Abscesses are a common problem that most dogs will develop at some point in their lives. Whether you are unable to take your dog to the veterinarian because you are in the mountains camping or because you simply cannot afford an office visit, you will be pleased to learn you can often treat an abscess at home. Successful treatment of your dog's abscess requires that you understand its cause and then take the proper steps to assist it with the natural healing process.

Why Your Dog Got an Abscess

There are two different causes of skin abscesses in pets:

1. a skin puncture or tear
2. a foreign object under the skin

The first issue is something you can easily treat at home while the second may require the assistance of your dog's vet. Just as you can develop a skin infection if your skin is cut or tears, so too can your dog. Dogs often get abscesses from cutting themselves on trees, brush, or other sharp objects around your home. Rather than the skin healing, bacteria enter into the injury and causes a localized infection.

Sometimes a dog's abscess is caused by a thorn or other foreign object that gets caught under their skin. This is common in areas with heavy brush or foxtails. If you can feel something under your dog's skin or their abscess doesn't respond well to home treatment, then you need to take your dog to their veterinarian to have the object removed. If you do not, then the abscess will not heal and can place your dog at risk for a life-threatening blood infection.

How to Successfully Treat Your Dog's Abscess at Home

Just as a boil on a human's body has to heal from the inside outward, so does your dog's skin abscess. You cannot speed up this process, but you absolutely can keep the infection from getting worse and promote its healing.

To help your dog's abscess heal, allow it to naturally drain on its own and then keep it clean by washing it out each day with an antibacterial rinse. You can purchase antibacterial solutions at your local pet store. Every evening wash out the wound according to the directions on the packaging and then pat it dry with a paper towel. Once dry, apply a thin layer of antibacterial ointment to keep other skin bacteria from getting into the abscess and prolonging its healing.

Contact a vet office like Community Animal Hospital for more information and assistance.