| Popis: |
Publisher Summary This chapter reviews historical and contemporary topics relating to anesthesia of rabbits. Anesthetics can be delivered to rabbits by either parenteral or inhalant methods, or a combination of both. Balanced anesthesia is a technique for producing anesthesia in humans that is at present becoming popular for use in animals. This format utilizes the combinations of drugs in doses selected to maximize the major or desired effect and minimize undesirable or unnecessary effects. Balanced anesthetic regimens often include one or more parenteral agents plus a muscle relaxant and inhalant. Parenteral anesthetics are most often delivered to rabbits by the subcutaneous, intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV) routes. Although intraperitoneal (IP) anesthetic injection is certainly feasible in rabbits, it provides a slower onset and greater variability than IM and IV administration. Because some anesthetics may be irritating when delivered subcutaneously, care should be taken to dilute the injectate. Although subcutaneous administration may be the safest method of delivery, the onset of anesthesia will be slower, and the anesthetic plan achieved will show greater variability as compared to other methods. The very accessible marginal auricular vessels simplify intravenous anesthetic delivery to rabbits. For IM injection, anesthetics can be delivered into either the semitendinosus or semimembranosus muscles of the rear limbs or into the epaxial spinal musculature. Iatrogenic nerve irritation or injury from IM injection may lead to acute pain and rear leg paresis. |
