From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2008-12-25 02:45:59 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Anal scent glands
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Tony,
I have adopted three of the DMK rescues, a biological sibling group
of sprites. All three were spayed late after they had at least one
or two estrus cycles. None of them are descented.
Two of the three have had anal gland infections, all three have had
anal gland impactions. One has had an anal gland infection on two
separate occasions - one on each side.
Bottom line - they do need to be manually expressed at least once a
year, more if necessary or they will become impacted. When infected
the expressed oil is brackish in colour, almost black. They
sometimes 'leak' as well. The 'poof' comes unbidden, for example
during sleep and is beyond belief in stench that lingers for hours.
Normal 'poof' dissipates quickly and the expressed oil is yellow as
you describe. Good thing you caught it before it became infected.
The anal glands themselves empty into the end of the rectum, just
inside the anus and certainly do affect elimination. When infected
the stool can contain frank blood and is typically looser than
normal.
I now regularly check their anal gland when I clip their nails. The
anal glands are located at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and
are very close to the anal opening running alongside of it. When
becoming impacted they feel like little hard balls. When infected
they are more swollen and almost egg shaped lumps extending into the
body towards the hip area. It is also painful to the ferret to have
them palpated when infected, so be gentle when feeling around.
A normal healthy anal gland is not discernible when palpating the
area. In other words its easy enough to check that a problem is
brewing - if you can feel it, then its on its way towards becoming
impacted and its best to have it expressed before it becomes impacted.
The research I read states that they should be manually expressed
once a year, however, my experience has been every 4-5 months. I
have asked my vet to show me how to do it, but he states it is a two-
person job, one to hold or scruff the ferret, the other to express
the glands. Maybe someone on the forum, who has mastered doing this
on their own will respond.
I hope I explained this clearly.
Tressie
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Clarke" <Tonytclarke@...>
wrote:
> 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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