The cat's paraanal glands are located near the anus. This paired organ secretes the secret necessary for marking the territory. In addition, with the help of such aromas, animals attract the opposite sex. Sometimes these glands become inflamed, causing an unpleasant and rather painful sensation to the animal.
Natural work
If the animal is healthy, the secret is released freely during self-defense, marking the area and during bowel movements. Unfortunately, human wardship and the appearance of a large number of decorative breeds have led some individuals to have difficulty self-emptying the anal sacs. That is why there is inflammation of the paraanal glands in dogs and cats.
Who is affected
Most often, pathology is observed in young males, but cats suffering from this problem are also not uncommon. Inflammation is especially common among animals of long-haired breeds.
In addition, the following animals are at risk:
- leading an inactive lifestyle;
- pregnant cats;
- injured in the anus;
- eating improperly, prone to diarrhea or constipation;
- with obesity.
Development
Inflammation of the paraanal glands in a cat has a very simple developmental mechanism.
First of all, the natural outflow of secretion is disrupted, as a result of which the sinuses overflow. After this, the liquid in the bags becomes thick, which leads to itching - the inflammatory process begins. Irritation accelerates the growth of microflora. The exposure zone increases, an abscess forms and the gland wall breaks through. By this time, the cat’s condition becomes unsatisfactory, the temperature may increase significantly.
A disease that has reached this degree can even kill an animal. Treatment should be started as soon as possible. In addition, it is important to remember that purulent inflammation of the paranal glands in a cat is almost untreatable, therefore it flows into a chronic form.
Signs
Bags filled with liquid increase in size and become inflamed. Sometimes this leads to the development of an abscess - purulent inflammation with ulcers and fistulas.
Enlarged glands do not allow the animal to defecate freely, sometimes reaching such volumes that it can hardly walk.
Inflammation of the paraanal glands in a cat can be detected if you carefully monitor the behavior of the pet: it often licks under the tail, as if gnawing parasites there, fidgeting on the floor backwards, trying to squeeze out the secret. After some time, the animal smells so much that just being near it becomes very difficult.
But this is not all that clogged paraanal glands of a cat lead to. Symptoms of inflammation may be as follows:
- Heat.
- Severe deterioration.
- Refusal of food.
Lack of treatment leads to death from blood poisoning. To bring a sick animal to this stage is the height of irresponsibility!
Treatment
Inflammation of the paraanal glands in a cat is eliminated quite simply, although this procedure is unpleasant for the owners. Its essence is in squeezing out the accumulated liquid. If this procedure gives the animal pain, it is necessary to conduct a seven-day course of injection of the antibiotic with Novocaine.
In difficult cases, you have to use the services of specialists - if necessary, rinse the bags with special solutions. If it comes to an abscess, it must be opened, cleaned and treated for a purulent wound.
If the inflammation of the paraanal glands in cats, the causes of which were mentioned above, has gone into a chronic form, and you have to empty the bags manually too often, a specialist may suggest simply removing them. These organs do not carry a significant functional load, so their absence does not affect the life and well-being of the pet.
Of course, this decision should be made only by an experienced specialist.
Self cleansing
If you can’t get to the doctor, you can clean the glands at home.
Before you start, put on old clothes or a protective gown. Points will not be superfluous. It is better to carry out cleaning in the bathroom, because during the manipulation, an unpleasantly smelling liquid can be sprayed in all directions.
First way
An assistant is needed who can fix the animal with a diaper or towel. The pet must be wrapped in cloth so that only the tail remains on the outside.
Then with your thumb and forefinger you need to squeeze the anus, helping with a napkin. Of course, gloves should be on hand. Press on the glands located at 5 and 8 hours from the anus until fluid comes out.
After cleaning, inject an anti-inflammatory suppository rectally. If necessary, repeat the cleaning after a certain period of time.
Second way
The above technique is only suitable when the glands are not enlarged very much. If the secret is already thickening, you have to apply a more complex and painful option of cleansing.
It is necessary to put on protective clothing, gloves, fix the pet. After that, grease the finger with petroleum jelly and insert it into the anus. From the inside, feel the nodules on the sides of the anus. Squeeze each of them alternately with your fingers. Squeeze out the secret until the gland is empty.
Third way
Of course, not every owner is ready for such feats. That is why inflammation of the paraanal glands in cats, whose photo will add determination to treat the animal, can be tried to eliminate in another way. It is worth remembering that it can only be effective in the initial stages of the disease.
To do this, lubricate the anus and surrounding tissues with an ointment with an anti-inflammatory agent (for example, "Synthomycin"). Be sure to put a collar on the animal so that it does not lick the medicine. At night, put a candle with ichthyol. In order for the animal not to run directly to the toilet, it is necessary to hold the anus for a while, fixing the candle.
Washing
This procedure can only be performed by a specialist. It is shown with significant inflammation, when there is suppuration and a through hole is formed.
It is important to know that treatment at this stage will take a long time, while recovery is not guaranteed. You will have to resort to the procedure constantly to at least slightly reduce the pain of the animal.
Rinsing consists of the following steps:
- preparation and set of an antiseptic solution in a syringe;
- pouring liquid into the hole;
- repeating the procedure until the lightest liquid flows out;
- antimicrobial treatment.
In order for the cat not to lick, a collar, diaper or blanket is put on it.
Warning
It is worth remembering that it is very necessary to clean the cat's paranal glands at home. Treatment of inflammation can also be carried out in veterinary clinics, especially if there is no experience or desire to do this. Problems can await not only squeamish owners - the process itself often causes difficulties:
- under the influence of fear and pain, the animal can seriously injure the owner, who did not fix it firmly enough;
- A lot of blood vessels and nerve endings are woven around the anus, inept actions can injure them, which will lead to poor health of the pet.
If there is still a need to carry out the procedure yourself, you should first learn from a specialist, ask questions, clarify the technique and procedure.
The frequency of cleaning is individual in each case. It is enough for some animals to do this once, while others have to clean the glands regularly.
It is very important to pay attention to the pet's behavioral habits. If there is increased attention to the back of the body, it is worth checking it for symptoms of glandular inflammation. On average, sick animals need to clean their anal sacs every six months, while healthy animals cope with this on their own.
Prevention
Prevention of the disease is very simple and does not require material costs:
- regularly check the condition of the anus of the animal.
- monitor the activity of the pet: the lounger must be forced to run at least twice a day.
- monitor the nutrition and functioning of the digestive tract, avoiding constipation.
- feed the animal in moderation, not allowing him to gain excess weight.