References
Basic principles of anaesthesia of small mammals: part 2
Abstract
Several anaesthetic protocols are reported in the literature for small mammals; it is however fundamental that drugs used and perioperative management are based on each patient individually, considering several factors such as temperament, health status and the procedure to be performed. Alpha-2 agonists, benzodiazepines and opioids are the drugs most commonly used for sedation and premedication in small mammals. General anaesthesia can be induced with injectable agents, such as propofol and alfaxalone, but inhalant anaesthetics delivered by mask or in an induction chamber are still quite commonly used, particularly in smaller patients. Volatile agents are generally preferred for maintenance of anaesthesia, as easy control of the depth of anaesthesia is achievable. Endotracheal intubation is not always possible in these species, but practice and the use of an endoscope can facilitate the procedure. Analgesia should be provided for surgical procedures, and local anaesthetic techniques are warranted whenever possible.
In the first article (Scarabelli and Nardini, 2019), basic principles of the anaesthesia of small mammals were discussed. In this second article, a general overview of drugs commonly employed in the perioperative period is provided, together with protocols frequently used in the different species. In addition to anaesthesia of healthy animals, particular attention is paid to anaesthesia of animals with clinical conditions commonly encountered in clinical practice; examples include ferrets with insulinoma, rabbits with chronic kidney disease and guinea pigs with hepatic lipidosis (HL).
The most commonly used sedative drugs in small mammals are alpha-2 agonists (medetomidine and dexmedetomidine) and benzodiazepines. The use of acepromazine in combination with other drugs has been reported (Amarpal et al, 2010; Perez-Rivero and Rendon-Franco, 2014) but it is not routinely used by the authors mainly due to its unpredictable sedative effects, long duration of action and vasodilatory properties.
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