Reproduction control - exotics Flashcards
4 main reasons for neutering
avoid pregnancy behavioural reduce smell (especially ferrets) avoid reproductive disease
T:F rabbits have closed inguinal canals
False - they have open inguinal canals which means there is a potential risk of herniation
Approach to a rabbit castrate
Many potential preferences - surgeon preference
Prescrotal/scrotal
Open/closed
Just be sure to close the inguinal canal (also rodents)
When to castrate a rabbit
from 4 months or when both testes are fully descended
Outline rabbit castration
Immbobilise testicle
Incise through skin and tunic
Exteriorise testicle and break attachment betweeen tunic and skin
Camp tunic and place transfixing Monocryl ligature proximally
Incise between clamps to remove testicle, check for bleeding and glue.
What is the main complication of rabbit castration
herniation (inguinal)
Outline female rabbit anatomy
2 uterine horns and cerivces
No uterine body
Fat in broad ligament (makes it more friable)
When are rabbits spayed?
5-6 months
How do you perform a rabbit spay?
Incision midway between umbilicus and pubic symphysis (just cranial to last pair of nipples)
Exteriorise reproductive tract, clamp and ligate ovaries and broad ligament
Place transfixing ligature distal to cervices cranial to urethra
2 main complications - rabbit spay
Adhesion formation
GI stasis
Tips for rabbit spays - 5
Gentle tissue handling
Keep tissues moist
Appropriate suture material (PDS or Monocryl NOT catgut)
Meloxican anti-inflammatory (decreases pain to decrease risk of gut stasis, for 5 days post-op)
Ranitidine (gut stimulant) - routine prophylaxis, start pre-op
Rabbit spay - post-op care
Syringe feed if not feeding within 2-4 hours
Keep in hospital overnight (ensure eating and passing faeces)
Send home on < 5 days meloxicam +/- gut stimulants
How soon after castrating a male rabbit is it safe to mix him with an entire female?
6 weeks
What % of unneutered female rabbits are likely to be affected by uterine neoplasia?
79% !!!
What neoplasia is most common in rabbits?
Uterine adenocarcinoma Slow growing Metastasise slowly Potentially extrememly painful Signs: lethargy, weight loss, aggression
ADVICE:
neuter at 6 months
if old and owners want rabbit neutered, advise chest xray first to see if it has already spread.
What are important considerations when neutering rodetns?
Rodents have OPEN inguinal canals (like rabbits) - testes easily retract into abdomen, large fat pad present to prevent herniation
Higher chance of post-op infections - prophylactic antibiosis may be indicated
When to do a guinea pig (rodent) castrate?
from 3-4 months
What are hystricomorphs?
an order of rodents
When can rat castrates be perfomed from?
from 3 months (scrotal approach)
Should we routinely spay rodents?
No - very technically challenging and a midline spay is very invasive
What are the benefits of spaying rodents? 4
prevents pregnancy
prevents dystocia in older guinea pigs
prevents cystic ovaries in guinea pigs
prevents mammary tumours in rats
Cystic ovaries - guinea pigs - incidence and clinical signs
< 75% female guinea pigs
CLINICAL SIGNS: gradual onset flank alopecia, reduced appetite, distended appearance of abdomen, masses palpated (very painful in humans)
Definitive treatment - cystic ovaries - guinea pigs
Surgery (easier to spay a guinea pig with cystic ovaries than a normal healthy guinea pig as you can exteriorise the repro tract), still a big surgery, especially if poor appetite recently
Outline mammary tumours in rats
Found in <90% female rats, can occur in males Usually fibroadenomas (usually benign, good prognosis if it can be completely resected)
Outline ferret reproduction
female ferrets come into oestrous in the spring
induced ovulators
lack of mating results in hyperoestrogenism –> signs such as vulval swelling, anorexia and lethargy
What does prolonged oestrogen toxicity result in in ferrets? 3
Severe anaemia
Neutropaenia
Thrombocytopaenia
(i.e. BM suppression)
Treatment - hyperoestrogenism in ferrets
Stabilise (blood transfusions if necessary)
Spay/hormone treatment
What should you recommend for reproductive control in female ferrets?
Spaying (best option, exactly say as midline cat spay)
Alternatives - hormones - proligestone injections or Deslorelin implant
What is the ‘jill jab’?
For female ferret reproduction control
A proligestone injection
Given in spring just as breeding seasons starts
May need to be repeated 2-3 times/ season
Expensive
Outline what a Deslorelin implant is
For female ferret reproduction control GnRH agonist Repeat at 18-24 months Consider sedation Initial signs of oestrous will be seen Expensive (about £100 every year or so)
What are the best options to reduce male ferrets from smelling?
Castration (best option) Deslorelin implants (will also work, GnRH agonist)
What is Delvosterone?
a proligestone
used to suppress or postpone heat in jills during the breeding season
What are proligestones?
A type of progesterone.
The safety of progesterone is related to their molecular structure. Proligestone has a unique molecular configuration which makes it possible to administer at any time during the oestrous cycle with little risk of undesirable effects on the endometrium.
