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should rabbits be fasted before anesthesia

by Trycia Buckridge Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits should not fast before operations. As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly.Feb 6, 2017

Full Answer

Do Rabbits have to fast before surgery?

Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits should not fast before operations. As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly. Bring some of your rabbit’s food (especially favorite greens) to the veterinary office.

What should I do if my rabbit has surgery?

As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly. Bring some of your rabbit’s food (especially favorite greens) to the veterinary office.

What do Rabbits eat after surgery?

As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly.

Is it safe to give a rabbit anesthesia?

Anesthesia Protocols for Rabbits. Many veterinarians and pet owners believe rabbit anesthesia is always a high-risk procedure; however, when done properly the risks are low and do not outweigh the benefits. Important steps must be taken to ensure anesthesia is done properly and safely leading to a successful outcome.

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How long should a rabbit fast before surgery?

Thus, a pre-anesthetic fast of 1-4 hours is recommended. Fasting also reduces the overall volume of the gastrointestinal tract thus reducing pressure on the diaphragm while under anesthesia. Fasting for longer periods of time may predispose them to post-operative ileus and may decrease blood glucose levels.

Do you starve rabbits before an operation?

Rabbits do not need to be and should not be starved prior to an operation as they are unable to vomit. They have a rapid metabolism which means that long periods without food can send them hypoglycaemic. They need to be fed their usual diet right up until the operation.

How soon after anesthesia can rabbits eat?

Your rabbit needs to begin eating as soon as possible – within 24 hours of surgery. Offer fresh water, hay, veggies, and pellets. Keep a close eye on food and water consumption. If normal eating and drinking does not resume within 24 hours consult your veterinarian.

How do you prepare a rabbit for surgery?

3:119:44How to Prepare your Rabbit for a Spay or Neuter Surgery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd make sure that they have no health conditions that would make it more risky to do a surgery.MoreAnd make sure that they have no health conditions that would make it more risky to do a surgery. They can just make sure that everything is in good condition. And make sure that you are prepared for

What are the chances of a rabbit dying under anesthesia?

One study found the risk of a rabbit dying under anesthesia to be about 1.39% overall – which is fairly low, but higher than for dogs and cats.

Why should rabbits eat before and after surgery?

Leading up to the surgery, you should feed your rabbit the same as you normally would. You should never fast your rabbit. Rabbits cannot vomit and their health depends on having food constantly moving through the system. If you were to fast them, it would make recovery after surgery a lot less certain.

Do rabbits survive anesthesia?

Overall, the risk of general anaesthesia is low, but rabbits have a higher risk than other pets like cats and dogs. The results of a 2 year study (CEPSAF), showed that in the UK the fatality rate from anaesthesia is 0.73% for healthy rabbits and 7.37% for sick rabbits.

What do you feed a rabbit after surgery?

Provide water and their normal food as soon as they come home. This includes fresh hay, pellets (if you are using them) and fresh leafy greens. Your rabbit may or may not eat the night of surgery but should be eating, urinating and passing droppings by the next morning.

Do bunnies wear cones after surgery?

Rabbits do not usually have to wear Elizabethan collars after surgery as many vets use surgical glue or stitches under the skin.

Can rabbits eat before being spayed?

Ask whether any pre-operative blood tests are advised. Don't change the diet in the week or so before surgery. Rabbits cannot vomit, so they don't need to be fasted before surgery. They should be offered food and water right up to the time of surgery and as soon as they wake up.

How do I prepare my rabbit for spaying?

The most important preparation for surgery is to NOT change your rabbit's routine in any way. Do NOT withhold food from your rabbit prior to surgery. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits cannot vomit so there is minimal risk of aspiration into the lungs during anesthesia.

Can rabbits eat before neutering?

Don't change the diet in the week or so before surgery. Rabbits cannot vomit, so they don't need to be fasted before surgery. They should be offered food and water right up to the time of surgery and as soon as they wake up.

How do I prepare my rabbit for neutering?

The most important preparation for surgery is to NOT change your rabbit's routine in any way. Do NOT withhold food from your rabbit prior to surgery. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits cannot vomit so there is minimal risk of aspiration into the lungs during anesthesia.

Do rabbits survive anesthesia?

Overall, the risk of general anaesthesia is low, but rabbits have a higher risk than other pets like cats and dogs. The results of a 2 year study (CEPSAF), showed that in the UK the fatality rate from anaesthesia is 0.73% for healthy rabbits and 7.37% for sick rabbits.

Why do rabbits need anesthesia?

