Cat Anal Glands: Detecting and Treating Inflammation
The anal glands are glands that are located on the left and right side of the cat's anus. In them a foul smelling secretion is formed. If the cat defecates, the anal glands are emptied. This probably serves to mark the excrement with its own scent and thus to mark the territory for conspecifics.
Occasionally, however, it happens that the anal glands of the cat become inflamed. This can have various causes and is extremely unpleasant for affected animals. How you can recognise such an inflammation in your cat and what you can do about it, we explain in the following.
Causes of inflamed anal glands in cats
If your cat's anal glands have become inflamed, it is usually because the secretions they contain have accumulated over a long period of time. This can happen, for example, if your cat has diarrhoea or suffers from constipation.
If this is the case, the cat's anal glands are no longer emptied regularly and the secretion solidifies. This makes it even more difficult to empty the anal sacs and eventually leads to them becoming inflamed.
Symptoms of inflamed anal glands in cats
Inflamed anal glands are associated with pait. This leads to typical symptoms such as the so-called sledge ride, where your cat friend slides with his backside over the ground. Many cats with inflamed anal glands also avoid sitting down.
Other possible symptoms that may occur in your cat due to the inflamed anal sacs are, for example
- Increased licking of the anus
- Touch sensitivity in the anal region
- Redness of the anus
- Obvious pain when weaning feces
Diagnosis of anal gland inflammation in cats
Without treatment the inflamed anal glands of the cat may burst open or abscesses may form. For this reason it is important that you take any complaints seriously and take prompt action to remedy them.
The veterinarian will usually recognise the inflammation quickly by the swelling, which makes it very easy to feel the enlarged anal glands of the cat, or by secretions escaping if the anal bags have already burst.
If abscesses have formed on the anal glands, it is also likely that the cat has a fever.
Treating inflamed anal glands in cats
If your cat's anal glands are only slightly inflamed, the veterinarian will usually drain them manually. As this procedure is quite painful for your four-legged friend, an anaesthetic is usually necessary.
Once emptied, the anal bags are rinsed with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. Depending on the severity of the inflammation, the treatment may have to be repeated several times.
If abscesses are present, it is also often necessary to drain accumulated pus with a small incision. In addition, the veterinarian will probably give your cat antibiotics in the form of injections or tablets.
Prognosis for cats with anal gland inflammation
If you take prompt action against the inflammation of the anal glands, your cat's symptoms should subside quite quickly.
However, you should be aware that the anal sacs may well become inflamed again. There is an increased risk if, for example, your cat suffers from constipation regularly.
Avoid anal gland inflammation in cats
Of course, complaints with the anal bags in cats can never be completely ruled out. Nevertheless, you as the owner have a number of possibilities to counteract inflammation of the anal glands in your four-legged friend and thus at least significantly reduce the risk.
A balanced diet with high-quality cat food is particularly important in this context. After all, a good cat food, such as the I love my cat range, makes an important contribution to healthy digestion.
Counteract digestive problems immediately
With regard to possible inflammation of the anal glands, it is very important that you take immediate action in case of digestive problems such as diarrhoea or constipation in your cat.
For this purpose we recommend that you take a dietary supplement with Shiimun Gastro. Shiimun Gastro is a natural food supplement that we have developed especially for cats with digestive problems.
The carefully selected ingredients of the preparation promote healthy digestion and can thus help to drastically reduce the likelihood of inflammation of the anal glands in your cat.
Inflamed anal glands in cats - our conclusion
As you can see, inflamed anal glands are a very painful affair for your cat and should not be taken lightly. Ideally, you can avoid problems with the anal sacs by feeding your cat appropriate cat food from the outset.
Should your cat nevertheless suffer from an inflammation of the anal glands, an early visit to the vet will help to treat the complaints of your four-legged friend promptly and without permanent damage.
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