Hi, my 8-year old domestic tabby has had an infected anal gland for months that antibiotics haven't been able to cure. They control her symptoms while she is on the meds, but once she's off, the gland remains infected. She has no other symptoms--no scooting, licking, etc.
We've had her to her usual vet and a specialist. Our vet fears a tumor might be causing the infection and was recommending surgery to remove the gland. But the specialist (surgeon) we took her to said he did not think it was cancer and suggested culturing the bacteria. We did that but at the followup with her regular vet, the gland was still infected (pus discharge). The vet also said the gland felt thickened, and she is afraid if it is cancer, it is spreading.
The surgery is $2400-2800, and I've read mixed reviews of it. We might go ahead with it if it was definitely a solution; however, because of the possibility that it is cancer, we are hesitant. We do not want to make our cat go through surgery only to have it spread. (We would choose not to seek additional treatment beyond removing the gland for various reasons.)
All the research I've done indicate that persistent anal infections can lead to cancer if they abscess, but not that they may be caused by cancer. I am looking for advice--has anyone ever heard of cancer causing an anal gland infection? No one has detected a mass and there are no other symptoms. I would love a more educated opinion on this. Many thanks.
We've had her to her usual vet and a specialist. Our vet fears a tumor might be causing the infection and was recommending surgery to remove the gland. But the specialist (surgeon) we took her to said he did not think it was cancer and suggested culturing the bacteria. We did that but at the followup with her regular vet, the gland was still infected (pus discharge). The vet also said the gland felt thickened, and she is afraid if it is cancer, it is spreading.
The surgery is $2400-2800, and I've read mixed reviews of it. We might go ahead with it if it was definitely a solution; however, because of the possibility that it is cancer, we are hesitant. We do not want to make our cat go through surgery only to have it spread. (We would choose not to seek additional treatment beyond removing the gland for various reasons.)
All the research I've done indicate that persistent anal infections can lead to cancer if they abscess, but not that they may be caused by cancer. I am looking for advice--has anyone ever heard of cancer causing an anal gland infection? No one has detected a mass and there are no other symptoms. I would love a more educated opinion on this. Many thanks.