At first, it is possible for the abscess to not represent any major problem is you treat it right. In fact, treating dog abscesses at home is possible too. But what happens if you fail to take care of the abscess, or if it seems to have no possible cure?

Can an abscess kill a dog? Are we panicking over nothing? The answer might surprise you – let Your Pet, Your Love, elaborate on this matter.

 

Is a Dog Abscess an Emergency?

Most times, dog abscesses are not an emergency. This means that if the abscess starts by itself, it might disappear if you follow a couple of basic steps.

Abscesses often form when staphylococcal or staph bacteria find a breakpoint within your dog’s skin and enter its body.

Then, your dog’s immune system fights to combat the bacteria, which leads to the release of white cells, and subsequently turns into pus.

But the abscess will not go away by itself – instead, you must follow some medical precautions and basic care to treat the abscess before it turns into something bigger. 

It is important to ask ourselves questions such as “Can a Tick Kill a Dog?” or “Can a Hairball Kill a Dog?” so we can understand the dangers that might affect our little companions.

 

Will an Abscess on a Dog Go Away?

No – in most cases, a dog abscess will not go away by itself. That’s the scary part – abscesses can lead to infections, and infections hardly go away in a few days or weeks.

Instead, you must treat your dog accordingly, so the abscess does not turn into something more dangerous. 

The good news is that if you treat the abscess with enough time, it will only last between 2 and 3 days before it finally goes away.

 

Can a Dog Die From an Abscess?

Yes – a dog can die from an abscess, especially if we talk about a tooth abscess. If the abscess is left untreated, it is possible for it to propagate the infection around your dog’s body, which causes a type of fever that can be fatal.

Although this doesn’t happen all the time, it is utterly important to prevent this scenario at all costs. Otherwise, your dog might end up dying in a fairly horrible way, which is something that none of us want.

 

Can a Tooth Abscess Kill a Dog?

Yes, a tooth abscess can kill a dog. Tooth abscesses form due to dental issues or penetrating wounds inside the mouth of dogs.

Since treating tooth abscesses is often pretty hard for first-time dog owners, leaving it untreated can lead to a severe infection which ultimately leads to death.

The staph bacteria attract the mouth more than other parts of the body, so when we talk about tooth abscesses, we must be extremely cautious.

 
Can a Dog Die From an Abscess?

How Fast Can an Infection Kill a Dog?

According to multiple pet studies, it is possible for infections to kill dogs from 8 to 10 days after appearing.

Since abscesses can lead to infection, if the abscess is not treated as it should, then your canine can die after 10 days of the first appearance of the symptoms.

Of course, this varies depending on the type of infection that your dog is facing. For instance, Shock due to Bacterial Infection can ask quicker or slower, depending on the current health state of your furry friend.

 

Can an Infected Wound Kill a Dog?

Yes – infected wounds not only are a great way for abscesses to proliferate in your dog’s body, but they might also lead to sepsis, which often has fatal outcomes.

If a dog has a wound that it hasn’t been treated, this wound can fulminant septicemia. Research shows that this disease is quite deadly, and to be fair, it is one of the most horrible deaths that a dog can have.

The best recommendation to follow in this scenario is to let professionals take care of wounds in dogs.


What to Do if Your Dog Has an Abscess?

If your dog has an abscess, then you will be able to clearly identify it by looking at its skin. Either way, there are other symptoms of abscesses that you must have in mind:

  • Dogs with abscesses experience a sudden loss of appetite.
  • It is possible for dogs with abscesses to experience fever in a sudden way.
  • Hair loss is also a common symptom to watch out for.
  • A stinky odor coming from the abscess means that it is already infected, and you should treat it right away.

Thus, if you find any of these symptoms in your dog, this is the best path to follow to treat dog abscesses at home:

  1. Try to drain the abscess by yourself using gloves and isopropyl alcohol – this will probably hurt your dog a lot, but it must be done.
  2. Use an aloe vera rubdown or coconut oil if the abscess still hasn’t reached the infestation stage.
  3. Use external prescription medication for dog abscesses that you can find at any pet store.
  4. If nothing works and your dog requires antibiotics, then you must take it to the vet as soon as possible.

How Much to Treat Dog Abscess?

In general, treating a dog abscess with professionals costs anywhere between $200 and $500 if we talk about skin abscesses.

Normally, vets remove the abscess by using local anesthesia, which is a quick and safe procedure. You will also get some antibiotics prescribed to your pet, which will increase the costs of treating abscesses with a professional.

If we talk about a tooth abscess, and the tooth needs to be removed, then expect to pay up to $800. 

At the end of the day, this is a small amount of money compared to the possibility of losing your dog.

Thus, as an average, we can state the following:

  1. Treating a skin abscess can cost $400, depending on your dog’s condition;
  2. Treating a tooth abscess can cost up to $800 if the tooth needs to be removed.
  3. Expect to pay around $50 in medical prescriptions of antibiotics if needed. 

Pet Recap: Can an Abscess Kill My Dog?

Yes, an abscess can kill your dog if you do nothing about it. It is important to take care of our pets at all times, and watching out for abscesses will save us a lot of time, money, and sad times.

If the abscess is small enough, and you spot it early, you can treat it at home. Otherwise, let vets handle this problem for you and ensure that your dog is happy and healthy.

 

FAQ


Is an Abscess Painful for a Dog?

Yes, abscesses are always painful for dogs. Even if you touch the abscess just a little bit to drain it, they will feel a lot of pain. This is why most vets use local anesthesia to drain abscesses on dogs.

 

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