Why does my cat's chin abscess keep coming back after antibiotics?

Question

My cat Mac has what seems to be an abcess under his chin. We've been to his vet four times, each time we are prescribed and antibiotic for 10 days and shortly after it comes back. It doesn't seem to bother him, other than it gets itchy and he scratches it open (he is also sneezing and shaking his head). The first time it opened back in July it was messy with a lot of puss and blood, all the other times it has just been bloody. What could be going on? *updated with photos. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years and 11 months old | 10 lbs

Linda G, MS, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello. If your veterinarian has no cultured the lesion, it is time to do so. Mac may have a resistant bacterial infection, or perhaps, even a fungal infection that may require a change in medications. Another concern is there could be a foreign object that penetrated the skin & is causing these recurrent infections. A grass awn, or even a broken claw can basically disappear under the skin creating chronic infections. I would probably start with an x-ray to see if anything is visible & submit a sample for culture & sensitivity. Last resort would be to open the area, explore & possibility biopsy some of the tissue to understand why this is not healing. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Why does my cat's chin abscess keep coming back after antibiotics?

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