Incontinence
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Brooke
Incontinence
Have a kitten with a spinal injury. Even after surgery, she pees & poops without realizing it. I have been trying to express her bladder myself but she goes bananas when I do it, (scratches me, bites, struggles dangerously to get away). She has recovered from the surgery, so I'm pretty sure I'm not hurting her. If I don't empty her bladder, she leaks everywhere. I'm trying to allow her as much freedom as possible, so I've got to figure out a way to handle this. Am going to try diapers but am afraid that won't fly either. Vet suggestions haven't helped. Does anyone have any experience with this problem, know of any kind of diapers that work, or have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Re: Incontinence
someone correct me if im wrong, but expressing the bladder like that for her doesnt sound safe at all...ive been told by my vet to be *very* careful in that area whenever i feel to check for possible urinary blockages.
what has the vet suggested that didnt work?
what has the vet suggested that didnt work?
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Guest
Re: Incontinence
Come to the message board http://www.handicappedpets.com ; many people have experience with spinal cord injuries, with or without expressing. There are lots of options for diapers and the like, too, and wheels, if she needs them.
Note to Jason--Yes, it's possible to injure the bladder expressing it, but many SCI critters need help to empty it completely, especially early in recovery. Otherwise, they may be prone to UTI.
Note to Jason--Yes, it's possible to injure the bladder expressing it, but many SCI critters need help to empty it completely, especially early in recovery. Otherwise, they may be prone to UTI.
Re: Incontinence
How old is your kitten, what was the nature of the spinal injury, what surgery was done and when? Was the bladder damaged during the initial injury or as a result of surgical exploration?
If your vet never taught you explicitly how to express the bladder, never attempt to do this on your own. If you are uncertain, inexperienced or if you express the bladder incorrectly, damage and rupture are always possible and can lead to serious complications, even sudden death.
If the surgery was a success and your kitten is fully recovered, ask your vet about medications for incontinence, or consult a veterinary neurologist for more information....if the prognosis was favorable after surgery, and there is a bladder problem, incontinence, etc, then it's always possible that something else might be going on that needs addressed.
If your vet never taught you explicitly how to express the bladder, never attempt to do this on your own. If you are uncertain, inexperienced or if you express the bladder incorrectly, damage and rupture are always possible and can lead to serious complications, even sudden death.
If the surgery was a success and your kitten is fully recovered, ask your vet about medications for incontinence, or consult a veterinary neurologist for more information....if the prognosis was favorable after surgery, and there is a bladder problem, incontinence, etc, then it's always possible that something else might be going on that needs addressed.
..........Traci
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Brooke
Re: Incontinence
Jason - vet suggested wrapping kitten in towel while expressing bladder to help her feel more secure, also suggested doing it while kitten has all claws stuck in something else (such as the side of the bed or a scratching post).
Traci - kitten is 8 months old, spinal problem is most likely hereditery & came on gradually, showing up as pooping outside litter box, followed by problems with hind legs working properly, & ending with urinating outside litter box. Diagnosis was pressure on nerve roots, lumbar & sacrl (sp?) disease, last vertebrae shorter than it should be. Surgery was 12/18/03 & surgeon found spinal cord laying on bone so shaved off bone underneath the cord. Steroids were also used to help with swelling & pressure. At this point, no improvement in the incontinence area & only some improvement with hind legs function. Surgeon advises that hind legs could still improve, but the longer incontinence goes on, the less likely it is to get better.
I was shown how to express bladder & also once had a dog with spinal damage that I was able to express with no problems. Someone at another BB suggested I return to the vet for more instruction, which maybe I should do. They are aware of the problems I've been having & indicate they too have same problems with some cats.
Traci - kitten is 8 months old, spinal problem is most likely hereditery & came on gradually, showing up as pooping outside litter box, followed by problems with hind legs working properly, & ending with urinating outside litter box. Diagnosis was pressure on nerve roots, lumbar & sacrl (sp?) disease, last vertebrae shorter than it should be. Surgery was 12/18/03 & surgeon found spinal cord laying on bone so shaved off bone underneath the cord. Steroids were also used to help with swelling & pressure. At this point, no improvement in the incontinence area & only some improvement with hind legs function. Surgeon advises that hind legs could still improve, but the longer incontinence goes on, the less likely it is to get better.
I was shown how to express bladder & also once had a dog with spinal damage that I was able to express with no problems. Someone at another BB suggested I return to the vet for more instruction, which maybe I should do. They are aware of the problems I've been having & indicate they too have same problems with some cats.
Re: Incontinence
Brooke, at this point, I would suggest getting your kitten re-evaluated (a new x-ray might be useful to determine if there are any defects in the bladder or inflammation caused by something else). Even after a surgical procedure such as this, it's beneficial to followup with re-evaluation to check for other problems or complications.
The surgeon is correct, it can take some time to see marked improvment, and you may be faced with a few more months to determine this for sure, but since there is still no marked improvement with the rear legs, I would certainly re-evaluate the situation and at least ensure that a pressed nerve elsewhere is not prohibiting recovery. Are you currently applying any therapeutic massage or physical therapy techniques (as per surgeon's instructions)? If not, this might be helpful, but do not start on your own, your surgeon needs to direct you.
One other question, is your kitten normally urinating on her own, other than the incontinence, or do you perform daily expressions of her bladder to void entirely for the day? If by chance she is urinating a fair amount on her own, it could be that you are incorrectly expressing the bladder, or that the timing is not appropriate. Since you probably already know what a full bladder feels like, it doesn't always feel the same every day, so for this reason, I agree with the other person's comment about having your vet instruct you again.
Lastly, have you ever considered a second opinion? (I'm sure the surgeon performed an advanced surgery and was perfectly qualified to do it), but during followup care, a second opinion might give you more options in treatment, physical therapy options, medications, etc.
The surgeon is correct, it can take some time to see marked improvment, and you may be faced with a few more months to determine this for sure, but since there is still no marked improvement with the rear legs, I would certainly re-evaluate the situation and at least ensure that a pressed nerve elsewhere is not prohibiting recovery. Are you currently applying any therapeutic massage or physical therapy techniques (as per surgeon's instructions)? If not, this might be helpful, but do not start on your own, your surgeon needs to direct you.
One other question, is your kitten normally urinating on her own, other than the incontinence, or do you perform daily expressions of her bladder to void entirely for the day? If by chance she is urinating a fair amount on her own, it could be that you are incorrectly expressing the bladder, or that the timing is not appropriate. Since you probably already know what a full bladder feels like, it doesn't always feel the same every day, so for this reason, I agree with the other person's comment about having your vet instruct you again.
Lastly, have you ever considered a second opinion? (I'm sure the surgeon performed an advanced surgery and was perfectly qualified to do it), but during followup care, a second opinion might give you more options in treatment, physical therapy options, medications, etc.
..........Traci