From:
"Barbara Clay"
Date: 2008-12-25 01:43:12 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Anal scent glands
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Tony,
Good to see you! Yes, I've encountered that. I've done a lot of
breeder rescues, and have come across this same situation with some.
I've found that the irregular poo is probably a result of the swelling
impacted glands compromising a clear vent. Now what surprised me
about your post, is that you and your vet didn't faint! Was the
expression of the gland conducted outside? Most vets here learn from
experience to do it outside the clinic, in the fresh air. I've known
of some clinics that were cleared of personnel following such an
expression of anal glands.
Now here's the questions; Was it just an anectodotally impacted anal
gland, or is there the presence of infection? I'd suggest an
antibiotic to be on the safe side.
The rule of thumb is that if it becomes chronic, then unfortunately
you're looking at a descenting procedure.
These anal glands can be expressed at home, so I hope you paid
attention to the location of the forefinger and thumb in that little
exercise. It's something like in the positions of 4:00 and 7:00 at
the anus.
Again, I recommend it being done outside!
Good luck
Barb Clay
Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's
www.rockysferrets.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Clarke" <Tonytclarke@...>
wrote:
>
> About 3 weeks ago I began to see very slight changes in the behaviour
> of my 21/2 yo Suki. She began to seem more lethargic then her normal
> self and sleeping more, she also seemed to be getting very rotund. At
> first I thought that this was normal for the time of year and she
> certainly had a good appetite as always.
> About a week ago I noticed that she was not as agile as normal (a
> champion jumper and climber) and seeemed clumsy when going upstairs.
> She appeared itchy and distracted, she is normally dedicated to the
> ferret task in hand but she would break of whatever she was doing to
> go into a self grooming frenzy for a minute or so. I examined her all
> over but couldn't feel any lumps or bumps and all lymphe nodes seemed
> normal.
> On Monday I saw a flash of pink skin between her back legs as she
> rolled over, I picked her up and saw that her anus was swollen I
> gently prodded it from the side and everything moved as one, as
> though the whole area was solid (hard to explain exactly) and it
> seemed like a circle around her anus was very firm. I also checked
> the litter tray and saw some very seedy looking poop (not properly
> formed).I searched the archives for any ideas and only found one
> reference to impacted anal glands. I was pretty sure that was what it
> was and rang the vet but couldn't get an app with ferret man I trust
> until Wednesday (Christmas eve).
> Saw the vet, explained her signs and symptoms and what I thought it
> might be and he said he had never seen a case of ferret anal gland
> problems before. Anyway he gave a little squeeze in the right place
> and was rewarded with a slight pop and a teaspoon full of yellow
> smelly goo.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this, is it likely to occur
> again. Is there a connection between soft poop and anal glands not
> getting expressed naturally (I believe this is a problem with cats
> and dogs connected to modern foods not providing a solid stool so
> that anal glands don't get squeezed from the inside and expressing
> naturally.
>
> Tony.
> My home is ferret proof - my heart is not.
>
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