Abstract

An understanding of the main complications associated with anesthesia in rabbits has been extrapolated from publications in dogs and cats along with anecdotal and experiential reports. However, to our knowledge, no comprehensive study of peri-anesthetic complications in domestic rabbits has been performed. A retrospective review of peri-anesthetic complications in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) undergoing anesthesia at a veterinary teaching hospital from 2005 to 2017 was carried out. Relevant peri-anesthetic data was collected from pre-medication prior to induction of anesthesia until discharge after the anesthetic event. Cases were excluded if the medical record was incomplete or the anesthesia time was less than 15 minutes. In total, 161 rabbits were included in this study. Hypotension was the most frequently observed peri-operative complication (55.9%). Ileus (gastrointestinal stasis syndrome) was the most frequently observed post-operative complication (63.3%). Arrest during anesthesia occurred in 3 cases (1.86%). Further detailed results and discussion will be provided during the presentation.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Young Investigator Grant for financial support of this project.