Anesthetic and reversal drugs for use in rabbits

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Name of drug	Dosage	Route	Remarks
Acepromazine/ Ketamine/ Xylazine	1 mg/kg/ 35 mg/kg/ 5 mg/kg	IM	Surgical anesthesia lasting 45 – 75 min. Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 100 – 150 min.
Alphaxalone/ Alphadolone	6 – 9 mg/kg	IV	Light anesthesia lasting 20 - 40 min. Respiratory depression is observed at higher doses Sleep time: 10 – 20 min.
Butorphanol/ Ketamine/ Xylazine	0.1 mg/kg/ 50 mg/kg/ 5 mg/kg	IM	Surgical anesthesia lasting 60 – 90 min. Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 120 – 180 min.
Butorphanol/ Ketamine/ Medetomidine	0.4 mg/kg/ 15 mg/kg/ 0.25 mg/kg	IM	Surgical anesthesia lasting 60 – 90 min. Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 120 – 180 min.
Enflurane	to effect	inhalant	Anesthetic gas of choice for rabbit surgery MAC = 2.9%
Fentanyl/Droperidol	0.2 mg/kg	SC	Surgical anesthesia lasting 30 to 40 min. Muscular relaxation Can induce bradycardia Sleep time: 90 – 240 min.
Fentanyl/Fluanosone/ Diazepam	0.3 ml/kg/ 2 mg/kg	IM IM, IV	Surgical anesthesia lasting 20 to 40 min. Muscular relaxation Sleeping time: 60 – 120 min.
Fentanyl/Fluanosone/ Midazolam	0.3 ml/kg/ 2 mg/kg	IM IM, IV	Surgical anesthesia lasting 20 to 40 min. Muscular relaxation Sleeping time: 60 – 120 min.
Halothane	Induction: 3 – 4% Maintenance: 1 – 2%	inhalant	Anesthetic induction or maintenance Cardiovascular depression
Isoflurane	Induction: 3 - 5% Maintenance: 1.5 – 1.75%	inhalant	Anesthetic gas of choice for rabbit surgery MAC = 2.05%
Ketamine	25 – 60 mg/kg	SC, IM IV	Short surgical anesthesia (20 min.) High dosage may induce respiratory depression or muscular stiffness Important salivary and bronchial secretions
	10 - 20 mg/kg
Ketamine/ Acepromazine	50 mg/kg 1 mg/kg	IM	Short surgical anesthesia (20 - 30 min.) Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 60 – 120 min.
Ketamine/ Diazepam	25 mg/kg/ 5 mg/kg	IM	Short surgical anesthesia (20 - 30 min.) Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 60 – 120 min.
	10-15 mg/kg/ 0.3-0.5 mg/kg	IM, IV
Ketamine/ Medetomidine	15 mg/kg 0.25 mg/kg	SC	Short surgical anesthesia (20 - 30 min.) Muscular relaxation Sleep time: 90 – 180 min.
Ketamine/ Xylazine	35 mg/kg/ 5 mg/kg	SC, IM IV	Short surgical anesthesia (20 - 30 min.) High dosage may induce bradycardia and muscular stiffness Important salivary and bronchial secretions Sleep time: 60 – 120 min.
Lidocaine	1.5%: 0.4 ml/kg		Epidural anesthesia
	10%: topical to glottis		Facilitated intubation
Medetomidine Reversal: Atipemazole	0.250 mg/kg 0.05 mg/kg	SC IV	Should be avoided in rabbits with health issues, due to respiratory and cardiovascular depression properties of this compound. Venipuncture is difficult due to vasoconstriction of the veins.
Methoxyflurane	Induction: 3% Maintenance: 0.401%	inhalant	Anesthetic induction or maintenance Good muscular relaxation Less pronounced cardiovascular depression than for halothane
Nalorphine	0.01 – 0.1 mg/kg	IV	Narcotic reversal
Naloxone	1 - 5 mg/kg	IV	Narcotic reversal
Pentobarbitone	20 - 45 mg/kg	IV	Light to medium plane anesthesia (20 - 30 min.) Best avoided in rabbits, due to respiratory and cardiac arrest at higher doses Sleep time: 60 – 120 min.
Propofol	8 - 12 mg/kg	IV	Short light anesthesia (5 - 10 min.) Respiratory depression depends on used dose No analgesic properties Smooth recovery Sleep time: 10 – 15 min.
Sevoflurane	to effect	inhalant	Anesthetic gas of choice for rabbit surgery MAC = 3.7%
Thiopenthal	30 – 45 mg/kg	IV	Ultra short surgical anesthesia (5 – 10 min.); given “to effect” Light analgesia Important salivary and bronchial secretions Possible respiratory failure Sleep time: 10 – 15 min.
Tiletamine/Zolazepam	10 – 25 mg/kg	IM	Should be avoided for use in rabbits, due to possible renal tubular necrosis, except when used intranasally (10 mg/kg)
Yohimbine	0.2 – 1.0 mg/kg	IM, IV	Xylazine reversal

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Further information

Brammer DW, Doerning BJ, Chrisp CE, Rush HG. Anesthetic and nephrotoxic effects of Telazol in New Zealand white rabbits. Lab Anim Sci. 1991; 41:432-5.

Doerning BJ, Brammer DW, Chrisp CE, Rush HG. Nephrotoxicity of tiletamine in New Zealand white rabbits. Lab Anim Sci. 1992; 42:267-9.

Flecknell P. BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery, Gloucester, UK: British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2000.

Harcourt-Brown F, Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2001.

Hillyer E.V. and Quesenberry K.E. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, New York: WB Saunders Co., 1997.

Laber-Laird K. Handbook of Rabbit and Rodent Medicine, Pergamon Veterinary Handbook Series) Butterworth Heinemann, 1996.

Robertson SA, Eberhart S. Efficacy of the intranasal route for administration of anesthetic agents to adult rabbits. Lab Anim Sci. 1994; 44:159-65.

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