Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tactile stimulation helps cats with nerve injury urinate better
By Galluzzi, Franco et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·1Castellarano Veterinary Clinic, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tactile stimulation of the perigenital region during manual bladder expression improved the urine stream in cats affected by upper motor neuron injury.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 34 cats with urinary retention due to upper motor neuron injury (UMNI) were treated to see if adding tactile stimulation to manual bladder expression (MBE) would help them urinate better. The cats were divided into two groups: one received only MBE, while the other received MBE along with tactile stimulation. Results showed that all cats with chronic UMNI were able to urinate, but those receiving tactile stimulation did so much faster. For cats with acute UMNI, 100% of those receiving tactile stimulation were able to urinate, compared to only 54% in the other group. This suggests that tactile stimulation can significantly improve urination in affected cats.
People also search for: cat urinary retention treatment · how to help cat urinate · upper motor neuron injury in cats · manual bladder expression for cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the tactile stimulation of the perigenital region together with manual bladder expression (MBE) facilitated the urine stream in cats with acute or chronic upper motor neuron injury (UMNI). ANIMALS: 34 cats with UMNI having urinary retention. METHODS: All the cats had a complete neurologic examination, which determined the localization of the UMNI between T3 and L3. They were classified as chronic UMNI if the injury had occurred more than 3 days previously. The cats were divided equally into 2 groups: the M group (n = 17) managed with only MBE, and the MT group (17) managed with MBE and tactile stimulation. RESULTS: In both groups, all the cats affected by chronic UMNI resumed urination. The time required to obtain a urine stream in the chronic UMNI was 9.3 seconds in the M group and 3.1 seconds in the MT group (P < .05). In the cats affected by acute UMNI, a urine stream was achieved in 54% of the M group and 100% of the MT group (P < .05). The time to obtain a urine stream in the acute UMNI cats was 7.8 seconds in the M group and 3.75 seconds in the MT group (P < .05). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Adding tactile stimulation of the perigenital region to the MBE improved the urine stream in cats affected by UMNI.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37976677/