Anal sac disease is a condition in cats that occurs when the two anal glands, located one on each side of the rectum, become infected, abscessed or impacted with fluids that are normally expressed during defecation. While this condition occurs in dogs and cats, cats most often experience anal disease due to impaction, while dogs can experience infection, abscess or impaction.The clinical signs of feline anal sac disease include scooting, licking and biting at the
The “anal sacs” are pockets between the internal and external anal sphincter muscles on either side of the anus of carnivores. The walls of these sacs are lined with large sebaceous glands that secrete a smelly discharge for territorial marking or during times of fear or anxiety. Anal sac disease includes anal sac blockage, impaction, hypersecretion, inflammation, abscess and neoplasia. Anal sac problems are rare in cats, but when they do occur they normally involve
There is no single test that can conclusively diagnose anal sac disease in cats. Instead, this condition is diagnosed based upon the cat’s history, clinical signs, results of veterinary physical examination and microscopic examination of the anal sac contents. Anal sac problems are uncommon in cats.Most cases of anal sac disease in cats are caused by impaction of these paired pockets near the cat’s anus. When the anal sacs become blocked, cats cannot express their
Virtually all cases of anal sac problems in cats are due to impactions of the anal glands. The therapeutic goals are to empty the impacted anal sacs, control any possible infections, and assess whether cancer is involved in the clinical presentation. Impaction occurs when the liquid secretion sits in the anal sacs for an inordinately long time and becomes dried and pasty.Once the gland is swollen and irritated, the increased digital pressure needed to express