Cat People, help!

[ThomCat]

Silver is dragging his but across the carpet, and he's got a weird stink. It sure looks like he's got a blocks gland.

None of my cats have ever had this particular problem before so I haven't had to deal with it. Is this something I can handle at home, and if so, how?

If I can avoid paying a vet bill then I really have to try, because I'm broke and not working.

Help!

Thank you.

[huskerlaw]

1. Sounds like it!

My cat has had the same problem and...you CAN take care of it yourself. Or, at least, you can try to deal with it yourself and then take the cat to the vet if you can't help him.

Here's what you have to do: http://www.ehow.com/how_2068287_express-cats-anal-glands.html

Good luck!

[ThomCat]

2. Thank you.

:hug:

I'm very glad I have two friends coming over tonight to help with stuff. We'll have him happy again in no time. :)

[huskerlaw]

5. I just sent you a PM...

with a few more details. Didn't want to have to lock this thread because of my own post!

Anyway, a few more grisly details for you there.

:hug:

[tandot]

3. My dog had those quite a bit

I usually discovered it when it was already too late and it was seriously impacted or already had ruptured. They had to lance it and had to go on antibiotics and it took quite a while to heal.

If you catch it early, you might be able to express the glands yourself. It will be stinky and nasty. Good luck doing that with a cat:


Step1
Enlist a friend's help to secure your cat, preferably on a counter, table or workbench that will give you easy access to your cat's hindquarters.
Step2
Locate the anal glands. Near your cat's anus, you will notice small openings approximately the size of a grain of rice at the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions.
Step3
Insert the tip of your forefinger slowly in the cat's anus and locate the gland.
Step4
Squeeze the glands gently between your thumb and forefinger until an oily substance is secreted.
Step5
Cleanse the area after you have expressed the glands. The secretion is oily and will require a gentle pet shampoo to remove.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2068287_express-cats-anal-glands.html

[yellowdogintexas]

6. obviously, 'dont tutch the but' doesn't apply here. Good luck Thomcat. I hate

hate hate when my babies are ill.

[tandot]

7. I guess that's why it says "Enlist a friend's help to secure your cat,"

I don't know a lot of cats who appreciate having their "but tutched"

[Jamastiene]

4. Mineral oil.

Offer about a quarter dollop sized bit in a plate to your cat to eat. If he doesn't know what it is, put a little bit on your finger and offer it to him or lightly rub his lips with it. Once he gets a taste, he will like it. Most cats do and it helps. My Sunday Girl has inflamed bowel disease and it causes her to get constipated ever so often. She drags her butt when that happens to "get it off of me." I give her a small bit of mineral oil and it helps the next time not be so dry.

Hope this helps. :hug:

Edited to add: olive oil works ok too, but I have always just used mineral oil. It does seem to work somewhat better.

[ThomCat]

8. Well, I don't know if that worked or not.

I got some kind of black oily buildup out of one gland, and a very small amount of oil. But that's it.

He seemed better all day today, but then I think I just caught him rubbing his butt against the carpet again. :(

I'll have to keep an eye on him. And if this keeps up I'm going to have to take him to a vet. Debt be damned.