Simply inside a cat’s anus are two small glands: the anal glands (typically known as anal sacs). In case you think about your cat’s anus because the face of a clock (that is likely to 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 now not serve a lot goal now that cats have turn into domesticated. Small quantities of anal gland secretion are launched when a cat defecates; nonetheless, cats might categorical the whole contents of those glands after they get excited or scared.
As a cat veterinarian, I can’t start to rely what number of instances I’ve been “glanded” within the examination room by a frightened or nervous cat. The room all of the sudden 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 odor will cling to me all day.
Ailments of the anal glands are extra frequent in canine, however they do happen in cats as properly. 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 typically show this discomfort by “scooting” — dragging their anus on the ground or carpet, though this habits is extra generally seen in canine. The extra frequent habits in cats with anal gland irritation is extreme licking, cleansing and customarily fussing with the anal space. Sometimes, cats will present reluctance to sit down or to poop, and should maintain their tail in an uncommon place.
Anal gland impaction may be handled by having your veterinarian categorical 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 the right way to do it rapidly and comparatively painlessly, however all cats nonetheless hate having it carried out.
When it’s an abscess
Generally, the entrapped anal gland secretion will turn into 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 not escape by way of the traditional route (the duct main from the gland to only contained in the anus), the pus will attempt to burrow by way of the pores and skin across the anus. In some situations, the pus ruptures by way of the pores and skin and drains out by itself, which could be the first signal an proprietor notices.
Anal gland rupture typically leads to pores and skin harm in that space, requiring anesthesia, an intensive cleaning and surgical trimming and/or elimination of the broken pores and skin. A couple of stitches could also be required to scale back the scale of the wound and promote faster therapeutic. If the abscess is recognized earlier than the gland ruptures, it’s going to should be lanced by your veterinarian whereas the cat is sedated or underneath anesthesia. After the abscess is lanced, antibiotics are prescribed for just a few days. Heat compresses to the realm assist velocity up the therapeutic, however this may be tough, as most cats aren’t too eager about having a heat material utilized to their backside.
Easy options
Cats with recurrent anal gland issues may profit from a high-fiber weight loss program, 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 threat for anal gland issues, so sustaining a wholesome physique weight may help scale back the incidence of all these issues. Cats that suffer repeated impactions or abscesses might require surgical elimination of the anal glands. In my expertise, that is not often mandatory.
Kitty received anal gland issues?
If one thing is occurring, you’ll in all probability discover this type of motion within the anal sac space:
✔ scooting
✔ extreme licking
✔ cleansing
✔ reluctance to sit down or poop
✔ tail held in uncommon place
✔ an abscess types
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 typically mimic these of an anal gland abscess, together with:
✔ swelling
✔ irritation
✔ ache
✔ bleeding
✔ ulceration of the pores and skin surrounding the anus
The popular therapy choice for anal gland adenocarcinoma in cats is surgical elimination of the cancerous anal gland; nonetheless, these are typically aggressive tumors, and the most cancers has typically unfold to different components of the physique by the point a prognosis has been made, necessitating a poor prognosis. I really feel lucky to have by no means recognized a case in my observe.