Symptoms of Cat Anal Gland Inflammation

The main symptoms of cat anal gland inflammation include redness, swelling, pain, pus, and frequent scratching on the floor. In cases where the symptoms are not severe, you can directly squeeze the anal gland and clean it daily. If the condition is more serious, it is necessary to debride the anal gland opening, rinse it with sterile saline solution daily, and disinfect it with iodine.

Symptoms of Inflamed Cat Anal Glands

The main symptoms of inflamed cat anal glands are: cats dragging their anus on the ground forward or rubbing it back and forth on the floor after defecating and when they are quiet. Sometimes, they may often lick their anus and tail, and show unease or an inability to sit properly when in a seated position. When the inflammation is severe, there will be swelling and pain around the anus, and difficulty in defecating. Generally, cats will squeeze their anal glands during defecation, so there is no need to frequently squeeze the anal glands for them.

Causes of Cat Anal Gland Inflammation

Cat anal gland inflammation occurs when the anal glands are not cleaned for a long time, causing the secretions to accumulate in the cyst, stimulating the mucous membrane and causing inflammation. Cats with anal gland inflammation often wag their tails and try to bite their anus, experiencing difficulty in defecating, and the feces can have a fishy smell. It is necessary to treat the cat promptly and clean the anal glands. Cats with severe inflammation need to be treated with antibiotics.

What to Do if Your Cat Has Anal Gland Inflammation

If the condition is severe and there is pus, it is recommended to take the cat to a pet hospital for drainage to avoid infection. First, the owner should wash and disinfect the cat's anus, using metronidazole for cleaning, and then disinfect it with iodine and hydrogen peroxide. If the condition is not severe, the owner can apply specialized cat antibiotics cream to the cat's anus. If it is severe, it is recommended to take the cat to the pet hospital for injection of antibiotics.