Small Mammal Repro Flashcards
How do rabbit and rodent repro tracts differ to other animals? What implication does this have?
- open inguinal canals -> potential risk of herniation
- close tunic etc. when operating
Reasons for neutering small mammals?
- avoid pregnancy
- behavioural (fighting, mounting)
- smell
- avoid repro disese
What is the correct neutering technique for rabbits?
- prescrotal/scrtoal
- open/closed
> no correct, everyone has different approaches
What age can castration be performed?
4 months with both testes fully descended
What should be carried out prior to castrating rabbit?
- full clinical exam (sex, concurrent disease)
- anaesthesia
- clip and prep surgical site (skin thin and tears easily)
- technique of your choice
Outline the steps of castrating a rabbit
- Immobilise testes (prevent testes dissapearing up inguinal canal into abdomen)
- incise through skin and tunic (on testes)
- exteriorise testicle and break down attachment between tunic and skin (as open method)
- clamp tunic and place transfixing monocryl ligature proximally (as closed method)
- incise between clamps, check for bleeding and GLUE (not suture)
Main post-op complications of castrating rabbits and rodents?
- herniation (2 ligatures to prevent this)
- infection
How are rabbit spays different to other animals?
- 2 uterine hrons and 2 cervices
- no uterine body
- fat +++ in broad ligament
What age are rabbits spayed at?
5-6 months
Outline steps of spay op in rabbits
- 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)
Why should you be cautious when incising for rabbit spay?
- ceacum and bladder v close
Post spay problems?
- adhesions
- GI stasis
How may tissue adhesion risk be lowered?
- 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)
How can GI stasis be avoided?
RInitidine GI stimulant started preop
When should you start syringe feeding a rabbit post op?
- if not eating 2-4 hours after recovery
How soon after castrating a rabbit is it safe to mix him with an entire female?
6 weeks!
Should rabbits be kept in after operations?
- if quiet hospital keep in to monitor eating and poassing feaces
- if busy and stressfull send home with meloxicam
Are rabbits prone to uterine disease?
- 79% animals develop uterine adenocarcinoma in entire animals!
What type of tumour is uterine adenocarcinoma?
- slow growing so may not be noticed
- slowly metastasising (liver and lungs)
- potentially extrememly painful
- clinical signs
> lethargy
> weight loss
> aggression
If spaying an old rabbit what should be done first?
Radiograph chest to check for mets as very liekly to be there already
What is the average age of onset of uterine adenocarcinoma in rabbits?
4-5 years
What is a common problem in rodent castrates?
- 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
What age should guinaepig castration be carried out?
3-4 months
How do hystricomorphs scortums differ to other animals?
not well developed scrotum
