Comparison of several combinations for anesthesia in rabbits

Few safe and effective anesthesia regimens have been described for use in rabbits, partially because of the susceptibility of this species to sometimes fatal respiratory depression. Although inhalant anesthetics are generally safer than injectable anesthetics, their use may be limited by lack of equipment or facilities. This study was conducted to compare effects of several injectable anesthetics in rabbits on response to noxious stimuli, heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Six injectable anesthetic combinations were administered to rabbits: xylazine-ethyl-(1-methyl-propyl) malonyl-thio-urea salt (EMTU), ketamine-EMTU, xylazine-pentobarbital, xylazine-acepromazine-ketamine (XAK), ketamine-chloral hydrate, and ketamine-xylazine. All combinations induced a depression of respiratory rate. Although rectal temperature values were reduced to some degree in each group, the most profound hypothermia was induced by XAK. The combination that induced the longest duration of anesthesia was XAK. It was concluded that XAK was preferable for longer periods of anesthesia (60 to 120 minutes), although it induces severe hypothermia. For short periods of anesthesia, xylazine-pentobarbital, xylazine-EMTU, or ketamine-xylazine were deemed adequate; however, xylazine-EMTU induced the best survivability and consistency.