Small Animal - Exotics

Question 1

What are the reasons for neutering exotics?

Answer 1

Avoid pregnancy
Behavioural
Reduce smell
Avoid reproductive disease

Question 2

What is there potential risk of when castrating rabbits?

Answer 2

Herniation - open inguinal canals

Question 3

What are the potential approaches for castrating a rabbit?

Answer 3

Prescrotal/scrotal

Open/closed

Question 4

When can rabbit castrations be performed?

Answer 4

From 4 months

When both testes fully descended

Question 5

What are the four steps in a rabbit castration?

Answer 5

Full clinical exam
Anaesthetise your patient
Clip and prep surgical site
Technique of your choice

Question 6

Describe the castration surgery in rabbits

Answer 6

Immobilise testicle
Incise through skin and tunic
Exteriorise testicle
Breakdown attachment between tunic and skin
Clamp tunic
Place transfixing Monocryl ligature proximally
Incise between clamps to remove testicle
Check for bleeding and glue

Question 7

What peculiarities are there with a rabbit uterus?

Answer 7

Two uterine horns and cervices
No uterine body
Lots of fat in the broad ligament

Question 8

When are rabbits usually spayed?

Answer 8

5-6 months

Question 9

Describe a rabbit spay

Answer 9

Make incision midway between umbilicus and pubic symphysis
Exteriorise reproductive tract
Clamp and ligate ovaries and broad ligament
Place transfixing ligature distal to cervices and cranial to urethra

Question 10

What problems can occur post-spay in rabbits?

Answer 10

Adhesions form

Risk of GI stasis

Question 11

How can post-spay problems in rabbits be avoided?

Answer 11

Gentle tissue handling
Keep tissues moist
Appropriate suture material choice
Use of meloxicam and GI stimulants

Question 12

Describe post-op care of a rabbit neuter

Answer 12

Start syringe feeding if not eating within 2-4 hours of recovery
If possible keep in hospital overnight to ensure eating and passing faeces
Send home around day 5 with meloxicam and gut stimulants

Question 13

What is the most common neoplasia in rabbits?

Answer 13

Uterine adenocarcinoma

Question 14

Describe uterine adenocarcinoma

Answer 14

Slowly metastasises
Potentially extremely painful condition
Signs can be subtle: lethargy, weight loss, aggression

Question 15

What are the reproductive differences in rodents?

Answer 15

Open inguinal canals - testes easily retracted, large fat pad prevents herniation
Higher chance of post-op infections

Question 16

When can guinea pig castrates be performed?

Answer 16

From 3-4 months

Question 17

What do guinea pigs not have?

Answer 17

Well developed scrotum

Question 18

What should be preserved with guinea pig castrates if possible?

Answer 18

Fat pad

Question 19

When can rats be castrated?

Answer 19

From 3 months

Question 20

What approach should be taken with a rat castrate?

Answer 20

Scrotal

Question 21

What are the pros and cons of routinely spaying rodents?

Answer 21

Pros - prevents pregnancy, prevents dystocia in older guinea pigs, prevents cycstic ovaries in guinea pigs, prevents mammary tumours in rats
Cons - technically challenging, midline spay invasive

Question 22

What percent of female guinea pigs does cystic ovaries occur?

Answer 22

<75%

Question 23

What are the signs of cystic ovaries in guinea pigs?

Answer 23

Gradual onset flank alopecia
Reduced appetite
Distended abdomen
Palpable masses

Question 24

Describe ferret reproduction

Answer 24

Come into oestrus in the spring
Induced ovulators
Lack of mating results in hyperoestrogenism - vulval swelling, anorexia, lethargy

Question 25

What is the treatment for hyperoestrogenism?

Answer 25

Stabilise

Spay/hormone treatment

Question 26

What does prolonged oestrogen toxicity result in?

Answer 26

Severe anaemia
Neutropaenia
Thrombocytopaenia

Question 27

What are the two hormone treatments available for hyperoestrogenism?

Answer 27

“Jill jab” - proligestone, given in spring as mating season starts, may need to be repeated 2-3 times a season
Deslorelin implant - GnRH agonis, repeat every 18-24 months, consider sedation, initial signs of oestrus will be seen, expensive

Question 28

When are ferret testes descended?

Answer 28

Only in breeding season - spring to autumn

Question 29

What are the disadvantages of neutering ferrets?

Answer 29

Disruption to normal hormonal cycle
Predisposes hyperadrencorticism
Owners need to be informed of risk
Consider implanting deslorelin implant at the same time