Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

monkeybrains13 — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 17:58:49 GMT

We clip ear, apply emla cream to ear and leave 20-30mins we also give Zantac p/o, then place Iv catheter when ready to go. Triple combo given via catheter then maintained on iso. Metacam given s/c :)

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Lydia123 — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 13:37:09 GMT

Thank you for all these replies, really helpful :)

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Dawns — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:50:20 GMT

This advise is from an educational evening with Ivan Crotaz BVetMed MRCVS entitled "surviving rabbit anaesthesia's" which may offer some ideas:

Lots of options:

1. Metotomidine/butorphanol/ketamine combinations can be used s/c, im, i/v. Widely used but off licence combination and likely to present higher risks in older patients or those with pre-existing cardiac or circulatory problems. s/c method allows low stress induction but is less reliable

Medetomidine 0.2mg/kg, butorphanol 0.5mg/kg, ketamine 5-10mg/kg(higher dose rate increases duration of anaesthesia).

SC dosage – takes 10 minutes, support oxygenation. Atipamezole 1mg/kg IM for reversal. Resedation can occur. Typically isoflurane ventilation required for airway device placement.

2.Fentanyl/fluathisone combinations - Hypnorm

Licensed combination – 0.3ml (not mg)/kg – 30-60 minute duration IM injection (NOAH)

or 0.3ml/kg IM, 2mg/kg diazepam IV

or IP (IP can be risky with rabbits)n(NOAH)

Wildlife Information Network – Wildpro) 0.3mg/kg IM, wait 5-10 minutes, then give 0.5-2mg/kg midazolam – use higher end for IM, lower end for IV, given to effect. IV provides faster recovery.

Provide oxygen throughout anaesthetic. Reverse using butorphanol 0.1-0.5mg/kg SC/IM – good fentanyl reversal but limited analgesia. (Wildpro)

Relatively slow recovery with these combinations

3. Propofol – 10mg/kg light anaesthesia only from slow IV. Faster injection of 4-8mg/kg can be used but greater cardiovascular depression.

Respiratory arrest may occur at 15-20mg/kg. Do not use with repeated doses – causes severe hypotension.

Medetomidine premed 0.35mg/kg IM to provide sedation. Wait 15 minutes then IV propofol via lateral ear vein. (Wildlife Information Network – Wildpro)

Generally unpredicatable and not necessarily deep enough anaesthesia to gain airway. Rapid recovery in unpremedicated cases.

4. Alfaxan (10mg/ml)

6-9mg/kg IV, 9mg/kg IM (Wildlife Information Network – Wildpro)

Premedicate with buprenorphine (0.03mg/kg). Preoxygenate

Slow IV (1 minute) 2-3mg/kg.

Induction apnoea reported.

Rapid recovery, this could be slowed using alpha-2 agonist as a premedicant – one study used 0.25mg/kg medetomidine SC and 5mg/kg Alfaxan IM with excellent results

5. Etomidate (mainly USA) (Wildife Information Network)

Rapid recovery from single 1mg/kg IV bolus. Dose dependent respiratory depression, Minimal cardiovascular depression.

Midazolam premed first prevents twitching (0.25-0.5mg/kg IV/IM

Considered to be safer induction agent with patients with cardiovascular depression.

6. Of course dont forget local anaesthetics:

Ring blocks, incisional blocks, wound infiltration all very easy.Can be extremely effective for longer periods of analgesia when mixed with opioids (increase of 9 hours in one study)

Useful but unlicensed cocktail – 1mg/kg each lidocaine and bupivicaine, plus buprenorphine 0.003mg/kg. Dilute with saline as necessary to cover injection site. 22 hour analgesia reported (unpublished), (Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians 2009 Conference)

Lidocaine – maximum dose 1mg/kg incision site (AEMV 2009) Useful as sole local anaesthetic for immediate postop period, author’s experience – very useful between double ligated pedicles, cervix, ovarian pedicles etc.

Don't forget to use v-gels as your airway device of choice!

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Shoned Hawksworth — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 08:06:41 GMT

We tend to use a variety of meds depending on the age and condition of the rabbit and what reason it is having a GA. It varies between triple combo and buprenorphine/midazolam.

We give I/M or S/C usally 15 minutes apart for the later, but preoxygenate for 15 minutes prior if it a long anaesthetic, all rabbits are tubed as it is much safer having that access, and isofluarne as required.

We do have Hypnorm but tend not to use it too often

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Lydia123 — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 23:49:36 GMT

Wow thanks for all the replies, what about hypnorm? Isnt it the only licensed drug, does anyone use it?

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

martha — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 22:51:20 GMT

At my last practice all rabbits had an iv catheter placed. they would have a premed of vetergesic and midazolam, then induced with ketamine. all rabbits were intubated and maintained on iso. all GA patients had zantac, with nsaids and abs where appropriate. this worked really well, the bunnies all had a nice induction and recovery and were easily maintained. all patients also recieved fluid therapy

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Laura Ringsell — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:26:59 GMT

At the moment... Buprenorphine 1 hour pre, then medetomidine and ketamine s/c along with meloxicam and metoclopramide at go. 5 minutes later pre oxygenate as medetomidine causes profound hypoxia within 5 minutes. If required ISO, but rarely needed with this combo. Atipamezole IV marginal ear vein, slowly over 30 seconds ( off licence along with a lot of other drugs for bunnies!) NB I agree with Tara, there is a negligible (minutes) difference between IM and SC timings and SC is a lot less painful for as rightly said 'big' doses and does not effect the drug action.

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:04:19 GMT

we use triple combo and as soon as they're down maintain them on iso.. we give s/c as it's a large dose to give i/m! in my old practice we just gave sed and ket and that was i/m there is a difference between the time it takes them to go down but it's not actually that long (: as pain relief they get carprieve

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

tara sutton — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:52:20 GMT

We use a triple combo which works well with our bunnies. We give this s/c - there is little difference in time it take for the rabbit to get sleepy compared to IM and it's far less painful for the patient.

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

lisa Mead — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:39:30 GMT

We use vetergesic im, then 20 minutes later sedator and ketamine im. All our rabbits then get metacam, Zantac and emeprid sc along with sc fluids. We maintain anaesthesia with sevo.

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Sarah Cahill — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 11:00:03 GMT

Triple combo i/v (marginal ear vein). Works really well.

Re: Rabbit anaesthetics ...

Luckychlover — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 07:30:40 GMT

Triple combo and I/M as subcutaneous is too slow! Then convert to anaesthetic agent once the ketamine is not working anymore Hope this helps :)