Chronic anal gland problems - Should we do surgery??

misstufts

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 30, 2015
Messages
83
Purraise
15
Location
Pennsylvania
Hello,
My beautiful girl WooWoo has chronic anal gland problems. Her bum is always swollen, painful, and leaky. The odor from her glands is just foul..and she puts her little bum on everything. Leaving behind some fluid. It's neither sanitary for us or for her.
Taking her to the vet breaks my heart, she didn't ask to be touched and squeezed there. When the vet brings her back out she is screaming until she gets into our arms. I feel awful that she is so uncomfortable and has to go through with it.
Her glands fill up a week or so after having them expressed, I can only imagine how uncomfortable it is to go potty.
Our vet has given us the option to remove her glands, but the vet hasn't preformed this surgery on cats. Not to mention all the risks. She could possibly lose all control, and drop poo everywhere she goes.
I would hate to put her through that and only make it worse..
But it's either let her be uncomfortable and in pain every week or so for the rest if her life, or have the surgery and either be cured or disabled.
I have thought of even putting her in diapers to stop her from leaking everywhere. I would take her to the vet to have them expressed still of course. Do you think this could be a possibility?
What are your opinions in the surgery?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, we are at a loss here.
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
Welcome to TCS!  If your vet has not erformed the anal gland removal on cats, I think you should consult a vet who has.  You have not yet provied information about where you live, but if you are in the U.S., you should try to find an AAHA certified hospital, preferably with a Feline Specialist on the staff.  There may be other solutions you have not yet considered.  She certainly should not have to go through painful anal gland expression every week with no anesthesia.  If that must be done, she can be anesthezed out briefly with gas via a mask. 

Do look into other possibilities before making any decisions.  If you are in a country other than the U.S., this is an international site and I'm sure there are members here who can point you in the best direction.  Let us know!
 

detmut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
1,233
Purraise
147
Location
New Orleans area (Metairie), Louisiana, United Sta
Last edited:

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
Could you express the glands yourself at home? It would be less stressful for your cat and less costly for you. You may need an extra pair of hands to hold the cat while you squeeze the glands. No cat likes to have their butts fiddled with and touched so be prepared for some resistance and complaining. Wrap a towel around the cat if necessary to keep the claws away. The vet can show you how to express the glands (probably on a different cat) or you can find online videos of how to do it. I have to occasional express my cat's glands (by myself) and it takes less than 10 seconds to do.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

misstufts

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 30, 2015
Messages
83
Purraise
15
Location
Pennsylvania
Thank you RTR for the warm welcome! We appreciate the feedback to our tricky situation. We are in the U.S. And we are in the state if Pennsylvania. We will try to find an AAHA around our area. Our veterinarian is one if the best in our area (if not in all of PA) but his practice is often more towards dogs than it is cats. He said he doesn't see this problem often in cats. We had to take her in today to have them expressed, it was only about a week inbetween the last visit and today. We have made an appointment with our vet to discuss possible options, maybe he can recommend a board certified surgeon. We hate to see her in so much discomfort, and with us having to go have them expressed this often, it leads her to be very upset and uncomfortable.
As for the anesthesia, it could become costly overtime as we go in almost every other week.
Surgery seems to be the best thing, and we are aware of the risks. I just am terrified if her becoming disabled.

And thank you Detmut for the links, we will definitely check them out and find one for us.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

misstufts

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 30, 2015
Messages
83
Purraise
15
Location
Pennsylvania
Hello LTS3, thanks for getting back to us. We have tried that, but because they become so swollen it is very hard for us to express them ourselves. We think taking her to the vet would prevent us from injuring her rectum.
We have had success doing it in the past, but recently it's becoming increasingly difficult.
 
Top