Rodents Flashcards
Do ferrets need to be fasted before surgery?
Yes
4-6 hours
Which opioid reverses fentanyl sedation?
Buprenorphine
Which opioids can you use with rodents and ferrets?
Buprenorphine
Pethidine, methadone, morphine
What is the most common pre-med for rodents and ferrets?
Midazolam and buprenorphine
Why should you swab out the mouth of rodents prior to surgery?
May have food stored in mouth
Risk of aspiration pneumonia
Give some cons of using face masks to maintain anaesthesia
Potentially increased dead space
Leakage of volatile agent
Breath-holding
Tongue can block pharynx if incorrectly positioned
Volatile agents may cause nasal oedema and mucus production
No protection against upper or lower airway obstruction or aspiration
What can you give as a pre-med for ferrets?
Midazolam and buprenorphine
Triple (ketamine, medetomidine, buprenorphine - cat dose)
Hypnorm (fentanyl and fluanisone)
Which iv induction agents can you use in ferrets?
Alfaxalone
Propofol
What flow rate of anaesthesia should you use in ferrets?
1.5 - 2.5 l/min
Why should you raise the thorax when performing surgery on a ferret?
To prevent abdominal contents putting pressure on the diaphragm
Why should you avoid touching the guts when doing surgery on a rodent?
More prone to adhesions forming -> gut stasis
Give the clinical signs of insulinoma
Hypoglycaemia
Weakness
Hypersalivation
Give some risks associated with insulinoma surgery
Intra-operative insulin release
Pancreatitis post-operatively
(Can give intra-operative glucose and dexamethasone to counteract)
What are rodents more susceptible to compared to other pets when considering anaesthetic?
Hypoglycaemia
Hypothermia
(High metabolic rate, rapid drug metabolism)
Where can you take blood from in rodents?
Lateral saphenous, lateral tail vein (mice and rats), femoral vein, jugular vein, cranial vena cava in guinea pigs, degus and chinchillas
Do herbivorous species have acidic or alkaline urine?
Alkaline
The urine of which rodents is usually proteinuric?
Rats and mice
Why is anorexia considered an emergency in rabbits?
Can lead to gut stasis which can be fatal
Why is clipping of rabbit incisors unacceptable?
Why is rasping also unacceptable?
Clipping: results in tooth fracture
Rasping: can damage the periodontal ligament
What is the recommended treatment for tooth root abscesses in rabbits?
Surgical tooth removal and marsupialisation or closure after placement of an AB-impregnated implant (eg PMMA bead)
Give some causes of gastric stasis in rabbits
Mechanical obstruction (eg dehydrated ingesta secondary to dehydration, FB)
Abnormalities in neuronal/gastric smooth muscle contractility
Low fibre, high carbohydrate diet
Stress
Give some clinical signs of gut stasis in rabbits
Gradual decrease in appetite -> anorexia Decreased size and amount of faecal pellets Depression Dehydration Death
How would a rabbit’s stomach feel if it had gastric stasis?
Firm, dough-like
How do you treat gut stasis in rabbits?
Fluids (oral and iv; maintenance= 100ml/kg/day)
Analgesia (buprenorphine at first, then NSAIDs once rehydrated)
Prokinetics (eg Ranitidine)
What causes ‘walking dandruff’?
Cheyletiella (rabbit fur mite; non-burrowing)
How do you treat ‘walking dandruff’?
Ivermectin
What is the rabbit ear mite?
Psoroptes cuniculi
How do you treat rabbit ear mites?
Ivermectin or selamectin
What causes ulcers and scabs on the nose and/or perineum of rabbits?
Treponema cuniculi (‘rabbit syphilis’)
How do you treat Treponema cuniculi (‘rabbit syphilis’)?
Usually self-limiting
Can give injectable penicillin once every 7 days for 3 doses
How is E.cuniculi shed in rabbits?
In urine
Give some clinical signs of E cuniculi in rabbits
Head tilt, torticolis, HL paresis, paralysis, tremors, convulsions, urinary incontinence, cataracts, lens-induced uveitis and death
How do you diagnose E.cuniculi in rabbits?
IgG and IgM antibody assays (indicate exposure)
PCR (detects spores in urine or faeces)
PM: gross changes to kidneys (pitting and scarring of renal cortex)
How do you treat E.cuniculi in rabbits?
Chronic cases: tx not usually successful
Acute cases: fenbendazole may alleviate clinical signs
Why should glucocorticoids be used with caution in rabbits?
Very immunosuppressive and can induce liver disease
What is licensed for fleas in rabbits?
What should never be used?
Imidacloprid is licensed
Fipronil is toxic to rabbits so should never be used
