Vet Q+A for Zeus’s neuter.. what do you guys think?

[bunnnnnnie!]

So today I talked to the vet who will be doing Zeus’s neuter.  Here’s what I learned..

– Vet only does 4-5 rabbit neuters/spays per year.  In this area, I’m not surprised.  Rural area, rabbits are livestock here.  But this still concerns me a little bit.  I asked the vet if she’s 100% comfortable neutering rabbits, and she said yes.

– Her sucess rate is 100%, she’s never lost a rabbit during a spay/neuter.

– She said absolutely not to fasting before the neuter, good sign.  She also said they give buns a shot to help keep their GI tract moving along during and after the neuter.  Anyone know what shot she’s talking about?  She also said to bring in Zeus’s favorite foods for after the neuter, and emphasized how important it was to get them eating asap.  So that was a good sign.

– Pain meds are given as a shot at the vet right after the procedure, and he’ll be coming home with liquid painkillers.  I didn’t ask what kind, oops.  But she said they send all buns home with painkillers, it’s not optional.

– Isofluorene is used to anesthetize, and a sedative is given before the isofluorene.

– She does open neuters, versus closed.  She uses dissolving sutures internally, then surgical clue for the external incision.  He’ll be sent home with a cone, but she said most rabbits don’t tolerate cones.

– I did forget to ask where he would be kept post-op, if they have a room seperate from the dogs/cats?  I won’t have him recuperating in a room full of barking dogs that will scare him, so I need to call back and ask about that.

What do you guys think?  She seemed very well-versed in rabbits.

 

[bunnnnnnie!]

Oh, and the cost is $200-$220.  But the cost really isn’t a deciding factor to me, so yeah.

[Sarita]

She sounds good to me. She probably gives a shot of metroclopramide (aka reglan) and the meds are most likely metacam.

[bunnyfriend]

She sounds good, meets a lot of things in the House Rabbit Society check list. The only thing would be that she does open neuters, the House Rabbit Society says closed is preferable but I’m not sure exactly why that is or if it makes a big difference. Does your vet do blood testing beforehand to look for pre existing conditions that would make the surgery unsafe? Also anything about providing fluids the an IV? My vet did that but I don’t think it’s necessary. I have never heard of the shot to keep the GI moving, but that sounds like a good thing.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 12/29/2011 12:42 PM
She sounds good to me. She probably gives a shot of metroclopramide (aka reglan) and the meds are most likely metacam.

 

She said the liquid painkillers are honey flavored, if that makes a difference.  She said most buns like the meds ok… I’m not so sure on that!

Is reglan the injectible painkiller, or the shot she was talking about for the GI tract?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By bunnyfriend on 12/29/2011 12:46 PM
She sounds good, meets a lot of things in the House Rabbit Society check list. The only thing would be that she does open neuters, the House Rabbit Society says closed is preferable but I’m not sure exactly why that is or if it makes a big difference. Does your vet do blood testing beforehand to look for pre existing conditions that would make the surgery unsafe? Also anything about providing fluids the an IV? My vet did that but I don’t think it’s necessary. I have never heard of the shot to keep the GI moving, but that sounds like a good thing.

She explained open vs closed neuters to me, but I’m not 100% sure the difference.. she said open neuters one more “layer” of the bun is opened up, but she prefers it because it gives a better view & access to all the blood vessels.
 

I don’t believe blood tests are done beforehand, IV unsure, but I don’t think so.

[Sarita]

Yep, that is metacam, it is a liquid and has a honey type flavor, most rabbits seem to find it palatable.

The relgan is the gut motility medication.

There are various types of injectible painkillers including metacam injections.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 12/29/2011 12:50 PM
Yep, that is metacam, it is a liquid and has a honey type flavor, most rabbits seem to find it palatable.

The relgan is the gut motility medication.

There are various types of injectible painkillers including metacam injections.

 

Can you explain the reglan to me a little, if you don’t mind?  I’ve never heard of it, what does it actually do?

[Sarita]

It’s a gut motility drug and is used alot in rabbits and guinea pigs to keep the gut moving.

I use it in the oral form on my rabbits after they get tooth trims.

Some vets also using cisapride. Reglan works on the upper gi tract and cisapride on the lower.

I’ve only used reglan but have had friends who’s vets use cisapride and sometimes they are used in combinations to get or keep the gut moving.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 12/29/2011 12:56 PM
It’s a gut motility drug and is used alot in rabbits and guinea pigs to keep the gut moving.

I use it in the oral form on my rabbits after they get tooth trims.

Some vets also using cisapride. Reglan works on the upper gi tract and cisapride on the lower.

I’ve only used reglan but have had friends who’s vets use cisapride and sometimes they are used in combinations to get or keep the gut moving.

Gotcha.  Thanks for the info.
 

I’m feeling pretty good about this vet.  She didn’t have to think about or “check on” any of the questions I asked, knew it all right off the bat, and was very encouraging of me asking questions.  I’m feeling slightly less panicked now.

[Stickerbunny]

She sounds fine – my rabbits do not fall for flavored medicine (it still SMELLS like medicine to me, so to them it probably reeks) but a lot of rabbits do tend to like it. Sounds like Zeus is in good hands though.

[bunnyfriend]

Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 12/29/2011 12:49 PM

She explained open vs closed neuters to me, but I’m not 100% sure the difference.. she said open neuters one more “layer” of the bun is opened up, but she prefers it because it gives a better view & access to all the blood vessels.

 

It’s always a good sign when a vet takes the time to explain things. I think Zeus will be just fine

[Monkeybun]

Sounds good She can’t help it if not as many people bring in bunnies to her She sounds knowledgeable enough to me. Answered everything correctly. Zeus should be fine with her

[LittlePuffyTail]

Sounds like Zeus will be in good hands.

[Author]

Messages