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Simply inside a cat’s anus are two small glands: the anal glands (generally known as anal sacs). When you think about your cat’s anus because the face of a clock (that could be the strangest starting to any sentence I’ve ever written), the anal glands are positioned on the 4 and the 8 place, and produce a foul-smelling secretion.
Initially, these glands allowed cats to mark their territory and chase away predators, however they not serve a lot objective now that cats have grow to be domesticated. Small quantities of anal gland secretion are launched when a cat defecates; nonetheless, cats could specific the complete contents of those glands once they get excited or scared.
As a cat veterinarian, I can’t start to depend what number of occasions I’ve been “glanded” within the examination room by a frightened or nervous cat. The room immediately fills up with a distinctly disagreeable musky, fishy odor. If it will get on my shirt or my lab coat, I’ve to vary clothes instantly or the scent will cling to me all day.
Illnesses of the anal glands are extra widespread in canine, however they do happen in cats as nicely. Widespread anal gland issues embody impaction, abscesses and tumors.
When it’s impacted
Impaction happens when the duct main from the gland to the anus turns into clogged, and the gland turns into distended because it fills with the secretion. Because the gland distends, the stress inside will increase, which causes discomfort.
Cats generally reveal this discomfort by “scooting” — dragging their anus on the ground or carpet, though this conduct is extra generally seen in canine. The extra widespread conduct in cats with anal gland irritation is extreme licking, cleansing and customarily fussing with the anal space. Often, cats will present reluctance to take a seat or to poop, and should maintain their tail in an uncommon place.
Anal gland impaction will be handled by having your veterinarian specific the anal glands manually. This relieves the stress throughout the gland and reopens the clogged duct, which often resolves the issue. Having expressed 1000’s of anal glands over my profession, I’ve realized how you can do it shortly and comparatively painlessly, however all cats nonetheless hate having it accomplished.
When it’s an abscess
Typically, the entrapped anal gland secretion will grow to be contaminated. This isn’t stunning, given the shut proximity of the glands to the anus. Pus will start to build up throughout the gland, forming an abscess. If the pus contained in the gland can’t escape by way of the traditional route (the duct main from the gland to simply contained in the anus), the pus will attempt to burrow by the pores and skin across the anus. In some cases, the pus ruptures by the pores and skin and drains out by itself, which stands out as the first signal an proprietor notices.
Anal gland rupture usually leads to pores and skin injury in that space, requiring anesthesia, an intensive cleaning and surgical trimming and/or removing of the broken pores and skin. A couple of stitches could also be required to cut back the scale of the wound and promote faster therapeutic. If the abscess is recognized earlier than the gland ruptures, it’ll must be lanced by your veterinarian whereas the cat is sedated or beneath anesthesia. After the abscess is lanced, antibiotics are prescribed for a couple of days. Heat compresses to the world assist velocity up the therapeutic, however this may be tough, as most cats aren’t too eager about having a heat fabric utilized to their backside.
Easy options
Cats with recurrent anal gland issues would possibly profit from a high-fiber weight-reduction plan, because the fiber leads to a bulkier stool, which places extra stress on
the anal glands throughout defecation, permitting the glands to be expressed extra effectively.
Chubby cats are at elevated danger for anal gland issues, so sustaining a wholesome physique weight may also help scale back the incidence of these kind of issues. Cats who are suffering repeated impactions or abscesses could require surgical removing of the anal glands. In my expertise, that is not often mandatory.
Kitty bought anal gland issues?
If one thing is occurring, you’ll most likely discover this sort of motion within the anal sac space:
✔ scooting
✔ extreme licking
✔ cleansing
✔ reluctance to take a seat or poop
✔ tail held in uncommon place
✔ an abscess varieties
If you’re seeing this, it’s time to take kitty to the veterinarian to specific the anal glads and deal with the impaction.
May it’s most cancers?
Most cancers of the anal glands (known as anal gland adenocarcinoma) is, fortunately, an unusual situation in cats. The signs usually mimic these of an anal gland abscess, together with:
✔ swelling
✔ irritation
✔ ache
✔ bleeding
✔ ulceration of the pores and skin surrounding the anus
The popular remedy possibility for anal gland adenocarcinoma in cats is surgical removing of the cancerous anal gland; nonetheless, these are usually aggressive tumors, and the most cancers has usually unfold to different components of the physique by the point a analysis has been made, necessitating a poor prognosis. I really feel lucky to have by no means recognized a case in my apply.
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