So, I have a 6 year old, female cat who in the last maybe 3 years has developed an issue with her anal glands where she routinely has to have them manually expressed at the vet. At first, no big deal, we go, they express easily, we go on our way. We did this every 4-5 months.
Lately, when I’ve taken her in, one gland expresses easily, one doesn’t, to the point that she’s had to be totally anesthetized to have it cleared.
My vet (who I trust very much) and I have discussed completely removing her glands after her most recent trip turned into a 2 day ordeal and an abscess (he feels there might be a cyst causing this issue). This cat is 6, so getting into middle age, but otherwise healthy. I know there are some risks, including incontinence, so I’m hesitant to jump into this surgery, but I also don’t want her to be elderly and have to go through the stress of anesthesia to continue to express her glands.
So…has anyone here had this done with their cat? Did you have any issues after? I’ve talked with my vet a little already, and will have another conversation before I commit one way or another, but hearing that someone else has been through this personally would help a lot. I love this darn cat(even though it’s her life goal to spend all my money), and I don’t want to put her through a surgery if it’s not going to improve her quality of life.
Thanks!
