Fluid therapy is commonly used in rabbit medicine. In many situations fluid therapy will speed recovery for patients. Sometimes, it can be life saving. The 2 main indications include hypoperfusion (may occur under general anaesthetic) and dehydration (from gut stasis, anorexia etc). When the patient is dehydrated or water intake is prevented due to anorexia, diarrhoea fluid therapy is used to promote recovery. The majority of cases isotonic crystalloid fluids will be used. They are designed to mimic the extracellular fluid. Fluid should be replaced over 24 hours in cases of dehydration. Under general anaesthetic, vasodilation occurs as most anaesthetics cause relaxation of vascular muscles. Intravenous fluid can also replace fluid losses through respiration, evaporation from surgical site and blood loss. Perioperative fluid therapy aims to maintain adequate tissue perfusion. Inadequate perfusion can lead to cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological dysfunction as a result of organ damage or failure. I routinely incorporate intravenous fluid into my rabbit general anaesthetic, surgery and dental. In rabbits, intravenous fluid is placed into their ear veins which locate at the margin of the ear pinna. Most of them tolerate this procedure quite well without sedation. In order to secure the intravenous fluid, bandage is placed around the ear to support the fluid drip line. Many rabbits are curious about the drip line hanging around them. They may chew on the drip line that buster collar is used to prevent them from chewing off the drip. If the drip line is chewed off, their blood will flush out of the puncture site of the drip. That’s one of the main reasons that every patient with a drip line should only be monitored by qualified veterinary professionals in the hospital or clinic. |
