Anaesthesia in rabbits and small rodents

Question 1

% of overall deaths under GA

Answer 1

1.78%

Question 2

Common problems that affect anaesthesia in rabbits

Answer 2

• stress
• dental disease
• respiratory disease
• cardiac disease

Question 3

Premed for rabbits

Answer 3

May or may not be given
- Hyponorm or medetomidine most common

Question 4

Prep for anaesthesia rabbits

Answer 4

• clean out mouth
• place in food and water free carrier
• monitor closely
• pre-oxygenate

Question 5

Induction with mask in rabbits

Answer 5

• avoid if poss
• causes breath holding and bradycardia
• may work ok under premed

Question 6

Induction with injectables in rabbits

Answer 6

• give oxygen throughout anaesthesia
• hyponorm (profound resp depression, poor muscle relaxation, long recoveries)
• ketamine combinations (with alpha2 agonist can be best surgical conditions, very prolonged recovery, must give oxygen)
• propofol (rarely used and not licensed)
• alfaxalone (licensed)

Question 7

Preventing post-operative ileus in rabbits

Answer 7

• avoid stress
• good pain relief
• get owners to bring in own food and water containers
• consider syringe feeding
• prokinetics

Question 8

Signs of pain in rabbits

Answer 8

• anorexia
• grinding of teeth
• immobility
• reduced resp rate

Question 9

Analgesics in rabbits

Answer 9

None licensed

• opioids (buprenorphine and butorphanol most often, methadone during surgery, lidocaine locally)
• NSAIDs (meloxicam very well tolerated long term)

Question 10

Anaesthesia in small rodents

Answer 10

• No need to starve
• Fluids and nutritional support if necessary before GA
• Premed e.g. Metacam, opioid, GI kinetic, medetomidine
• Gaseous induction and maintenance by mask or in anaesthetic chamber
• Transfer to suitably protected heat pad and m
  ask; bubble wrap
• Maintain body temperature throughout recovery

Question 11

Anaesthesia in small carnivores

Answer 11

• May need to starve
• Fluid support if necessary before GA
• Place IV catheter
• Premed e.g. Metacam, opioid, medetomidine
• Intubate and then maintenance by mask
• Transfer to suitably protected throughout recovery

Question 12

Anaesthesia in ferrets

Answer 12

• Ferrets very prone to hypoglycaemia, may not want to starve, but can vomit. Give food as soon as awake
• As cat- but weigh carefully, and calculate drug doses carefully
• Intubate
• Place iv catheter
• Maintain body temperature
• Give fluids
• Beware hypoglycaemia - if do not starve beware vomiting, feed asap on recovery