Anal sac disease is a condition in cats that occurs when the two anal glands, located one on each side of the rectum, repeatedly become infected, abscessed, or impacted with fluids that are normally expressed in small amounts during defecation.
When the anal glands fail to empty, most dogs simply rub their hind ends along the ground (scooting) thereby squeezing and emptying the glands. If unsuccessful, they may become uncomfortable, begin straining, and start excessive licking and biting of the anal area.
There is no test that can conclusively diagnose anal sac disease in
cats. Instead, this condition is diagnosed based on the cat’s history,
symptoms, physical examination, and microscopic examination of the anal
sac contents.
Some cats' anal glands can be expressed externally. Some cats may need their anal glands expressed manually. For glands that becomes chronically infected, sometimes the only other alternative is to have the glands surgically removed.