#1
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Anal gland problem for Kira
Hello ,
Well, I didn't even know cats could have problems with their anal glands; thought it affected only dogs. Kira, my 9 year old female cat is being treated for an abscess caused by a blocked anal gland. She got an injection of antibiotic (Convenia), she has painkillers for 4 days and I have to wash the wound with water to keep it clean. This is the third time this has happened since last July, always her left gland. I didn't take her to the vet the first and second times (in July and November) as the wound was small, wasn't oozing and Kira was absolutely fine: no change in habits, appetite, bowels, etc. I kept the area clean and it healed nicely. I didn't know her gland was the problem. I mentioned it to the vet a few weeks later during her annual visit and it was difficult to see anything; there was only a tiny, tiny scab and her fur had grown back. But this time, the abscess seemed to ooze more and Kira wasn't her normally purring self. I discovered the abscess yesterday at 5 o'clock in the morning and at 10:30 we were at the clinic. Since this is a recurrence, the vet thought there might be a foreign object in the wound causing the abscess or the problem was her gland. The vet decided to start by checking her glands: her right one was emptied by the vet. The gland was very hard and a paste-like dark substance finally came out ( not liquid like it should be). Kira cried out but pulled though like a champ, she didn't try to claw anyone to pieces She is my hero! The vet didn't want to empty the left gland because it would have been too painful for Kira as the abscess is on her left side. So the problem is caused by her anal glands. I will take her back to the clinic in 2 weeks to have both glands checked. The vet told me I might have to bring Kira several times per year to have the gland emptied manually if they don't empty themselves. Has anyone else encountered this problem? By the way, Kira is on quality can food : Wellness, Before Grain, Evo, Eagle pack, etc. as well as raw that I make. The only dry food she gets is when she steals a kibble or two from Arielle's bowl Thanks!
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi |
#2
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Hi -
Just a quick reply for you......in the form of a specific question (x2) but, while not addressing your question it's about an issue that could be problematic because she has Convenia "on board"..... Quote:
Exactly what is this "painkiller"?
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the more i learn about (some) people, the more i luv my cats |
#3
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The painkiller is Tolfedine. I was offered a choice of antibiotics: pills or the injection and was told they were both effective and that there wasn't any difference between them. I have given pills to Kira before; it's not that big of a struggle but I thought I'm saving her from more stress so I chose the injection. When I got the bill, I saw "Convenia" and I vaguely remembered reading posts about it.
If I had to do it again, I would take the pills instead. But she seems back to her normal self so...
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi |
#4
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Thanks for replying. My concern was that Metacam might have been the pain med - both Convenia and Metacam have a contraindication warning against giving them simultaneously/concurrently......and yet, it happens. And, of course, there's the standard warning against Metacam in cats.
So, I have no experience with anal sac issues....FWIW, Google "recurrent anal gland infections in cats" - one of the results I got contains a post in Catster fourms quoting "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" that says "Cats with recurrent anal gland infections should have them removed." Again, I simply plead ignorance, and I'm not familiar with that book. Anybody else?
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the more i learn about (some) people, the more i luv my cats |
#5
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Quote:
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#6
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minmin12-
The issue, however, is not about the need to express an anal gland.....it's about "recurrent anal gland infections in cats"
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the more i learn about (some) people, the more i luv my cats |
#7
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Quote:
Also if I see he is having an issue (I can smell it not see it I guess lol) I do warm water compress with Epsom salts, now I don't know if this would be ok for a cat? maybe you can do it with just warm water? Personally I rather not have my dog's anal glands expressed all the time, because I think that is what caused his problem in the first place - groomers have a tendency to empty the glands without even asking first! - I recently too got a homeopathic remedy from native remedies, but I just got it in the mail, so I have not used it much. Here is a really good video from Dr. Becker about anal glands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA9SeHAEyQ4
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Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi |
#8
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That video is very informative... Monday was the first time Kira had her gland expressed so I hope no damage was done. As for doing it myself; not sure I would be able to do it... I'm hoping her problem will resolve itself, the vet said sometimes an animal will have gland issues for a period of time and after a while, everything goes back to normal. Kira is doing fine, the next day after her vet visit the wound was pinkish, not red like before. It doesn't ooze anymore and Kira doesn't lick at it at all.
I will see the vet in 2 weeks to have Kira's glands checked. If they are not hard and full I will ask her not to empty them. As for giving her pumpkin, I always have some on hand, but she doesn't seem to have loose stools, I don't find any when I clean the litter box. Everything in that department appears ok but I do find several small round poo and others that are longer. Maybe the small poo doesn't apply enough pressure to empty the glands? I will have to spy on her when she goes to the litter box to see if her poop is normal. I have another cat, Jadzia, so I need to know which poo belongs to who!
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi |
#9
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Quote:
__________________
Dogs don't need to talk, their life is their message ~ unknown. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." ~ Mahatma Gandhi |
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