The last few nerves from the spine spread like a horses tail, and are called Cauda Equina. When the caudal equina is damaged, the bladder can be lose the ability to contract so that it’s not possible to urinate voluntarily. To prevent the bladder from exploding, a catheter is inserted or the bladder is manually expressed several times a day.
Pets that can't pass urine are often euthanized
In pets, cauda equina damage that leads to inability to void often drives the pet’s family to request euthanasia. Fortunately there’s hope with acupuncture. Research published in Acupunct Medicine this September. The article is: Electro-AP improves voiding function in patients with neurogenic urinary retention secondary to cauda equina injury.
The Chinese scientists showed that acupuncture helped humans with difficulty voiding due to cauda equine. For these patients, who had not responded to medication, acupuncture was given 5 times a week for the first month then 3 times a week for 2 weeks. Researchers used electroacupuncture at BL32, BL33 and BL35. When the patients were rechecked in 6 months, and 8 of the 15 in the study had regained the ability to void and maintained it.
Would your pet benefit?
If your pet develops urinary retention due to damaged cauda equina, request acupuncture. Be willing to go for multiple treatments and perhaps you will offer your pet a 50-50 chance for improvement. When euthanasia is the alternative, try acupuncture first.
This research is available on Pub Med: PMID: 21984981.
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