What Can You Do About Anal Sac Problems?
What Causes Anal Sac Problems? Is your dog or cat dragging its’ bottom on the floor? It could be your pet is experiencing anal sac problems. When dogs and cats have their nose to the ground, it is usually because they are smelling what other pets have left behind. There are two sacs along side of the anus about the five o’clock and seven o’clock positions. Fluids are released from these sacs when they have a bowel movement. These fluids have an unfavorable smell to humans. This unique smell marks their presence. The sacs are filled and emptied everyday as your pet passes firm stools that exert pressure causing the feces to empty the sacs. If your pet’s stools are not hard enough to push the fluids through, they can build up and cause the anal area to become itchy and sore. For whatever reason, this occurs more in dogs then in cats. The common way to treat anal sac problems is to manually press out the fluids from the sacs by applying pressure towards the rectum in an upward and inward motion. If you try this and are not successful at getting the fluids to come out, take your pet to a veterinarian. You may not be doing it correctly or the fluid has thickened. Here’s What You Can Do For Cats and Dogs Soak in Water and Epsom Salts This will relieve discomfort. Mix 1 cup of Epsom salts in 2 gallons of water for 10 minutes once to twice a day. A few days of this soaking process assists to thin out the fluid so it can be released from the sac. Use a warm compress If your pet will not sit for a soak, use a hand towel and soak it with the Epsom salts mixture from above and press against your pet’s bottom for 10 minutes once to twice a day. Diet Quality of food is a key part that plays a huge part in your pet’s health. Feed your pet high quality food that includes meat sources as the first two ingredients. Adding fiber to their diet, such as vegetables, will help increase their stool size due to water absorption in the intestine. Large stools create the pressure on the anal sac needed to empty. Vegetable serving size for cats and dogs:
Since cats are usually fussier than dogs, puree veggies and mix with food and water or broth. Exercise Regular exercise is another key element to your pet’s health. Exercise strengthens so many parts of the body including their rectal muscles. Healthy pets that are able should exercise for 20 minutes twice a day. Silica You can find this homeopathic remedy at a health store. Silica helps a weakened immune system as well as removes matter from the body. It helps in passing of stools from the rectum. Give your pet 2-3 drops or 3-5 pellets of Silica 6C twice a day for 3 days. Other Things to Be Aware Of It is not known why, but anal sac problems could be due to allergies in dogs. If possible, keep your pet away from what your pet is allergic to or give an omega-3 supplement. Click Here to Return to Pet Health Problems from Anal Sac Problems
References:Shojai, Amy D and the editors of Prevention for Pets. New Choices in Natural Healing For Dogs & Cats: Over 1,000 At-Home Remedies for Your Pet’s Problems. Emmaus, PA:Rodale Press, Inc., 1999.
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