Rabbit anaesthesia Flashcards by Josie Campbell

Normal rabbit HR

180-240

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Normal rabbit RR

50-60 bpm

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Normal rabbit SAP

90-120 mmHg

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Normal rabbit temperature

37.7-38.8 degrees

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Normal rabbit total blood volume

50-60ml/kg

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Intubating a rabbit

Well developed masticatory muscles

Limited opening of the temporo-mandibular joint

Pulling the tongue can cause a vagal reflex

Intabation is therefore difficult

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Why do rabbits not need to starved prior to srugery?

Associated with stress and hypoglycaemia

Unable to vomit due to perculiar conformation of the epiglottis and well developed cardias

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Consequence of rabbits continuously growing teeth

Dental disease is common and often causes anorexia

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Rabbit response to hypotensive shock

Lack a compensatory phase so HR may not increase

This is because hypotension can stimulate both sympathetic and parasympathetic systems

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Drug metabolism in rabbits

Rabbits, especially smaller ones, have rapid basal metabolism

Quicker drug metabolism and elimination

Also makes them prone to hypothermia

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Peri-anaesthetic ventricular tachyarrhythmias in rabbits

Common

May be fatal

Due to them being very sensitive to handling related stress

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Atropine use in rabbits

Rabbits produce high levels of endogenous atropinesterases so atropine has reduced efficacy

Use glycopyrrolate instead

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Gas induction of anaesthesia in rabbits

Can cause a ‘breath holding reflex’ when inhaling irritant gases

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Common rabbit diseases

Pneumonia

Dental disease (causing dysorexia, metabolic acidosis, GI disturbances)

Otitis

Abscesses (dental, pasteurellosis)

Cataracts

Tumours and paraneoplastic syndromes

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Anaesthetic risk in rabbits

About 1.39% fatalities

Much higher than dogs and cats

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IV catheterisation in rabbits

Lateral auricular, cephalic, or saphenous vein

Adequate compression to raise the vein

Topical use of local anaesthetics (can take half an hour to activate and needs a bandage to be absorbed, and rabbit may still react to handing and ear being held)

Routes of administration for premed in rabbits

Subcut can be unpredicatable

IM can be painful and cause high stress in rabbits

IM injectable anaesthesia protocols in healthy rabbits

Medetomidine
Buprenorphine
Ketamine

IM injectable anaesthesia protocols in unhealthy rabbits

Midazolam
Buprenorphine
Alfaxalone

IM ‘triple shot’ in rabbits for premed/sedation

Medetomidine
Midazolam
Fentanyl

(all can be reversed)

Oro-tracheal intabuation in rabbits

Technically challenging (small airways, cant open mouth much)

110 angle between the base of the tongue and tracheal inlet (poor visibility)

Prone to develop laryngeal spasm (topical lidocaine)

Blind technique not recommended, can use oesophageal stethoscope or endoscope

Alternatives to ET intuabtion in rabbits

V-gel
- specifically edsigned for rabbits
- atraumatic
- excellent stability
- easy to apply
- expensive
- can be used with mechanical ventilation as well
- may not want it for head surgery as can be difficult to reposition

Anaesthetic maintenance in rabbits

‘Top up’ of ketamine titrated to effect

Inhalational anaesthesia (iso or sevo)

Systemic analgesics

Butorphanol
Fentanyl CRI
Buprenorphine
ALL can cause pica, GI hypomobility, and ileus

Carprofen
Meloxicam

Clinical monitoring of a rabbit under anaesthesia

HR and RR CRT, colour, and moisture of MM Quality and rhythm of peripheral pulse Breathing pattern Rectal body temp Reflexes: palpebral (not very reliable), flexor, auricular, and podal nociceptive responses (deep pain/analgesia)

Instrumental monitoring of rabbits under anaesthetic

Technically difficult due to small size

Blood pressure monitoring of rabbits

Oscillometry: - more reliable when cuff on thoracic limb - unreliable during hypertension Doppler: - To measure SAP and monitor peripheral pulse - Clinically useful and reliable Invasive ABP: - easire in big rabbits - auricular artery, if damage caused can cause thrombosis and necrosis of the ear

Pulse oximetry in rabbits

Practical, useful, and easy to use Need for a device capable of reading high frequencies (above 200 pulsations per minute, neonatal)

Electrocardiography in rabbits

High frequencies and low voltage signal Speed should be 100-200 mm/sec rather than 25 mm/sec Low filters set up

Capnography in rabbits

Side stream: samples 70-150mL/min! More than a rabbits tidal volume. Will cause artefacts due to the gases being contaminated with fresh gas flow because the volume is too low- will dilute CO2 concentration Main stream: dead space! Will cause rebreathing in very small rabbits Micro stream (laser): only 50 mL/min but expensive

Rabbit recovery from anaesthesia

Ideally in temp controlled single boxes (can become aggressive when they wake up) Quiet, predators-free environment (i.e. No cats or dogs, or their smell) Post-operative pain assessment