Beavers with abscesses commonly show which sign under their fur?

• A. Hard lumps under the fur
• B. Rash on belly
• C. Hair loss
• D. Discoloration of skin

Answer: (A)

Abscesses are localized pockets of infection that fill with pus in tissue. In beavers, thick fur can hide swelling, so the most reliable sign you can feel under the coat is a firm, hard lump. This palpable lump reflects the accumulated material inside the tissue and is the classic clue that an abscess is present beneath the fur, even before it might be obvious on the skin surface.

If an abscess were actively draining, you might notice a softer area or a tract where discharge emerges, and the surrounding fur could become matted from leaking pus. However, the key under-the-fur finding remains a discrete, hard lump.

The other signs don’t fit as well because a rash on the belly points to surface dermatitis, hair loss can result from various conditions (not specific to an internal pocket of infection), and skin discoloration can stem from trauma, dermatitis, or other issues. None are as characteristic of a deep pocket of infection beneath the fur as a hard, palpable lump.