Rabbit anaesthesia

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Shona — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:15:11 GMT

We tend to use an indwelling digital rectal thermometer during bunny anaesthesia, it is v useful. There is always a lot of panic about bunnies losing heat during GA, which, of course, is true, but what we've found is that we can easily over-do it with the wheat bags etc, & end up with an overly cosy bun! This type of thermometer lets you keep a v close eye on the bunnies temp at all stages of the op!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Hannah Lowe — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:52:49 GMT

Thanks for all your replies some really helpful information. I will definately see if our pracice manager will let us get that book!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

les punton — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:21:10 GMT

this is very helpful thanks x

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Rachel Jayne — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:05:59 GMT

[quote user="Maisy"]

Sorry Rachel, I do tend to harp on about rabbit anaesthesia The nurses I used to work with groaned each time I came up with something else we could add to our protocols!

[/quote]

Lol, that's just like me!!!!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Maisy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:03:07 GMT

Sorry Rachel, I do tend to harp on about rabbit anaesthesia The nurses I used to work with groaned each time I came up with something else we could add to our protocols!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Rachel Jayne — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:53:17 GMT

I have that book too - it's fab.

I looked at this part of the forum on the list thinking "ooh I can go & write something on there" but I think you've covered just about eveything there Maisy!!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Maisy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:52:47 GMT

Also would recommend Rabbit Medicine and Surgery for Veterinary Nurses by Mary Fraser and Simon Girling for all nurses in practice. Very good book!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Maisy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:51:14 GMT

Used to work with a bunny specialist and followed these protocols:

Triple combo for anaesthesia and maintained on iso/o2 (all rabbits intubated). Pre oxygentate for 5 minutes, and increase volatile agent by 0.5% every two minutes. Placing bunny immediately onto volatile agent, or increasing too quickly often results in breath holding. ET tubes removed quite early on (almost instantly after procedure ended in healthy, non-risky buns), can leave in until safe in higher risk cases and again admin oxygen via mask. For rabbits who are unlikely to be fit for triple combo will have iv catheter into marginal vein and then incremental doses of propofol (propofol works really well in the bunnies who vets and nurses dread-i.e the skinny old dental disease buns!) Metoclopramide only really given where lots of gut handling (i.e during difficult spays) or after particularly long ops.

Analgesic administered half an hour at least before op is due to start. Early pain relief generally encourages better recovery and eating to be resumed fairly early on. Routinely the rabbit would be given Metacam, and then for patients requiring extra analgesia would be given Vetergesic i/m and home on Metacam.

Perioperative heat is via wheat bags. These work well especially for smaller bunnies, as the electric pads tend to work better for heavier patients and the wheaties can be moulded to the shape of the patient too. For the higher risk patients foil is wrapped round extremities (space bunny style!)

All patients receive warmed s/c fluids, though risky cases all receive i/v fluids.

Food is offered to all rabbits upon recovery (owners asked to bring in rabbits normal food). If not eating, they receive Critical Care via syringe feed. This comes in a fine formula so much easier to administer than Supreme Recovery, and had found that more rabbits took to this instead. Not technically recommended, but I liked to offer a very small amount of something like Russell Rabbit to the picky buns who were not interested in eating. Its not a diet I recommend but it certainly spurred the rabbit into eating more for itself during the critical time. Herbs/dandelion leaves are also good for this.

Hope this helps a bit, could go on forever about nursing bunnies

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Hannah Lowe — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:20:23 GMT

Thanks for the replies

Sarah that would be great, my e mail address is hanlowe@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Saskia Quinn — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:58:39 GMT

If you have the BSAVA Exotics manual, there is a good anaesthetic chart there for rabbit anaesthesia or even better, the BSAVA Manual of Rabbit medicine and surgery.

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Sarah Cahill — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:41:09 GMT

We have a rabbit expert at work, have a really good chart drawn up - will try and upload it for you - or if you post your email address I can send it that way!

Re: Rabbit anaesthesia

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:21:00 GMT

Think there is a nurse on here who works for N H & F M Harcourt-Brown who are rabbit specialist think they'll be able to help you draw up some decent protocalls, if not I'm happy to ask our anaesthetist for you