9. Anesthesia of Small Mammals

Question 1

______ anesthetic risk

Answer 1

higher

Question 2

Learning objective:

Be aware of physiologic differences and concerns compared to larger species

Answer 2

Rabbits, lagomorphs don’t vomit, ferrets do.

ferret heart is super far back in thorax.

? What else to add ?

Question 3

Learning objective:

know general considerations for equipment and monitoring

Answer 3

anesthesia machine with nonrebreathing system (lower resistance for small patients)
- bain block recommended to see pressure in system.
- uncuffed ET tubes
- various facemask sizes
Monitoring:
1. doppler/pulse/auscultate; can do art line/indirect BP
2. ECG
3. resp rate/character. ensure NECK IS EXTENDED, can use mainstream capnography (neonatal to minimize dead space)
4. ventilator
5. prone to hypothermia, bubble wrap/bair hugger/heat pad
6. depth (same as dogs)

Question 4

Learning objective:

know typical patient considerations, fasting times, drugs commonly used

Answer 4

• Don’ t fast lagomorphs, rabbits, rodents. Fast ferrets 2-4 hours.
• opioids with benzo in general
• mask induction or IV

Question 5

metabolic rate
O2 demand?
dosing?
in small mammals

Answer 5

higher than larger animals (allometric scaling)

• higher O2 demand, get hypoxic faster, so pre-oxygenate
• higher doses for drugs

Question 6

lagomorphs and rodents are unable to _____ due to stomach conformation. so you don’t need to _____ them.

Answer 6

vomit.

don’t fast.

Question 7

These animals get stressed easily. have a ___ room with ____ available. Only handle them when necessary.

Answer 7

quiet room with incubators available

Question 8

popular analgesic premeds and doses are _____-specific

Answer 8

species

Question 9

in general most prevalent anagesic are ___ and ___. Premedication is to facilitate ___________ via mask. Can also induce with injectables (some species can use IM/Intraperitoneal induction routes)

Answer 9

nsaid and opioids.

inhalant induction.

Question 10

(rabbits, lagomorphs, rodents) intubation can be challenging. _____ the neck.

Options for intubation?

Answer 10

hyper extend the neck.

1. Blind intubation (don’t use too many attemps)
2. laryngoscope/otoscope (hard to see when tube is added, can use stylet in trachea then intubate)
3. Endoscope-assisted
4. retrograde intubation (needle into larynx, then use catheter thru needle and out mouth, then use as guide wire)
5. Just use mask if something quick, use tight fitting mask with minimal dead space.

Question 11

how to confirm ET tube placement?

Answer 11

• auscultate both sides of thorax
• feel/look for breath and condensation in ET tube.
• ideally use capnography to confirm

Question 12

handling rabbits?

Answer 12

support hind end!

Question 13

blood access in rabbits/lagomorphs?

Answer 13

marginal ear vein
ephalic
intraosseus

Question 14

endogenous atropinases?

Answer 14

so use glycopyrollate instead of atropine in rabbits.

Question 15

premeds rabbits/lagomorphs/rodents?

Answer 15

opioid and benzo

alfaxalone IM also good if need more sedation. (avoid full mu to prevent ileus)

Question 16

rabbits/lagomorphs induction?

Answer 16

inhalant induction common, or use propofol/alfaxalone IV

Question 17

rabbits/lagomorphs maintenance of anesthesia?

Answer 17

usually inhalant, can use TIVA

Question 18

V-gel?

Answer 18

secure airway, sits on top of glotis, cool new thing

Question 19

rodents also have a high ________. Which makes them prone to hypoxia, need higher drug doses. They also have low _____, so may get hypoglycemic.

Answer 19

metabolic rate

glycogen stores

Question 20

vascular access

Answer 20

jug, cephalic, saphenous, lateral coccygeal vein

or intraosseus

Question 21

SC and IM irritant drugs may cause

Answer 21

self mutilation

Question 22

blood sampling in ferrets

Answer 22

• jug, cephalic, saphenous, Cr. VC if under anesthesia because heart is so FAR BACK
• vascular access in cephalic vein, saph, or IO

Question 23

______ disease is not as common in ferrets.

Answer 23

respiratory

Question 24

______, ____, and _____ are prevalent diseases in ferrets

Answer 24

cardiac, adrenal, insulinoma

Question 25

GI transit time in ferrets

Answer 25

short, 4 hours

FAST 2-4 hrs.