Nervous system modulation through electrical stimulation in companion animals

This review explores the use of electrical stimulation techniques to help dogs and cats with spinal cord injuries recover function. These techniques, including functional electrical stimulation (FES), transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TESCS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS), are non-invasive and have shown promise in human medicine. The review discusses how these electrical stimulation methods work, focusing on their effects on the nervous system and muscles. FES stimulates muscles directly, TESCS stimulates the spinal cord through the skin, and TDCS stimulates the brain. Ultimately, the review suggests that these techniques could be a valuable addition to neurorehabilitation programs for pets with spinal injuries, potentially improving their ability to move and function. The study highlights that more research is needed.

• 1
  Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be used to strengthen muscles, improve blood flow, and avoid progression of muscle atrophy in companion animals.
• 2
  Transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TESCS) may recruit a different population of motor neurons by projecting sensory and intraspinal connections, directly resulting in the amplification of spinal evoked motor potentials.
• 3
  Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) is responsible for motor cortex-modulated excitability in humans, which allows interconnections to be created not only at anatomical region at which the electrodes are placed but also in other regions