The Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Small Animal Fatalities (Brodbelt 2008) has shown how general anaesthesia in rabbits carries a higher risk of mortality compared to cats and dogs. The morbidity rate was determined as 1 in 72. This alarming finding may be explained by peculiar anatomic, physiologic and behavioral characteristics of rabbits, but also by the relative lack of familiarity and experience of veterinary surgeons when dealing with this species.
This webinar highlights the most common complications during the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period in pet rabbits.The approach to rabbit anaesthesia should aim to improve safety when treating these patients. Simple things such as appropriate housing, minimal stress when handling, preoxygenation before anaesthesia induction, intravenous access, choice of the correct equipment, of appropriate drugs and provision of adequate analgesia can make a huge difference in the patient care provided.
Recording from 07.05.2019
Speaker:
Clara Rigotti
Dr. Clara Rigotti DVM, PhD, Dip.ECVAA, MRCVS
Clara graduated from the University of Padua, Italy, in 2008. Shortly afterwards she moved to the UK and joined the Animal Health Trust (Newmarket) for a rotating internship, followed by an internship in Anaesthesia, and a residency in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Clara completed a PhD in Anaesthesia in 2013 at the Animal Health Trust in collaboration with the University of Padua.
In 2014 Clara was appointed as a Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia at the University of Liverpool and then became a Senior Lecturer in 2016.
Clara gained the European Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in 2015, she is a RCVS specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists.
In December 2017 she moved to Sydney and joined the Small Animal Specialist Hospital where she currently works as clinical anaesthetist.
