Is anesthesia safe for rabbits?

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.

Can you nurse a newborn rabbit?

Baby rabbits should be fed Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or goat milk, which you can buy at pet stores, or sometimes even a local veterinarian’s office. It is best to feed baby rabbits no more than twice a day, but sometimes it takes more feedings to get an adequate amount into them, especially at first.

How do you nurse an abandoned baby bunny?

Gather the wild baby rabbit in his blanket and feed him on his back, just as you would a human baby. Put the dropper to the baby rabbit’s mouth and allow him to suck the KMR at his own pace. Most baby rabbits will appreciate feedings twice a day. Once in the early morning and again late at night, just like in the wild.

How soon can rabbits eat after anesthesia?

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 rabbits handle anesthesia?

Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers. As such, it is important not to obstruct the nares for any reason during anesthesia. Rabbit eyes will remain open under anesthesia. As such, it is important to lubricate the eyes to prevent drying and corneal damage.

How long does it take for a rabbit to wake up from anesthesia?

After routine operations most rabbits should be ready to come home within a few hours of waking up from anaesthesia. Some animals take longer to come round and your vet will not allow your rabbit to leave the veterinary practice until it is fully conscious.

Do mother rabbits abandon their babies if humans touch them?

It’s a myth that a mother rabbit (and many other wildlife mamas) will reject their babies if they have a human scent on them. Just cover the nest and don’t touch the babies again; handling the little ones can cause injury and stress.

What do you feed a rabbit after surgery?

Offer tempting foods such as carrots, fresh herbs or freshly pulled grass. After neutering, female rabbits are usually quiet for the evening and may not want to eat. Males are quicker to recover, as their operation is shorter, but most rabbits will be sleepy for a short while.

How long do bunnies take to wake up from anesthesia?

Male rabbits tend to bounce back more quickly after surgery and will be almost normal within 24 to 48 hours. Females take longer and it may take 2 to 4 days for her to gradually return to normal activity.

What should I do if my rabbit is under anesthesia?

Anesthesia Protocols for Rabbits. Keep the head slightly elevated when in dorsal recumbency with the neck extended and never keep the rabbit on hard surfaces – use towels or padding and avoid v-trays. Taping the legs is preferable to tying the limbs for surgical procedures.

Why is pre-anesthetic evaluation important for rabbits?

Pre-anesthetic evaluation is critically important and sometimes overlooked with rabbit patients and thus complications and death are blamed on the anesthesia rather than poor patient management. Sick rabbits should be stabilized when needed to be sure they are appropriate anesthetic patients.

How long does it take a rabbit to nurse a baby?

The babies burrow to the bottom of the nest where they remain hidden until Mamma Rabbit wakes them up at mealtime. Only rarely does a mother rabbit nurse her young right after giving birth. Most often the first nursing will occur the night after the kindling. The rabbit’s rich milk sustains the babies for 24 hours at a time.

Why are baby bunnies not being nursed properly?

If you have pet rabbits, you may think the baby bunnies aren’t being nursed properly because they don’t see the mother rabbit with the bunnies. This is normal since in the wild and captivity mothers only nurse the babies for around five minutes each day.