Rabbit, rodent and ferret anaesthesia Flashcards

1
Q

How does small size affect anaesthesia

A
  • venous access
  • intubation
  • thermoregulation
  • anaesthetic monitoring
  • haemorrhage significance
  • easily stressed (prey)
  • often have SC disease
  • difficult to assess pain (prey)
  • rapid metabolism
  • post-anaesthetic ileus common
  • short lifespan
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2
Q

What are pre-GA considerations for small mammals?

A
  • full CE for underlying problems
  • obtain accurate weight
  • bloods (geriatric or sick, never in rodents)
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3
Q

How much blood can be taken form a small mammal?

A

only 0.5%-1% bodyweight

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4
Q

Outline steps of stabilisation - 2

A
  • appropriate hospitalisation
  • fluids
  • nutrition
  • analgesia
  • tx underlying disease
  • gut stimulants
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5
Q

What is the maintenance fluid requirement for small mammals?

A

100ml/kg/day (i.e. twice that of dogs and cats!)

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6
Q

How can fluids be administered to small mammals?

A

SC, oral, IV or intra-peritoneal (IP) - vary routes with large volumes

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7
Q

What should you add to SC fluids?

A

Hyaluronidase 1500IU/L to help absorption

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8
Q

How do you place an IV catheter?

A

Clip and apply topical EMLA cream 45-60 minutes prior to catheter placement. Good restraint. Place after sedation only in VERY jumpy rabbits.

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9
Q

What should you be careful of when using the marginal ear vein?

A

artery in similar location

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10
Q

When do you fast small mammals?

A

Not necessary in rabbits or rodents.

Necessary in ferrets (4-6 hours) to prevent regurgitation and aspiration.

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11
Q

What 3 types of analgesic can be given?

A

NSAIDs
Opioids
Tramadol

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12
Q

How can pain be assessed in rabbits?

A

Difficult, currently much research is going into developing a pain score which includes signs such as:

  • cheeks tucked up
  • ears tightly back
  • eyes half-closed
  • tense
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13
Q

What other drugs might be given prior to induction?

A

Underlying problem tx

Prevent of likely complications (gut stimulant - ranitidine)

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14
Q

Why shouldn’t gas anaesthesia be used? 5

A
  • Apnoea (may be fatal)
  • Stress
  • Dose-dependent cardio-pulmonary depression
  • Irritates MM (increased ocular discharge and salivation)
  • No analgesia
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15
Q

What are the benefits of gaseous induction? 4

A
  • rapid
  • rapid adjustment to depth
  • rapid recovery
  • useful if hepatic or renal compromise.
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16
Q

How can gaseous induction be improved?

A
  • Consider pre-meds (opioid and midazolam combinations or Hypnorm at low doses)
  • Sevoflurane less irritant than isoflurane
  • quiet, dimly lit environment
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17
Q

What drugs are in Hypnorm? 2

A

Fentanyl and fluanisone

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18
Q

What do you need to know about Hypnorm?

A

Currently unavailable. Only licensed sedative for rabbits/rodents. Provides deep sedation but respiratory depression –> long recoveries.

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19
Q

How can you achieve gas induction (i.e. equipment)?

A

chamber or mask

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20
Q

What do you use in IM or SC induction?

A

TRIPLE combination - alpha2 agonist and ketamine +/- opioid

21
Q

Benefits - IM or SC induction - 3

A

deep sedation
good analgesia
easily reversed –> rapid recovery

22
Q

Disadvantages - IM or SC induction - 2

A

respiratory depression

bradycardia

23
Q

What should always happen with IV induction?

A

Always pre-med first

24
Q

What can you use for IV induction?

A

Propofol OR alfaxalone

25
Q

Benefits - IV induction - 2

A

Rapid induction and rapid recovery

26
Q

Disadvantages - IV induction - 3

A

IV access required
Significant resp. depression if quick infusion
Additional analgesia will be necessary.

27
Q

Is intubation recommended for EVERY rabbit and ferret anaesthetic?

A

YES

28
Q

What are the coniditions for intubation?

A

adequate sedation
pre-oxygenate first
don’t attempt >3 times (laryngeal damage)

29
Q

Name 5 intubation techniques

A
  1. blind
  2. visual (otoscope)
  3. visual (laryngoscope)
  4. endoscopic
  5. laryngeal mask
30
Q

Outline the steps in blind intubation

A
  • preoxygenate
  • check mouth - food/debris
  • position rabbit with nose to ceiling
  • introduce tube and listen for breathing sounds
  • advance tube towards sounds.
31
Q

Steps - visual intubation

A
  • preoxygenate
  • position nose to ceiling
  • use otoscope to displace soft palate and visualise the larynx
  • thread urinary catheter though cone
32
Q

Outline laryngeal masks (v-gels)

A

increasingly common. Can be easier to place than ETTs but harder to confirm correct position. Always use with capnographs. Easily displaced.

33
Q

Why is intubation not routinely performed in rodents?

A
  • narrow gape

- palatal ostium

34
Q

What is a palatal ostium?

A

rodent anatomical feature, it is the fusion of the soft palate to the base of the tongue which limits visibility with an otoscope/laryngoscope.

35
Q

What are the 4 most important parts of maintenance?

A

ventilation, circulation, warmth and ocular lubricant

36
Q

How can the patient be best vetilated?

A

position head and neck extended, thorax slightly elevated and ensure ETT is well-placed (harder for laryngeal masks)

37
Q

Why should you be prepared to do IPPV?

A

apnoea is not uncommon during rabbit anaesthesia. mechanial or manual.

38
Q

How many breaths per minute should you give on IPPV?

A

20-50bpm based on capnography

39
Q

How should fluids be administered during GA?

A

Divide into IV boluses q15 minutes OR small syringe driver but beware of fluids losing heat. Consider using intra-osseous (IO) route in small patients.

40
Q

How can you provide warmth?

A
  • room temperature *
    water-recirculatingheat mat, blankets, foil, bubble wrap, hot hands, microwaveable pads, warm fluids, minimise clipping BUT beware of burns
41
Q

What should you monitor?

A
RESPIRATORY - RR, pattern, depth
CARDIOVASCULAR - HR, pulse quality
MM colour and CRT
Temperature
Reflexes - tail/toe pinch and jaw tone
42
Q

Why do you use capnography?

A

to look at ventilation efficiency: RR, ETCO2, amount of CO2 being rebreathed.

43
Q

When is capnography particularly useful?

A

for intubation to check correct positioning

44
Q

What should you aim to maintain systolic BP at?

A

> 90mmHg (useful guide for fluid therapy)

45
Q

Outline intra-anaesthetic problems that may arise.

A
  • Occur quickly*
  • Apnoea - commonest
  • Cardiac arrest - follows apnoea quickly
  • hypothermia - long procedures.
46
Q

How should you be ready for an emergency?

A

same drugs/principles as cats/dogs
know doses and drugs
ideally always have IV access, consider IO if not.

47
Q

Outline small mammal anaesthesia recovery - 5

A
  • reverse induction agents (if necessary)
  • extra heat
  • don’t stop monitoring
  • recoveries may be long
  • most problems occur during this time
48
Q

How can you minimise post-anaesthetic ileus?

A
  • low stress environment
  • gut stimulants
  • nutrition
  • analgesia
  • keep in overnight if possible to ensure eating and faeces.