cat with anal gland issue - PLEASE help

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.

Neither vet ever did bloodwork. There is no visible growth but her primary said the discharge when she last expressed her was pus with traces of blood and that the gland felt "thickened." Also said it felt larger than it did a month or so ago. The other gland is fine.

We've already had Boo on several courses or oral antibiotics, and did injections into the gland twice as well, but the infection remains. She is 8, and I am told cancer usually strikes older cats. She also has no other symptoms--she's eating and pooping normally as far as I can tell. She has been healthy up until this issue, which we discovered a few months ago when we saw pus oozing from her behind (sorry, graphic), and again at her next checkup.

My husband and I agreed that if it is cancer, we do not want to pursue treatment, sad as that makes us. But because I don't know for sure, I'm going crazy. He believes we should just wait and see if she gets worse, but I'm worried about letting an infection go unchecked. Also, because of this issue she has not been able to get her booster shots.

To even get a second opinion (even with the specialist who recommended the culture) is $65 or more. We've already spent over $1,000 on vet bills so far and we can't keep pouring more money into this without getting any answers.

Thanks again, it helps just to have somewhere to discuss this.

Hi, I wanted to post an update in case anyone else has this issue. We tried culturing the bacteria from the infection and developing a targeted antibiotic but even that did not seem to help. We were heartbroken, but ultimately decided against surgery.

Miraculously, our cat seems to have recovered! The only change I made was to switch her to a grain-free diet. I had read a lot online about this working for anal gland infections in dogs. I can't say for sure it is a cure, but it seems to have worked for us. She has gone the entire year so far without an infection and seems perfectly fine otherwise too. I am sticking with the grain free diet. Thanks for all your help.