Jennie's anal glands

I've been worried about Jennie's anal glands for a few of days, and this morning when I flipped her over to check them some pus spurted out.

I've made an appointment to see a vet tech to have them expressed and if the tech thinks there's infection she'll bring a vet in. My vet is not in this week.

So we'll be leaving early to give us lots of time to get there, I'm worried about driving in the bad weather, (we're having an ice storm) but for my cats, I will do anything.

Please send us some TCS vibes for safety on the road, it is very bad out there.

Thanks you guys. Jennie's anal gland issues are chronic and I have been talking to my vet about having them removed, but am of course hesitant to put her through such a surgery unless absolutely necessary.

Anal sacs are normally cleared out when the cat has a bowel momvement but it's not happening for Jennie.

I've been attempting to control the problem with added fiber (psyllium) to bulk the stool, the theory being a larger stool will clear out the sacs but the experiment has not been successful.

I am adamant that I will not drive in bad weather conditions, especially ice, but when it comes to the cats I have to make an exception. Originally I was going to get her in on Friday but when I saw the pus this morning I knew I had to get her in today.

I've decided that our gaurdian angels will watch out for us, the ice will stop falling just when I need it to, to get me and Jennie there and back safely, and we won't encounter any idiotic giant SUV or pick-ups with plows drivers on our way.

I am fighting the sick nervous feeling in my stomach. I hate being on the roads in this kind of weather. It's not my driving I worry about. People are idiots.

We're back! All is well.

I stayed on main roads, going slightly out of my way to do so, and they are wet but nothing is falling out of the sky at the moment, though more is supposed to come later today.

Anyway, Jennie got her bottom squeezed and there is no infection. She was highly indignant as you can imagine. I feel sooo much better now. I couldn't resist flipping her over just now to check her area, and it's lovely to not see those tell tale brown dots on either side.

Peace of mind is well worth the trip. Thanks for all the well wishes.



Thanks for your comments. Actually the psyllium fiber is meant to BULK the stool, not loosen it, I am not talking about laxatives.

A bowel movement normally clears the anal sacs. Some animals have problems and things don't work the way they are supposed to, and one theory is adding stool bulking fiber is a way to solve the problem. This has not worked for Jennie.

I have been taught to express glands at home, but in spite of the many skills I do posses in cat health care, for some reason I am unable to do this, though it is not for lack of trying. Jennie is not my first cat with this problem, and I was unable to express Bibbs' anal glands either.

I appreciate your suggestions. I won't be feeding a raw diet to my cats, ever, though the thought of a raw chicken wing type snack now and then for them has crossed my mind.

I wonder....if that would help her. I'd like to avoid the surgery if at all possible. I'll discuss it with my vet.

Here is Jennie sleeping off her ordeal. You'll notice she has her tail tucked tightly under herself. She's not taking any chances, no one is taking liberties with her bottom again today.

Thanks Laurie. LOL, nope. Jennie sits quietly with her tail tucked tightly under herself, covering her privates, when at the vet. It's only with her fur-sibs that she is brave and gutter mouthed.

thanks Erica.

I don't know. I mean, the technique might be the same, but of course their physiologies are different.

I would not recommend anyone trying it on their own without first being trained how to do it by the vet or vet tech. I HAVE been trained, but for some reason just can't do it right.

If you are already skilled with expressing your dog's anal glands, n I suggest that next time you're at the vet with one of your cats ask your vet to show you how on the cat.