What are paranatal glands in cats? How to recognize and treat inflammation of the paranal glands?

Inflammation of paranal glands in cats is an unpleasant disease that can occur not only in females, but also in males. Many owners of non-castrated cats know firsthand about laundering the "fat tail", as it is rather laborious. How do paranatal glands look in cats and what problems can arise from them?

Some information about the disease

In the common people they are called anal sacks. Two glands are located near the anus, and the substance released from these sacs is very viscous and dense, having an unpleasant odor. For this reason very often veterinarians do not offer owners cleaning the animal. Most cats can independently release the glands from this substance in self-defense or at the mark of the territory. Also in a healthy animal this secret goes out during defecation. In the wild, cats can easily cope with the task, but pets have practically lost the ability to free themselves from harmful substances. Therefore, the owners have to help their pets.

If the animal can not control this process, an inflammatory reaction occurs, in which the anal sacs increase in size and cause many problems: cats can not move normally and go to the toilet. Paranatal glands in cats cause unusual behavior: the animal starts to fidg over the floor and strongly lick the anal area.

Causes of pathology

• Genetic predisposition, especially if you have a thoroughbred cat.
• Too soft feces (diarrhea).
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Very viscous substance, released from the glands.
• Specific features.
• Obesity.
• Parasitemia.
• Hypodinamy.
• Too soft food.
• Other hidden causes.

As mentioned above, paranatal glands in cats can inflame at any time if excessive accumulation of secretion occurs. In turn, the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms leads to severe consequences and even sepsis in untimely treatment.

Stages of the disease

If you do not treat paranal glands in cats, the disease will progress and your animal will remain a cripple. To make it clear what this pathology is, let's talk about its stages and how they proceed.

1. The first stage. There is severe itching, the animal behaves restlessly, secretion of yellowish color in small amounts can be allocated.
2. The second stage - on the body of the animal there are pustular eruptions on the inner side of the thighs, sometimes there is stiffness in the pelvic region. The secret comes out more dense and in large quantities.
3. The third stage is very dangerous for the animal. The secret starts to stand out in small amounts, has a creamy consistency of dark color.
4. The fourth stage is the most dangerous. With her, the animal often stops walking because of a pelvic palsy. The secret is a grainy character, the consistency of clay.

Symptoms

As mentioned above, the problem should be identified from the moment it occurs. Therefore, it is extremely important to read the information below in order to have a basic understanding of this disease.

Inflammation of paranal glands in cats is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Tenesmus;
• Change of habits;
• Aggression to the surrounding people;
• oppression;
• Loss of hair;
• Refusal to eat;
• Wet to the touch;
• rash;
• Skin sinuses;
• Pain in the tail;
• Ulcers on the skin;
• Hypersensitivity;
• Pruritus (pruritus);
• fever;
• Hyperpigmentation.

How does the ailment proceed?

As you already understood, this disease begins with a violation of secretion from the anal sacs. Simply put, there is a blockage. Externally, the cat can look quite healthy and active, and only periodically will show increased attention to its tail. After a short period of time, the secret changes its consistency and becomes thicker, so-called flakes appear in it. After this, the animal changes its behavior and does not allow, as before, to stroke it in the region of the hind legs and tail. Because of the overflow of the glands, the secret seeps into the blood, while the animal feels an unbearable itch that can not be stopped. Accordingly, the cat begins to lick intensely the area under the tail.

If the animal has not received timely help, the microorganisms in the anal sacs cause an inflammatory process. In the obstructed ducts there is an abscess of the paranal gland in the cat. After this, purulent clusters come out, and a fistula is formed in the anus. This period is considered extremely dangerous for the animal: in cats, as a rule, the temperature rises within 40 degrees, they refuse to eat and become very sluggish. If nothing is done, the cat is likely to die.

Home Treatment

Inflammation of paranal glands in cats, which can be treated at home, is not very difficult to resolve in the initial stages. Before this procedure, it is advisable to put on clothes that will not be discarded. Well, if you will be helped by the household, because this way you can quickly cope with the task.

First, prepare as much as possible sterile gauze wipes, petroleum jelly and rubber gloves. It is necessary to fix the animal so that it can not move. With your left hand, wrap the tail on your back and use a gauze pad to squeeze the area under the tail just below the anus, while taking two glands immediately. If you did everything right, a bad smelling liquid should appear from the anal pouches. This treatment option will help in case the animal has the first or second stage of the disease, in other situations it is necessary to act differently.

If the secret has acquired a viscous consistency, then it is very difficult to get rid of it. It will require internal cleansing of paranal glands in cats. To do this, put on gloves and lubricate the index finger with petroleum jelly, then it must be inserted into the anus of the animal and forcefully squeezed the gland from the inside: squeeze this substance out until it comes out completely.

More humane ways of treatment

There are also more humane ways to solve this problem. For example, you can use the liniment of synthomycin. To do this, apply ointment to the inflamed area and do not let the cat lick the remedy for an hour. You can buy candles in the pharmacy, which includes ihtiol - they need to be put on ¼ halves within 10 days.

But it's best, of course, to seek qualified help from a vet. Do not allow the development of such a disease in their pets, systematically monitor their health status, in particular paranal glands. By these actions, you will save yourself from problems, and the animal from torment.

Prevention

As the prevention of the disease, it is necessary to clean anal pouches as often as possible. The terms of their cleaning are set individually, since everything depends on the breed of the cat and the characteristics of its organism. Among other things, you should know that not every age can be carried out this procedure - this time is also individual. If you have identified your pet with this problem, you can help him on his own. Also, it would be superfluous to apply to the veterinary clinic - they will prescribe the necessary course of therapy to cure the paranal gland in cats. Treatment, scheduled on time, will definitely bring a positive effect.

Everyone wants to start an animal, but not always a person understands what kind of responsibility falls on him. Although many breeds of cats are absolutely unpretentious, they still require some care. Therefore, if you decide to have an animal, then you should take a responsible approach to this, and not only play with the pet, but also treat it if necessary. If you do not have time for this, you need to think about whether to start a pet.