A. Rabbits commonly present for anesthesia to address dental issues, ocular trauma, urinary calculi, and for castration or ovariohysterectomy. Rabbits are high-stress creatures; with agitated patients it may be safer and less stressful to anesthetize them, rather than physically restrain, for minor procedures like radiographs or large volume venipuncture. Ferrets are rarely sold intact, so anesthesia for spays and neuters is uncommon. Ferrets regularly present for anesthesia to address adrenal or pancreatic tumors. Both species often require anesthesia for bite wounds, orthopedic repair, spinal trauma, and abdominal exploratory.

What should be included in a pre-anesthetic exam for rabbits?

General information should include accurate weight, body condition score, hydration status, abdominal palpation, and auscultation of the heart and lungs.

How long do rabbits fast?

A. Rabbits: As a general rule, rabbits are fasted for 0–4 h, depending on nutritional status of the patient. Rabbits are often called a “non-vomiting” species. This group has a highly developed cardiac sphincter which prevents vomiting or regurgitation of food material. Rabbits utilize hind-gut fermentation and may suffer gastrointestinal stasis if held off-feed for extended periods. Some sources recommend withholding food to decrease stomach and intestinal volume, which may affect ventilation under anesthesia, but such fasting does not seem to produce any clinically appreciable results. If the patient will tolerate it, carefully rinsing or swabbing the mouth before anesthesia can remove large food particles. Water should be made available until surgery [5].

How long do ferrets have to be off feed?

Ferrets: Ferrets have a rapid gastrointestinal transit time, only 3–4 h, and are at higher risk for hypoglygemia. Generally ferrets are held off-feed for 4–6 h; fasting time should be less than 2 h if there is a known insulinoma. Water should be made available until surgery [6,7].

Why do we need premedication before general anesthesia?

A. Most patients (regardless of species) should receive premedication before general anesthesia. Premedication will reduce fear, stress, and anxiety. This is of crucial importance in these small mammalian species due to their normally high stress levels, which only increase during hospitalization.

How to restrain a ferret?

Ferrets: Ferrets may be nippy, but are fairly easy to restrain using the “scruff and stretch” method. The patient is held with one hand grasping the loose skin over the shoulders and the other hand circling the hips firmly. A gentle stretch is used to restrain the patient, without pulling on the hindlimbs.

Where to place IV catheter in rabbit?

A. Rabbits: IV catheters can be placed in the cephalic, lateral saphenous, marginal ear, and jugular veins. Female rabbits often have a large fold of skin under the chin called a dewlap that may make jugular catheter placement challenging [8,9]. Size 22–26 g intravenous catheters are typically used. Figure 43.1 shows catheter placement in the marginal ear vein of a rabbit. This is the preferred site for long-term catheters.

What to feed a rabbit for surgery?

On the day of surgery feed the usual diet consisting of hay, pellets, water, and leafy green vegetables.

Can rabbits be bonded?

If your rabbit has a bonded friend, call ahead to your veterinary office to find out their policy on bringing the bonded mate along for the appointment. Being with their bonded friend with can lower stress and be beneficial to healing.

Do rabbits need water after surgery?

As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly. Bring some of your rabbit’s food (especially favorite greens) to the veterinary office.

Do rabbits need to be fasted before surgery?

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits do not need to be fasted before surgery. In fact, fasting can interfere with proper function of their gastrointestinal tracts and may delay recovery from surgery.

Can rabbits live with each other before surgery?

This only applies to animals that have been living amicably together a month or longer, prior to surgery day. The day of surgery is NOT the day to start a new introduction! If a rabbit is living with a group of animals then choose one that you feel will be most suitable to be with the patient on the day of surgery.

Do you need to bring hay to a rabbit?

Please include any pelleted or dry diet you may be using along with a small amount of favorite fresh foods. You do not need to bring hay as we have a mixed orchard/timothy grass hay on hand that we will offer. However, if your rabbit is on a specific type of hay you prefer for us to use, then please bring along a small quantity.

Why do dogs fast during anesthesia?

The intent of pre-anesthetic fasting is to reduce anesthetic complications, specifically gastroesophageal reflux (GER), esophagitis, and aspiration pneumonia . It has been reported 17 to 50 percent of dogs experience GER under general anesthesia, so these are potentially common, and serious, complications. 2,5 In theory, fasting would reduce the volume of stomach contents, which would, in turn, reduce the risk of reflux, regurgitation, and aspiration. However, as usual, reality turns out to be more complicated than such a seemingly simple and straightforward theory can predict.

How long before anesthesia can dogs eat canned food?

Several prospective studies have compared the incidence of GER and the pH of gastric contents between dogs fed three hours and 10 hours before general anesthesia. The first of these fed dogs half of their calculated daily energy requirements in the form of canned food three hours or 10 hours before induction.

How long should cats fast?

