Pipp
Well-Known Member
Also see:
Medications
What Is It?
Excerpt 1 (from Taking the Fear out of Rabbit Anesthesia and Surgery -Susan Brown, DVM):
... Moderate to severe pain can represent a serious stress to the rabbit and can result in some potentially dangerous consequences. Many years past when we did not understand the full significance of pain management in rabbits, they would often survive a surgical procedure, only to die within the next 36 hours. The old cliche of 'the operation was a success, but the patient died' would apply to those situations. Some of these cases would most likely have survived if postsurgical pain had been managed thereby reducing the stress on the rabbit. ... Rabbits in pain recover more slowly. Analgesics may not always be needed for minor procedures, but should consistently be used for all major surgeries.
The most common analgesics currently used in rabbits include butorphanol, buprenorphine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as aspirin, carprofen, diclofenac, flunixin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, acetominophen and piroxicam. An alternative source of analgesia for chronic mild to moderate chronic pain relief is acupuncture or acupressure.
Excerpt 2: from GastroIntestinal Stasis, The Silent Killer, Part IV, Pain Relief: The Key To Keeping The Bunny FIghting To Live (by Dana Krempels, Ph.D)
The importance of analgesia to a rabbit's recovery cannot be overstated. A rabbit suffering from GI stasis will sometimes just seem to give up and die, possibly because of the sometimes extreme abdominal pain. Although officially approved only for use in horses, flunixin meglumine (Banamine) is an excellent NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) for use in rabbits. Although this drug can produce gastric ulcers in some species, substantial anecdotal evidence (involving many hundreds of rabbits over a period of many years) suggests that Banamine is tolerated well by rabbits, even when administered daily for several weeks. We have observed no adverse side effects from Banamine in our rabbits, some of whom have had to receive it daily for a week or longer.
Meloxicam (metacam) and Rimadyl (carprofen) are other NSAIDs which have been used with good results in rabbits.
Torbugesic, an opioid analgesic, provides good pain relief at relatively low doses. Although some practitioners fear that an opioid might contribue to GI slowdown, pain can certainly do the same. We have used opiods repeatedly in cases like this, with good results. We also have had success at relieving colic pain and inflammation of the intestinal lining with sulfasalazine, a combination sulfa antibiotic and NSAID compound. Sulfasalazine works topically to reduce intestinal inflammation.
Barium also may be useful as an intestinal "tonic" to relieve pain and help stimulate peristalsis, but its action is slow as compared to that of the aforementioned analgesics. As always, your veterinarian is the one best able to decide which type of pain relief is appropriate for your rabbit, given the specific conditions of his/her illness.
Recommended Articles:
The Importance of Analgesia (Pain Control) for Pet Rabbits (Susan Brown, DVM)
http://www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=500
What is Pain? (HRS, Joanne Paul Murphy, DVM)
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-10/pain.html
Taking the Fear Out Of Rabbit Anesthesia and Surgery
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=671&S=5
Articles and Links
Rabbit References (Morfz): Pain Management
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#pain
Rabbit-specific anesthesia-analgesia formularies (Drug Dosages)
http://www.iacuc.ucsf.edu/Proc/awIsRbtFrm.asp
RO Member Threads
Iszy is having problems again! (Arthritis?)
Gretchen's Spay (Pain Meds in an Ear Gel)
Easing Bunny Pains for Them
Medications
What Is It?
Excerpt 1 (from Taking the Fear out of Rabbit Anesthesia and Surgery -Susan Brown, DVM):
... Moderate to severe pain can represent a serious stress to the rabbit and can result in some potentially dangerous consequences. Many years past when we did not understand the full significance of pain management in rabbits, they would often survive a surgical procedure, only to die within the next 36 hours. The old cliche of 'the operation was a success, but the patient died' would apply to those situations. Some of these cases would most likely have survived if postsurgical pain had been managed thereby reducing the stress on the rabbit. ... Rabbits in pain recover more slowly. Analgesics may not always be needed for minor procedures, but should consistently be used for all major surgeries.
The most common analgesics currently used in rabbits include butorphanol, buprenorphine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) such as aspirin, carprofen, diclofenac, flunixin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, acetominophen and piroxicam. An alternative source of analgesia for chronic mild to moderate chronic pain relief is acupuncture or acupressure.
Excerpt 2: from GastroIntestinal Stasis, The Silent Killer, Part IV, Pain Relief: The Key To Keeping The Bunny FIghting To Live (by Dana Krempels, Ph.D)
The importance of analgesia to a rabbit's recovery cannot be overstated. A rabbit suffering from GI stasis will sometimes just seem to give up and die, possibly because of the sometimes extreme abdominal pain. Although officially approved only for use in horses, flunixin meglumine (Banamine) is an excellent NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) for use in rabbits. Although this drug can produce gastric ulcers in some species, substantial anecdotal evidence (involving many hundreds of rabbits over a period of many years) suggests that Banamine is tolerated well by rabbits, even when administered daily for several weeks. We have observed no adverse side effects from Banamine in our rabbits, some of whom have had to receive it daily for a week or longer.
Meloxicam (metacam) and Rimadyl (carprofen) are other NSAIDs which have been used with good results in rabbits.
Torbugesic, an opioid analgesic, provides good pain relief at relatively low doses. Although some practitioners fear that an opioid might contribue to GI slowdown, pain can certainly do the same. We have used opiods repeatedly in cases like this, with good results. We also have had success at relieving colic pain and inflammation of the intestinal lining with sulfasalazine, a combination sulfa antibiotic and NSAID compound. Sulfasalazine works topically to reduce intestinal inflammation.
Barium also may be useful as an intestinal "tonic" to relieve pain and help stimulate peristalsis, but its action is slow as compared to that of the aforementioned analgesics. As always, your veterinarian is the one best able to decide which type of pain relief is appropriate for your rabbit, given the specific conditions of his/her illness.
Recommended Articles:
The Importance of Analgesia (Pain Control) for Pet Rabbits (Susan Brown, DVM)
http://www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=500
What is Pain? (HRS, Joanne Paul Murphy, DVM)
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-10/pain.html
Taking the Fear Out Of Rabbit Anesthesia and Surgery
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=671&S=5
Articles and Links
Rabbit References (Morfz): Pain Management
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabrefs.html#pain
Rabbit-specific anesthesia-analgesia formularies (Drug Dosages)
http://www.iacuc.ucsf.edu/Proc/awIsRbtFrm.asp
RO Member Threads
Iszy is having problems again! (Arthritis?)
Gretchen's Spay (Pain Meds in an Ear Gel)
Easing Bunny Pains for Them
