Small Animal - Exotics Flashcards
What are the reasons for neutering exotics?
Avoid pregnancy
Behavioural
Reduce smell
Avoid reproductive disease
What is there potential risk of when castrating rabbits?
Herniation - open inguinal canals
What are the potential approaches for castrating a rabbit?
Prescrotal/scrotal
Open/closed
When can rabbit castrations be performed?
From 4 months
When both testes fully descended
What are the four steps in a rabbit castration?
Full clinical exam
Anaesthetise your patient
Clip and prep surgical site
Technique of your choice
Describe the castration surgery in rabbits
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
What peculiarities are there with a rabbit uterus?
Two uterine horns and cervices
No uterine body
Lots of fat in the broad ligament
When are rabbits usually spayed?
5-6 months
Describe a rabbit spay
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
What problems can occur post-spay in rabbits?
Adhesions form
Risk of GI stasis
How can post-spay problems in rabbits be avoided?
Gentle tissue handling
Keep tissues moist
Appropriate suture material choice
Use of meloxicam and GI stimulants
Describe post-op care of a rabbit neuter
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
What is the most common neoplasia in rabbits?
Uterine adenocarcinoma
Describe uterine adenocarcinoma
Slowly metastasises
Potentially extremely painful condition
Signs can be subtle: lethargy, weight loss, aggression
What are the reproductive differences in rodents?
Open inguinal canals - testes easily retracted, large fat pad prevents herniation
Higher chance of post-op infections
When can guinea pig castrates be performed?
From 3-4 months
What do guinea pigs not have?
Well developed scrotum
What should be preserved with guinea pig castrates if possible?
Fat pad
When can rats be castrated?
From 3 months
What approach should be taken with a rat castrate?
Scrotal
What are the pros and cons of routinely spaying rodents?
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
What percent of female guinea pigs does cystic ovaries occur?
<75%
What are the signs of cystic ovaries in guinea pigs?
Gradual onset flank alopecia
Reduced appetite
Distended abdomen
Palpable masses
Describe ferret reproduction
Come into oestrus in the spring
Induced ovulators
Lack of mating results in hyperoestrogenism - vulval swelling, anorexia, lethargy
What is the treatment for hyperoestrogenism?
Stabilise
Spay/hormone treatment
What does prolonged oestrogen toxicity result in?
Severe anaemia
Neutropaenia
Thrombocytopaenia
What are the two hormone treatments available for hyperoestrogenism?
“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
When are ferret testes descended?
Only in breeding season - spring to autumn
What are the disadvantages of neutering ferrets?
Disruption to normal hormonal cycle
Predisposes hyperadrencorticism
Owners need to be informed of risk
Consider implanting deslorelin implant at the same time
