Reproduction control - exotics

Question 1

4 main reasons for neutering

Answer 1

avoid pregnancy
behavioural
reduce smell (especially ferrets)
avoid reproductive disease

Question 2

T:F rabbits have closed inguinal canals

Answer 2

False - they have open inguinal canals which means there is a potential risk of herniation

Question 3

Approach to a rabbit castrate

Answer 3

Many potential preferences - surgeon preference
Prescrotal/scrotal
Open/closed
Just be sure to close the inguinal canal (also rodents)

Question 4

When to castrate a rabbit

Answer 4

from 4 months or when both testes are fully descended

Question 5

Outline rabbit castration

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What is the main complication of rabbit castration

Answer 6

herniation (inguinal)

Question 7

Outline female rabbit anatomy

Answer 7

2 uterine horns and cerivces
No uterine body
Fat in broad ligament (makes it more friable)

Question 8

When are rabbits spayed?

Answer 8

5-6 months

Question 9

How do you perform a rabbit spay?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

2 main complications - rabbit spay

Answer 10

Adhesion formation

GI stasis

Question 11

Tips for rabbit spays - 5

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Rabbit spay - post-op care

Answer 12

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

Question 13

How soon after castrating a male rabbit is it safe to mix him with an entire female?

Answer 13

6 weeks

Question 14

What % of unneutered female rabbits are likely to be affected by uterine neoplasia?

Answer 14

79% !!!

Question 15

What neoplasia is most common in rabbits?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What are important considerations when neutering rodetns?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

When to do a guinea pig (rodent) castrate?

Answer 17

from 3-4 months

Question 18

What are hystricomorphs?

Answer 18

an order of rodents

Question 19

When can rat castrates be perfomed from?

Answer 19

from 3 months (scrotal approach)

Question 20

Should we routinely spay rodents?

Answer 20

No - very technically challenging and a midline spay is very invasive

Question 21

What are the benefits of spaying rodents? 4

Answer 21

prevents pregnancy
prevents dystocia in older guinea pigs
prevents cystic ovaries in guinea pigs
prevents mammary tumours in rats

Question 22

Cystic ovaries - guinea pigs - incidence and clinical signs

Answer 22

< 75% female guinea pigs

CLINICAL SIGNS: gradual onset flank alopecia, reduced appetite, distended appearance of abdomen, masses palpated (very painful in humans)

Question 23

Definitive treatment - cystic ovaries - guinea pigs

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Outline mammary tumours in rats

Answer 24

Found in <90% female rats, can occur in males
Usually fibroadenomas (usually benign, good prognosis if it can be completely resected)

Question 25

Outline ferret reproduction

Answer 25

female ferrets come into oestrous in the spring
induced ovulators
lack of mating results in hyperoestrogenism –> signs such as vulval swelling, anorexia and lethargy

Question 26

What does prolonged oestrogen toxicity result in in ferrets? 3

Answer 26

Severe anaemia
Neutropaenia
Thrombocytopaenia
(i.e. BM suppression)

Question 27

Treatment - hyperoestrogenism in ferrets

Answer 27

Stabilise (blood transfusions if necessary)

Spay/hormone treatment

Question 28

What should you recommend for reproductive control in female ferrets?

Answer 28

Spaying (best option, exactly say as midline cat spay)

Alternatives - hormones - proligestone injections or Deslorelin implant

Question 29

What is the ‘jill jab’?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Outline what a Deslorelin implant is

Answer 30

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)

Question 31

What are the best options to reduce male ferrets from smelling?

Answer 31

Castration (best option)
Deslorelin implants (will also work, GnRH agonist)

Question 32

What is Delvosterone?

Answer 32

a proligestone

used to suppress or postpone heat in jills during the breeding season

Question 33

What are proligestones?

Answer 33

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.