Anal gland infusions

RE: Anal gland infusions

James Dunne — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:26:19 GMT

We don't remove anything near as many surgically nowadays. Many respond to a digestible/ hypoallergenic diet. For recurrent confirmed infections, we have used cattle intramammary preparations effectively in some cases. Agreed that if an abscess from contents leakage is present, drainage + treatment of inflammation is more effective than medicine. Surgery is needed for a few, but if there is an underlying GIT or dermatological condition, don't expect a 'cure'!

RE: Anal gland infusions

Anthony Todd — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:28:33 GMT

I don't think we ever had to remove an anal gland once we started packing them with Panolog [now gone, unfortunately, even if it did contain enough Csteroid to treat an elephant..].

Venocaths make entering the sac so easy if you "straighten" the duct by stretching it away from the anal sac, ie medially.

RE: Anal gland infusions

Emily Ross — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 20:46:22 GMT

Thanks guys for some great thoughts. Osurnia sounds like it has a lot of potential (and is very similar to Neptra just with different steroid just as Surolan = Aurimic). I have a lot of sympathy for approaching this as for any abscess- which is to say don't expect systemic antibiotic penetration, lancing is key to success etc (I rarely use systemic antibiotics in cat abscesses). Who performs cytology (unpleasant as this sample is) and how do you interpret/ act on these results?

RE: Anal gland infusions

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 19:59:56 GMT

If the anal sac is not ruptured it's not an abscess.

As with ears, why use an antibiotic drug topically? You haven't even got to worry about a rutured tympanum! There's chlorhexidine, iodine, colloidal silver, all sorts of things. (Phenol did the business, but I wouldn't recommend that now.)

If there's persistent excessive secretion, remove the things surgically.

As for anal sac abscess, wot David said. An abscess needs incision and drainage.

RE: Anal gland infusions

David Mills — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 20:20:54 GMT

What is it that we're talking about here?

Anal gland infection should be treatable well with flushing and topical antibiotics. Systemic antibiotics penetrate poorly into the anal gland (a bit like ears). I think anal gland infections limited to the gland are very rare.

Anal gland rupture or abscess is generally a foreign body reaction to anal gland contents, and as such is most successfully treated with lancing, cleaning, and prednisolone, normally leading to complete resolution without antibiotics.

RE: Anal gland infusions

Sarah Keir — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:54:20 GMT

And why do you disagree Anthony Todd?

RE: Anal gland infusions

Sarah Keir — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 15:51:47 GMT

I now do topical as a first step if the dog will allow conscious instillation; if the dog won't allow it conscious then sedation is warranted if appropriate systemic antibiotics haven't worked. I usually use Surolan but have also tried Osurina - I've not tried Neptra yet.

RE: Anal gland infusions

Rob Davis — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 14:12:56 GMT

I do a fair number of these. I empty the sac then use a tear duct cannula to flush repeatedly with sterile saline until clear then instil solution of your choice. I have generally used canaural to good effect, but more recently have tried osurnia. If using osurnia you need to hold the cannula on tightly as you have to squeeze the tube quite hard to get it to come through.

I generally don't touch them afterwards for three weeks to try to keep the antibiotic solution in there as long as possible.

I would say that my success rate with this is generally fairly high though I have no figures. I always warn owners that it may not work and may require anal sacculectomy if persistent problems.