My cat has a draining lump near her anus. Is it an anal gland problem?

She may have an infected anal sac or a little growth. You should have this examined by a veterinarian. If it is an impacted anal sac, it can easily be emptied. If it is a growth, it may have to be removed.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It sounds like Jimmy may have an anal gland abscess. Other possibilities include a mass such as a tumour or wart that has become infected. I would advise taking Jimmy to the vet within the next 12 hours, as I worry about infection that could worsen if this goes untreated. If it is an anal gland abscess, the vet can prescribe antibiotics to treat it, without surgery. If it is a defined mass, the vet may recommend a test called a fine needle aspirate to find out what it is exactly, and go from there. They may also recommend anti-inflammatory pain medication to keep him comfortable while the area heals. In the meantime, you can try gently cleaning the area with mild soap and warm water, if he lets you. If Jimmy is trying to lick at his anus, I would place an e-collar (cone) on his head to prevent him from causing further trauma to the area. I hope this helps, and that Jimmy feels better soon.

It could be dis charge from his anal glands. Normally, the glands are emptied during the act of defecation. Sometimes though, the glands become impacted then infected. An abscess will form then eventually rupture and drain. If there is no redness, swelling or discharge around the anus, look for swelling elsewhere. If he is an outdoor cat, a bite wound abscess is a possibility. They can be difficult to spot without a close exam and maybe shaving a swollen area. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian. Especially if he is lethargic, feverish or not eating.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be a possible anal gland abscess rupture. This is a spontaneous thing that can happen in pets with anal gland problems, where the anal glands fill up and are not able to express normally. We think this is caused by an underlying allergy, which can be discussed with your vet. Sometimes giving your pet a high fiber diet can help prevent reoccurence. Peanut Butter needs to see your vet for a short course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine to help this wound heal properly. He may also need the anal gland to be flushed thoroughly while under a mild sedative. I would recommend scheduling an appt for him soon to get this taken care of. In the meantime, you can purchase an e-collar from your local pet store and place it on him to deter him from licking the area and making the inflammation/irritation worse. Poor guy. I hope he gets this resolved soon and is able to go back to his normal self. Best of luck and take care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Luna. Poor girl! That is quite swollen and the area look really wet, so I suspect there is discharge. I'm wondering if she could have a malignant growth that has ulcerated causing this or if it could be a problem with her anal sacs. Her anal sacs may have been impacted and have now ruptured. Without seeing her in person, I ca't say what is going on for sure. I think it's best you take her into a vet immediately to get this diagnosed and treated. I hope this helps!

Poor girl. This does appear to be a possible anal gland abscess rupture. She will need antibiotics from your vet and anti-inflammatory medicaiton to get this to heal well. Most cats won’t let you flush this unless they are mildly sedated or restrained by a trained professional; therefore, I would not advise you trying to clean this area yourself. It’s best to take Rose in to your local vet in the morning to get this taken care of. She will be in discomfort until then, but these aren’t typically life threatening. I hope Rose gets this to heal soon. Best wishes and take care.

Those are the openings to the anal glands. Sometimes some dried anal gland material can accumulate at the opening. If Poopsie is not scooting or licking excessively I think you can wait to see your vet for an appointment.