Small Mammal Repro Flashcards

0
Q

How do rabbit and rodent repro tracts differ to other animals? What implication does this have?

A
  • open inguinal canals -> potential risk of herniation

- close tunic etc. when operating

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1
Q

Reasons for neutering small mammals?

A
  1. avoid pregnancy
  2. behavioural (fighting, mounting)
  3. smell
  4. avoid repro disese
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2
Q

What is the correct neutering technique for rabbits?

A
  • prescrotal/scrtoal
  • open/closed
    > no correct, everyone has different approaches
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3
Q

What age can castration be performed?

A

4 months with both testes fully descended

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4
Q

What should be carried out prior to castrating rabbit?

A
  1. full clinical exam (sex, concurrent disease)
  2. anaesthesia
  3. clip and prep surgical site (skin thin and tears easily)
  4. technique of your choice
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5
Q

Outline the steps of castrating a rabbit

A
  1. Immobilise testes (prevent testes dissapearing up inguinal canal into abdomen)
  2. incise through skin and tunic (on testes)
  3. exteriorise testicle and break down attachment between tunic and skin (as open method)
  4. clamp tunic and place transfixing monocryl ligature proximally (as closed method)
  5. incise between clamps, check for bleeding and GLUE (not suture)
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6
Q

Main post-op complications of castrating rabbits and rodents?

A
  • herniation (2 ligatures to prevent this)

- infection

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7
Q

How are rabbit spays different to other animals?

A
  • 2 uterine hrons and 2 cervices
  • no uterine body
  • fat +++ in broad ligament
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8
Q

What age are rabbits spayed at?

A

5-6 months

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9
Q

Outline steps of spay op in rabbits

A
  • make incision midway between umbilicus [may not be visualised] and pubic symphis
  • > go just cranial to last pair of nipples
  • exteriorise repro tract, handle gently as tissue is friable
  • ligate ovaires and broad ligament (usually full hysterectomy)
  • ligate blood vessels (may be more than in dog)
  • transfixing ligature distal to cervices cranial to urethra (ligate as close to cervices as possible)
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10
Q

Why should you be cautious when incising for rabbit spay?

A
  • ceacum and bladder v close
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11
Q

Post spay problems?

A
  • adhesions

- GI stasis

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12
Q

How may tissue adhesion risk be lowered?

A
  • gentle and minimal tissue handling (don’t go back in to check pedicles)
  • keep tissues moist
  • appropriate suture material choice (PDS, monocryl, NOT catgut)
  • NSAIDs 5d postop - start just pre-surgery (meloxicam)
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13
Q

How can GI stasis be avoided?

A

RInitidine GI stimulant started preop

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14
Q

When should you start syringe feeding a rabbit post op?

A
  • if not eating 2-4 hours after recovery
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15
Q

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

A

6 weeks!

16
Q

Should rabbits be kept in after operations?

A
  • if quiet hospital keep in to monitor eating and poassing feaces
  • if busy and stressfull send home with meloxicam
17
Q

Are rabbits prone to uterine disease?

A
  • 79% animals develop uterine adenocarcinoma in entire animals!
18
Q

What type of tumour is uterine adenocarcinoma?

A
  • slow growing so may not be noticed
  • slowly metastasising (liver and lungs)
  • potentially extrememly painful
  • clinical signs
    > lethargy
    > weight loss
    > aggression
19
Q

If spaying an old rabbit what should be done first?

A

Radiograph chest to check for mets as very liekly to be there already

20
Q

What is the average age of onset of uterine adenocarcinoma in rabbits?

A

4-5 years

21
Q

What is a common problem in rodent castrates?

A
  • testicles very easily retracted into abdomen
    > though large fat pad present to prevent herniation
  • higher chance of post-op infections (sit in their own urine/feaces, testes right next to anus)
    > give prophylactic ABx
22
Q

What age should guinaepig castration be carried out?

A

3-4 months

23
Q

How do hystricomorphs scortums differ to other animals?

A

not well developed scrotum

24
Q

What age can rats be castrated?

A

3 months

25
Q

What is the post common post-op complication for rats?

A
  • chewing off sutures!

- > build little busta colalrs

26
Q

Pros of recommending spaying rodents?

A
  • preventing pregnancy (but can castrate)
  • prevents dystocia in older guinae pigs
  • prevents cystic ovaries in guinaepigs
  • prevents mammary tumours in rats
27
Q

Cons of recommending spaying rodents?

A
  • technically challenging op

- midline spay invasive

28
Q

What is the most common repro abnormality of female guinae pigs over 2-3 years?

A

> cystic ovaries

  • painful
  • gradual onset flank alopecia
  • abdomen distended
  • masses palpable
29
Q

Is it more difficult to spay guinaepigs with cystic ovaries?

A
  • technically easier as overies bigger

- may be systemically ill due to anorexia

30
Q

Which disease is common in rats?

A
  • 90% rats develop mammary tumours (fibroadenomas)
  • can occour in males too
  • good prognosis if compeltely resected but difficult to resect witohut recurrence
31
Q

How may mammary tumours be prevented?

A

Spaying

32
Q

When do female ferrets come into oestrus?

A

Spring

33
Q

What type of ovulators are ferrets?

A

Induced

34
Q

What does lack of mating in ferrets cause?

A

Hyperoestrogenism and oestrogen toxicity

  • > vulval swelling, anorexia, lethargy
  • > severe anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
  • can bleed out and die
35
Q

Tx of hyperoestrogenism in ferrets?

A
  • stabilise (blood transfusions if necessary)
  • spay
  • hormones tx
    > jill jab (proligestone, given in spring as breeding season starts, may need repeating 2-3x/season)
    > deslorelin implant (GnRH agonist, repeat q18-24 months, consider sedation, initial signs of oestrus will be seen, expensive)
36
Q

How can you control ferret smell?

A
  • castration (during breeding season so testicles larger and descended)
  • deslorelin implants
37
Q

Which species is ferret spaying similar to?

A

Cats

38
Q

What are the disadvantages to neutering ferrets?

A
  • disruption normal hormonal cycle predisposes to hyperadrenocorticism
  • deslorelin implant should be considered at same time to prevent this