Introduction

• Recovery from anesthesia Anesthesia: general is a critical period for rabbits.
• In a small animal survey, more than half of all anesthetic-related mortalities occurred in the post-operative period.
• Therefore, close monitoring, particularly in the first 3 h after ending anesthesia, is recommended.

Basic principles

Immediate post-operative period

Mid post-operative period

Late post-operative period

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Wenger S (2012) Anesthesia and analgesia in rabbits and rodents. J Exotic Pet Med 21 (1), 7-16 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Eatwell K (2014) Analgesia, Sedation and Anesthesia. In: BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, UK. pp 138-159.

• Heard D (2014) Lagomorphs (Rabbits, Hares and Pikas). In: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia. 2nd edn. Eds: West G, Heard D & Caulkett N. Wiley-Blackwell. pp 879-891.
• Hawkins M G & Pascoe P J (2012) Anesthesia, Analgesia and Sedation of Small Mammals. In: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. 3rd edn. Eds: Quesenberry K E & Carpenter J W. Elsevier Saunders. pp 429-451.
• Harcourt-Brown F (2002) Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Elsevier, UK. pp 410.