Introduction

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.

Treating Anal Sac Disease in Cats

Once the gland is swollen and irritated, the increased digital pressure needed to express the gland can bother the cat both during and after the event. Impacted glands are prone to infection and thus can be the source of residual pain. If the cat continues to lick the area, a follow-up appointment should be scheduled.

In most cases, gentle manual expression of the anal glands is possible in companion cats. It may be appropriate for the veterinarian to flush the sacs with sterile saline, antibiotics and/or corticosteroids. Sedation and pain medication are often necessary to complete these treatments in cats. Expressing a cat's anal glands can cause residual irritation, especially if the glands are impacted.

The anal glands are normally emptied during regular bowel movements. If this isn’t happening normally, a diet change may help to resolve the situation. Increasing the fiber content to produce a bulkier stool may result in fecal material that is more effective at promoting the emptying these glands during defecation.

For chronically infected anal glands, the only viable alternative may be surgical removal. Management through non-surgical means should be the first choice.