Anal gland burst- Question for anyone???

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owlgal

owlgal

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Anyone had any problem with the anal glands in cats???? My non-FD cat had to be rushed to vet today because of an anal gland that burst. Had no idea that cats had anal glands. Switched his diet to all canned when copper was DX. Anyone have any suggestion on diet for anal gland problems. WOndering if the miralax would help him too. SOmetimes i see him get bad diareah with the seafood, so don't want to aggrevate his problem. THey gave him an antibiotic shot and i have to keep him inside for a couple of days. He goes outside/insided during the day and inside at night. HE is going to be PISSED off he can't go outside tomorrow. He seems very peaceful tonight and not licking it too much. He ate well.

It's an education. I thought only dogs had this problem. I didn't even know about cats having them. The vet says it is rare for cats to have problems. Figures i have the problem cat. Just glad he is better tonight. He was just miserable this morning. No signs before except he kept backing up on the walls and trying to pee. Thought he was just being super dominant and territorial.

Thanks for the input everyone!

lori
 
My understanding is that when dogs poop, the gland is pressed, and emptied... naturally. When that doesn't happen, they have to be manually expressed. My dog Murphy used to have it done weekly. As for cats - my Reggie likes to back up to the wall adjacent the bathroom vanity, and shakes his tail like you describe - but nothing comes out. I guess that means he's trying to tell me something.

Reggie also dances with me in the mornings, and sometimes there is some discharge that I assume is from the anal glands. If I hold toilet paper over the "poop shoot" :lol: and scratch him just above the tail, he tends to excrete some. I've also tried to pinch both sides of the poop shoot with a piece of TP - which he doesn't like, but I can usually get something as well. I don't think they have a large enough opening to reach in and manually empty the glands :shock: - but I've never tried. Based on Moochie Pooch's reaction to the most recent "Spa Day" at my house (latched onto my arm w/ 3 good puncture wounds), I don't know that I'd be so inclined!!! ;-)
 
Ouch! That must of hurt! Doesn't sound like a fun thing to do (extracting the anal glands- YUCK)

He is better today....Begging to go outside, but won't let him for a day.
 
Hello Lori,

Ouchy! My non-FD kitty, Spitfire, about 10 years old now, had a problem with one swollen anal gland about a year ago. According to the vet the problem was caused by constipation since that's when she does not go often enough to naturally express and exercise the anal glands. Got an antibiotic but gland was not expressed since I refused to permit it once vet said expressing, in her case, could cause the gland to burst. She's on Miralax, 1/8 tsp 2x per day dissolved in water and added to food, am and pm. I don't remember her ever having diarrhea. Good luck!

Best wishes,
Sophie
 
Thanks! i will try that. I give copper 1/4tsp 2xday to keep him going.

i was thinking that i needed more fiber in his food to make it harder, not softer though. SO confused.
 
Hi, again, Lori

I don't know if this applies to your kitty, but my vet had explained that if the constipation had gone on long enough and if my kitty had dry poo inside her, then, diarrhea would have been possible and would have squeezed out of the anal opening around the dried part. Had to make some room in there! However, your vet would have felt the dried stuff during his exam. Then, the process would have been: manual removal of some dry parts, baby size suppository and enema - if I recall correctly. Perhaps, your vet can offer you some instructions over the phone? Honestly, I think he/she should have given you more information. Perhaps, cross-posting on Health would result in more advice.
Best wishes,
Sophie
 
Doing so much better today. Wound almost all healed up and he looks so much happier!! Hope he stays healthy! Got to get a tooth pulled in a couple of weeks on him too. YUCK!
 
Lori, so glad that you posted your boy's doing well. Scary about the dental, but hopefully he'll heal quickly. Best wishes, Sophie
 
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