Why is my senior cat leaking from a crusty spot near his anus?

Hi, If I read the pic correctly with the anus above it to the left, the lesion may be a perianal fistula. In cats, where these fistulas are quite rare, the problem is usually in the glands or anal sacs. Perianal fistulas are unpleasant and painful, and require veterinary treatment such as antibiotics, so please take her to the vet sooner than later.

Hi. It is hard to tell in the photo where this is, or if it is a mass or flat. But, this area appears to be very infected. There is some swelling there as well. So it could be a mass that is secondarily infected. Skin infections can occur from bacteria, funguses, parasites, chronic irritation to an area (like a skin fold), trauma to an area, or a mass that is oozing and causes the immediate area near it to become moist/irritated and secondarily infected. There are some metabolic, endocrine, and immune disease that can cause a pet to have a harder time fighting infections. Fom this photo and without more history, we can't tell you what this is exactly, and what the treatment would be. But those are some possibilities. I recommend getting Sammy seen and have that area looked at and treated so that he can be more comfortable. Good luck.

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.

Without images it is very difficult to assess what may be going on. It would be worthwhile getting a second opinion but a tumour in the mouth or sinuses may well be affecting the drainage from her eyes or nose and may be contributing to the signs you can see, an the smell you describe is likely related to an infection or damaged tissue. A sedated oral exam and xrays or CT scan would help to investigate everything that may be happening, including tear production and drainage which may be contributing to the crusts and blood shot eyes

In an unspayed cat I would worry about pyometra, an infection in the uterus. This can be a very serious, life threatening condition that needs to be evaluated and treated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If there is an emergency clinic near your home I would consider bringing Ellie in to be examined. If there is no way to get to a veterinarian before Monday I would watch Ellie very closely for any changes in activity level, appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, water intake, urination, etc. so you can give your veterinarian as much helpful information as possible when you arrive. There are, of course, other reasons for discharge around the hind end (such as dried diarrhea, expressed anal gland discharge, flea "dirt", among other things), I cannot rule any of these out without diagnostic tests. Your vet will likely recommend blood work, a urinalysis, abdominal radiographs or an abdominal ultrasound, or possibly a fecal examination. I hope this is helpful for you and Ellie!

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.

Poor Dave! It sounds like he might have a few different things going on. The most common cause of scooting or rubbing his rear end on the floor would be impacted anal glands - this may have been the pink-tinged liquid you saw coming from around his anus. Intestinal parasites can also cause this behavior, so it's good that your vet gave him a dewormer to cover that possibility. Eating more and begging for food can be a sign of hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or a problem with absorption of nutrients from the intestines - all of these are common in middle-aged and older cats. I would recommend taking Dave back to your vet (or getting a second opinion, if needed) to check his anal glands for an infection or other problems, and to check some blood work to screen for these illnesses. They are usually quite treatable once a diagnosis is made, so it's definitely worth doing some testing to try to get an answer if you can.