From:
kbreeden@cfl.rr.com
Date: 2004-03-25 02:32:25 UTC
Subject: infected anal sacks, antibiotics or surgery?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4376799.1080181945801.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Just want to thank everyone here who responded with suggestions and advice on Harley, 3 yrs. old, who has been on amoxi almost constantly since December, with sucralfate added in early Februrary. Symptoms were teeth-grinding, not eating, lethargy.
I took the advice of several people and got a second opinion.
The new vet discovered that both anal sacks were swollen and full of pus. The sacks were drained and a cytology and a fecal culture were ordered.
The vet tells me the reports indicate that there may be anal gland tissue that was missed when he was descented as a kit. She said we can treatment with Baytril or Clavamox, but we should think about surgery since this is a fourth time in approx. a year that he has had swollen anal sacks (the other times he had no other symptoms, I just discovered a lump on his butt, which appeared to respond to antibiotic treatment). This time, he has been in obvious pain (teeth-grinding, not eating) and lethargic, but I couldn't actually feel the lumps.
The infection appears to be localized to the anal sack, there are no open sores.
After searching this list, I'm concerned about the possible complications of surgery, although there are apparently situations when it should be done right away. So I'm asking for your opinions, treat with antibiotics, or surgery?
One post indicated this surgery is very painful and recovery is difficult, do you agree?
Thanks,
Kim and Harley