My sweet cat Mina is a tubby, as I've mentioned in a few other threads. I've slowly been able to change her diet (with vet's recommendations). But anyway, due to her large tummy she kinda has had problems cleaning her, um, nether regions. I've tried to help clean up but she doesn't always let me back there.
So for the past week or so, her anal area has been producing some horrific odors, and she's been licking the fur constantly. I've gently cleaned her whenever possible but it's a struggle and finally I realized (DUH) that it wasn't just annoyance at being touched back there, it was that she was very uncomfortable whenever I touched her.
Now, I did some lookups on the web and considering the foul odor and strange swelling on either side of her anus it seemed to me likely that she had an anal sac infection. I made an appointment at the humane society hospital (I just finished spending $450 on Mina for various checkups and FIP tests and am thus extremely low on funds) and took her there today. Turns out that it's not anal sac disease ... it's something called urine scald and dermatitis, and is quite simply the result of bad cleaning habits, of urine collecting underneath her fur and the acid harming her skin.
The doc shot her up with cortizone (to help the swelling/inflammation) and gave me some ointment, medicine, and cleaning fluid, and said it should clear up soon. He put a HUGE elizabethan collar -- this thing is massive, about twice the size of her head, and I don't know how she's even gonna be able to eat. She looks like a small lamp and is very very cheesed off at not being able to see on either side of her.
I feel like such an awful mom to her. How could I let this happen??? I had no idea that this was going on under her fur. Do those of you with larger cats ever help your cats clean themselves? What are your suggestions? Do you have any tips on helping Mina get some food in her despite this humungous collar?
I HATE seeing my cat in pain, and it's my fault for not cleaning her more proactively. I thought she could take care of it on her own.
I'm SO ANGRY AT MYSELF.
Sorry I just had to vent.
So for the past week or so, her anal area has been producing some horrific odors, and she's been licking the fur constantly. I've gently cleaned her whenever possible but it's a struggle and finally I realized (DUH) that it wasn't just annoyance at being touched back there, it was that she was very uncomfortable whenever I touched her.
Now, I did some lookups on the web and considering the foul odor and strange swelling on either side of her anus it seemed to me likely that she had an anal sac infection. I made an appointment at the humane society hospital (I just finished spending $450 on Mina for various checkups and FIP tests and am thus extremely low on funds) and took her there today. Turns out that it's not anal sac disease ... it's something called urine scald and dermatitis, and is quite simply the result of bad cleaning habits, of urine collecting underneath her fur and the acid harming her skin.
The doc shot her up with cortizone (to help the swelling/inflammation) and gave me some ointment, medicine, and cleaning fluid, and said it should clear up soon. He put a HUGE elizabethan collar -- this thing is massive, about twice the size of her head, and I don't know how she's even gonna be able to eat. She looks like a small lamp and is very very cheesed off at not being able to see on either side of her.
I feel like such an awful mom to her. How could I let this happen??? I had no idea that this was going on under her fur. Do those of you with larger cats ever help your cats clean themselves? What are your suggestions? Do you have any tips on helping Mina get some food in her despite this humungous collar?
I HATE seeing my cat in pain, and it's my fault for not cleaning her more proactively. I thought she could take care of it on her own.
I'm SO ANGRY AT MYSELF.
Sorry I just had to vent.