What are paraanal glands in cats? How to recognize and how to treat inflammation of the paraanal glands?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Inflammation of the anal glands in cats is an unpleasant disease that can occur not only in females, but also in males. Many owners of unneutered cats know firsthand about laundering the “fat tail”, since this is a rather laborious task. What do paraanal glands look like in cats and what problems can they cause?

Some information about the disease

In the common people they are called anal bags. Two glands are located near the anus, and the substance secreted from these sacs is very viscous and thick, and has an unpleasant odor. For this reason, very often veterinarians do not offer pet cleaning to owners. Most cats can independently release the glands from the specified substance in self-defense or when marking the territory. Also, in a he althy animal, this secret comes out during defecation. In the wild, cats can easily cope with the task, but pets have practically lost the ability to get rid of the harmful substance on their own. Therefore, the owners have to help their pets.

If the animal is notcan control this process, then an inflammatory reaction occurs, in which the anal sacs increase in size and cause many problems: cats cannot move normally and go to the toilet. The paraanal glands in cats cause unusual behavior: the animal begins to fidget backwards on the floor and strongly lick the anal area.

Causes of pathology

• Genetic predisposition, especially if you have a purebred cat.
• Feces that are too soft (diarrhoea).
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• A very viscous substance secreted from the glands.
• Special features.
• Obesity.
• Parasitemia.
• Inactivity.
• Too soft food.
• Other hidden reasons.

As mentioned above, the paraanal glands in cats can become inflamed at any time if there is an excessive accumulation of secretions. In turn, the multiplication of pathogens leads to serious consequences and even sepsis in case of untimely treatment.

Stages of disease

If the paraanal glands in cats are not treated, the disease will progress and your animal will remain crippled. To make it clear what this pathology is, let's talk about its stages and how they proceed.

1. The first stage. Severe itching is observed, the animal behaves uneasily, a small amount of yellowish secretion may be secreted.
2. Second stage - on the body of the animal there are pustular rashes on the inside of the thighs, sometimes there is stiffness in the pelvic area. The secret comes out thicker and more abundant.
3. The third stage is very dangerous for the animal. The secret begins to stand out in small quantities, has a creamy texture of dark color.
4. The fourth stage is the most dangerous. With her, the animal often stops walking due to paralysis of the pelvic girdle. The secret stands out as a grainy, clay-like consistency.

Symptoms

As mentioned above, you should identify the problem from the moment it occurs. Therefore, it is extremely important to read the information below in order to have a basic understanding of this disease.

Inflammation of the anal glands in cats shows the following symptoms:

• tenesmus;
• changing habits;
• aggression towards other people;
• oppression;
• wool loss;
• refusing to eat;
• wool feels wet to the touch;
• rash;
• skin sinuses;
• pain in the tail area;
• skin ulcers;
• hypersensitivity;
• pruritus (itch);
• fever;
• hyperpigmentation.

How is the illness progressing?

As you already understood, this disease begins with a violation of the release of the secret from the anal sacs. In other words, they are blocked. Outwardly, the cat may look perfectly he althy and active, and only periodically willpay close attention to your tail. After a short period of time, the secret changes its consistency and becomes thicker, so-called flakes appear in it. After that, the animal changes its behavior and does not allow, as before, to stroke it in the area of the hind legs and tail. Due to the overflow of the glands, the secret seeps into the blood, while the animal feels an unbearable itch that cannot be stopped. Accordingly, the cat begins to intensively lick the area under the tail.

If the animal has not received timely assistance, then the microorganisms in the anal sacs cause an inflammatory process. In the clogged ducts, an abscess of the paraanal gland occurs in a cat. After that, purulent accumulations come out, and a fistula forms in the anus. This period is considered extremely dangerous for the animal: in cats, as a rule, the temperature rises within 40 degrees, they refuse to eat and become very lethargic. If nothing is done, the cat will most likely die.

Treatment at home

Inflammation of the anal glands in cats, which can be treated at home, is not very difficult to eliminate in the initial stages. Before this procedure, it is advisable to wear clothes that you will not be sorry to throw away. It is good if the household will help you, because this way you will quickly cope with the task.

First, prepare as many sterile gauze pads, Vaseline andrubber gloves. It is necessary to fix the animal so that it cannot move. With your left hand, wrap the tail over your back and, using a gauze napkin, squeeze the area under the tail just below the anus, while it is necessary to capture two glands at once. If you did everything right, a foul-smelling liquid should come out of the anal sacs. This treatment option will help if the animal has the first or second stage of the disease, in other situations you need to act differently.

If the secret has acquired a viscous consistency, then it is very difficult to get rid of it. This will require internal cleaning of the paraanal glands in cats. To do this, put on gloves and lubricate the index finger with petroleum jelly, then it must be inserted into the anus of the animal and squeeze the gland from the inside with force: squeeze out this substance until it comes out completely.

More humane treatments

There are more humane ways to solve this problem. For example, you can use synthomycin liniment. To do this, apply the ointment to the inflamed area and do not let the cat lick off the product for an hour. You can buy candles in the pharmacy, which contain ichthyol - they must be placed within 10 days for ¼ halves.

But the best thing, of course, is to seek qualified help from a veterinarian. Prevent the development of such a disease in your pets, systematically monitor their he alth, in particular the paraanal glands. With these actions, you will save yourself from problems, and the animal from torment.

Prevention

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to clean the anal sacs as often as possible. The timing of their cleaning is set on an individual basis, since it all depends on the breed of the cat and the characteristics of its body. Among other things, you should know that not every age can carry out this procedure - this moment is also individual. If you have identified this problem with your pet, you can help him yourself. It would also be useful to contact a veterinary clinic - they will prescribe the necessary course of therapy to cure the paraanal glands in cats. Timely treatment will definitely bring a positive effect.

Everyone wants to have a pet, but not always a person understands what responsibility lies on him. Although many cat breeds are completely unpretentious, they still require some care. Therefore, if you decide to get a pet, you must approach it responsibly, and not only play with the pet, but also treat it, if necessary. If you do not have time for this, then you need to think about whether to get a pet.