Help! My persian cat has leakage from her scent glands

[snowball76]

Hello,

My 9 year old persian cat, frenchy gets constipated one or twice a year and this causes her to push and her scent glands erupt and leak bloodish/light brown liquid.

I have given her a stool softner (lactulose) today and her diet is Purina OM wet and regular dry food. I will incorporate more fiber in her diet (I heard you can sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of fibersure in her food).

This has happen four times already in the past few years. I have not gone to the vet yet but in the past, they recommended surgery to remove the glands. I do not want to go that route.

I need advice on how to avoid this and should I be worried that there will be an infection? She will not eat or drink and cries when I pick her up. I have been giving her water thru a doppler. I believe the feces may go in the glands and cause an infection. From the past, it will drip for a few days and eventaully scab over.

Any help would be greatly appreciated by me and Frenchy.

Thanks!!!

[Savas]

I'd suggest using a digestive enzyme. It will help produce a more normal stool.

I'd also suggest a more holistic diet. Purina, even the vet formulation, isn't a very good food. Try checking out one of the human grade foods, especially the high meat content ones.

I'd also consider that you stop using dry entirely. Dry food is designed for human convenience and isn't really good for cats to eat. In most cats, this isn't an issue. But if there's a digestion issue, it's best avoided.

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi Snowball...I am sorry to hear that Frenchy is having problems.  If she is truly not eating, she needs to see a veterinarian immediately!!

Some pets simply are unable to effectively express their anal glands.   Eventually, these will fill, become uncomfortable for the pet and sometimes even rupture.   Obviously, ruptured anal glands are quite painful for the pet.

Some veterinarians will teach you how to express Frenchy's anal glands on your own.   This may help to alleviate excessive build up in the glands and potentially avoid any ruptures or infections.

If this has happened four times in this past year, you might want to consider surgery.  It may sound scary, but it will help to alleviate her discomfort.

Take care

Tomcat