anal gland problems

sallyire

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 17, 2013
Messages
5
Purraise
10
Location
Ohio
Hi Everyone!  We made another trip to the vet to have anal glands expressed today.  My kitty was scooting on the floor, trying to reach back there and was just all around miserable.  The vet tech couldn't get much out because she said it was too thick. She said to bring her back in a couple weeks and the vet will see if it's impacted and maybe they would put her on an antibiotic. Does anyone have any advice on this?  She does seem better but I feel like the vet tech should have done more and had the vet check her right there.  Is there any magical way to make this gunk that's in there thin so it can be expressed easier?  Should I try to do it myself?  Any advice would be appreciated.
 

franksmom

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
1,159
Purraise
34
Hi there, 

Yes I would not be happy with the vet tech either. I have never had problems with my cats glands, but my dog had issues with her glands for years. She also had really very thick gunk and it would take a lot of work but the vet or the tech always got it out. Did the tech even  insert his/her finger into the rectum? For animals with really full anal glands they have to clean them internally and not just push on the outside. I hope they didn't charge you for this and honestly I would call the vet and complain and have the vet do it. If she is scooting and they didn't clean it properly there is a real chance it will rupture and believe me that is no fun. The antibiotics will not get rid of the gunk and will only treat the infection that she will most likely develop now because her glands were not expressed. 

What kind of food does she eat? I found with my dog her anal gland issues cleared up when I took her off dry food and went on raw. She is 17 now and is becoming a super picky eater and will only eat canned food now but it also seems to be keeping the anal glands in check. I have also read that canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is also supposed to help. 

Good luck and keep us posted! 
 
Last edited:

lcat4

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
213
Purraise
32
I'm not quite sure what an antibiotic would do if the glands aren't ruptured? My cat gets his glands expressed every three months. It takes them awhile and requires much fortitude. I know they've inserted fluids (maybe saline?) into the sacs to loosen up the cakey gunk. If I remember right, they've used a scooper to get stuff out as well. It's usually just the techs who work on him, not the vet. They would prefer my cat come in every two months. I'd go back, I know, not fun for you or your cat, and have them give it another go.

My cat now eats raw food and squash (not pumpkin) and it doesn't seem to have made a difference. Wish I could offer more.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
I'm not quite sure what an antibiotic would do if the glands aren't ruptured? My cat gets his glands expressed every three months. It takes them awhile and requires much fortitude. I know they've inserted fluids (maybe saline?) into the sacs to loosen up the cakey gunk. If I remember right, they've used a scooper to get stuff out as well. It's usually just the techs who work on him, not the vet. They would prefer my cat come in every two months. I'd go back, I know, not fun for you or your cat, and have them give it another go.

My cat now eats raw food and squash (not pumpkin) and it doesn't seem to have made a difference. Wish I could offer more.
Ouch!  That all sounds pretty painful!  Do they put your cats "under" to do that?  The "scooping" part particularly? 

But I agree, what good would an antibiotic do unless there is a rupture.

BTW, my Callie had a ruptured anal gland while on raw food.  Kind of disappointing since I convinced DH that going on raw was going to cut down on our Vet bills
.  Luckily she hasn't had any issues since, and that was almost a year ago.  Hope I haven't just jinxed myself
 

lcat4

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
213
Purraise
32
No- Lewis takes it "like a man".  But once he's home, he's out of the cat carrier fast and starts looking for a treat and a bit of loving.  The tech has commented that not all cats will let them do what they do to him.  He doesn't make a peep (or meow). 
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
Ritz has to have her anal glands expressed about twice a year.  I fed raw.  The only comment from the vet I've heard is "they were full".

I'd go back to the vet and have them made another try at expressing the anal glands.  They need to try harder.
 

meandthegov

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
37
Purraise
12
Location
PA
Can someone explain why this happens? I take Gov to the petsmart clinic and they said that this is a more common problem in dogs. My cat was scooting around for a day or two and licking his rear end before I could take him to the clinic. They ruled out worms and expressed his glands but said only one was full (ew?). He didn't appear to have trouble with poops which is why I had no idea that the glands were the problem. 

I just want to make sure that I am doing everything to prevent this from happening again. He didn't come out from under the bed for about four hours afterwards, miserable guy. 
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
With Ritz sometimes she'll scoot her butt along the carpet.

I think my vet said some cats are just predisposed to anal gland problems.  I've also heard that poop has to be the right consistency (neither too hard nor too soft) for the a.g. to be expressed naturally.
 

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,772
Purraise
3,491
Location
Texas
We used to have to do this with my older kitty when she was on an all dry diet.  Changing to some wet and adding plain canned pumpkin to her food helped immensely.
 

meandthegov

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
37
Purraise
12
Location
PA
PUMPKIN is where it's at. Same effects for people. I've been splitting a can with my cat and we are feeling great. 
 

oneandahalfcats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 13, 2013
Messages
1,437
Purraise
179
Under normal conditions, anal sacs are emptied during bowel movements. In some cats, anal glands are over-active and the liquid secretions become too thick and can overfill and plug the anal sacs.

Expressing anal glands is a pretty simple thing under normal conditions. If they are impacted which it sounds like they could be, then the procedure should definitely be done by a vet, and not a vet tech. I would go back to the vet clinic and insist on having your cat examined by the vet. Don't delay. Infection can occur if this condition is not addressed. You can learn to do this procedure on your own cat if it is determined that she would benefit from regular anal sac expression. Ask your vet to show you how to do it.

I agree that pumpkin is a great natural fibre source.
 
Top