Unsurprisingly, there is far less evidence regarding appropriate fasting times in cats. One study compared blood glucose, blood gases, standard cardiopulmonary monitoring parameters, and anesthetic recovery times in cats fasted for eight, 12, and 18 hours and found no differences. 8 However, GER and related anesthetic complications were not assessed, and the 2018 American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) states, “there are no data in cats” and recommends a three to four hour fast “at the clinician’s discretion.” 3

Does fasting affect esophagitis?

Another variable relevant to the risk of GER and esophagitis is gastric and esophageal pH. Reflux of more acidic contents is more likely to cause clinically relevant esophageal injury. So far, several studies investigating various fasting intervals have agreed that longer fasting times reduces gastric pH, which potentially increases the risk of esophageal injury if GER occurs. 2,5,7

Does fasting affect stomach contents?

For one thing, the duration of fasting does not consistently affect the volume of stomach contents. 6 Gastric emptying is affected by the specific composition of food ingested, including the protein, carbohydrate, and fat content. 7 The form of the food is also important: Dry food takes longer to process and expel from the stomach than canned food, which takes longer than liquids, such as milk. 6

Is gastric pH lower with longer fast?

Gastric pH was also significantly lower with the longer fast. 2. Another study by the same group randomized 120 dogs to three-hour and 10-hour fasts, as well as several different foods, including dry food, various canned foods with different nutrient profiles, and cow’s milk.

Is it safe to fast for dogs?

Based on the limited available evidence, it is at least clear prolonged fasting is neither necessary nor beneficial for dogs and cats. Gastric pH is lower with prolonged fasting, and most studies suggest the risk of GER and regurgitation is lower in dogs fasted for only a few hours rather than 10 to 18 hours. Withholding of liquids is likely unnecessary.

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1.Anesthesia Protocols for Rabbits | House Rabbit Society

Url:https://rabbit.org/anesthesia-protocols-for-rabbits/

28 hours ago 5 rows ·  · Fasting for more than 1 hour is unnecessary and should be avoided. Never hesitate to postpone or ...

2.Anesthetic Management of Rabbits and Ferrets | Veterian …

Url:https://veteriankey.com/anesthetic-management-of-rabbits-and-ferrets/

20 hours ago Yes it is recommended that rabbits fast for at least 3-4 hours before surgery. What is the purpose of fasting before surgery? Fasting helps to prevent …

3.Pre-Surgical Care | House Rabbit Society

Url:https://rabbit.org/pre-surgical-care/

23 hours ago Why Aren’t Rabbits Starved Before Surgery? Rabbits should not be starved prior to anesthesia as there is no risk of vomiting due to the rabbit’s inability to vomit (Varga, 2014). Regurgitation has (rarely) been reported (Parkinson et al, 2017). Fasting can actually be disastrous as there is a risk of slow intestinal motility and subsequent ...

4.Rabbit Pre-Surgical Instructions | Fox Valley Animal …

Url:https://www.fvawl.org/pre-surgical-instructions

6 hours ago  · Rabbits and ferrets should be fasted before anesthesia, however, the time requirements are much less than adult canine and feline patients. The fasting times for rabbits and ferrets are more closely in line with neonatal and pediatric patients. Rabbits and ferrets are at increased risk for hypothermia; warming devices should be on hand for any case.

5.Fasting bunny before surgery? : Rabbits - reddit.com

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/comments/40ukdj/fasting_bunny_before_surgery/

31 hours ago  · Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits should not fast before operations. As a matter of fact, rabbits should have food and water available right up to the time of surgery. Feeding keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving, which helps them to recover quickly. Bring some of your rabbit’s food (especially favorite greens) to the veterinary office.

6.Tiptrick 247 - Should rabbits be fasted before …

Url:https://www.facebook.com/tiptrick247/posts/134660985873875

23 hours ago Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits do not need to be fasted before surgery. In fact, fasting can interfere with proper function of their gastrointestinal tracts and may delay recovery from surgery. Please provide the normal diet and water for your pet up the time they are brought in for surgery.

7.Pre-anesthetic fasting: What’s the right number?

Url:https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/fasting-may-2021/

10 hours ago Rabbits cannot vomit, therefore fasting before a surgery is not necessary. MOST importantly, rabbits must always keep their guts moving, this means having access to hay/water 24/7. Apparently, the receptionist didn't know jack, but we talked to the doctor and he said to keep Flopsy fed before the surgery.

8.Vet told me to fast bun before neutering : Rabbits

Url:https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/comments/vmuoxg/vet_told_me_to_fast_bun_before_neutering/

36 hours ago Should rabbits be fasted before anesthesia Do you quick a rabbit before surgical procedure? Meals And Water In contrast to canine and cats, rabbits don’t have to be fasted before surgical...

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