Surgery
Fracture Repairs (Orthopaedics)
Our vets are very experienced at mending broken bones and other orthopaedic procedures. Our surgeons regularly attend workshops and conferences to keep themselves up to date with the latest surgical techniques. We have several different technologies available for mending broken bones so we can mend even the most complicated of fractures. Each fracture is different and is accurately assessed before choosing the most appropriate technique. Where appropriate we also use bone grafting material to encourage bone healing. As with all our surgical procedures pain relief is very important to us and we use a variety of pain relief procedures including local nerve blocks, epidurals and constant intravenous infusion with morphine.
Gone are the days when a simple plaster-cast was applied to a broken leg and the fingers held tightly crossed to see if it would heal. Sometimes they did heal and sometimes they didn’t. The trouble with casts is that they just don’t hold the fractured ends of a bone still enough. If there is too much movement at the fracture site then the bone just will not heal. Another problem with casts is that they pretty much always cause friction rubs which are painful to the animal and require ongoing treatment once the cast has been removed. This can become very expensive. Nowadays casts are reserved for very simple, stable fractures in young dogs where the bone is expected to heal quickly. We also use them sometimes on fractured toes and to help protect ligaments after surgical repair.
The more modern way to treat fractured legs is surgical stabilisation with pins, plates, screws, wires, rods and clamps. There are a variety of surgical fixation techniques and each has its merit for a given situation. Surgical techniques are advancing all the time and at The Vet Centre we make sure we keep up with the most recent trends including external fixation apparatus. External fixation can be used in complicated fractures that would be difficult or impossible to mend using alternative techniques. External fixation uses pins which pass through the bones and are rigidly held in place with an external scaffolding system.They provide excellent stabilisation of even the most severe fractures.
The actual technique chosen to fix a particular fracture depends not only on the fracture itself but also on other things that can greatly affect bone healing. Young, healthy bones heal fast whereas old bones are slow especially if the animal has other health problems. Large, active dogs need a much more solid repair technique than does a small, quiet dog. The slower the bone is expected to heal the stronger the repair technique needs to be.
One of the most important things that affect bone healings is the follow-up care after surgery. It is important to follow your vet’s instructions carefully with regards to cage rest, keeping bandages clean and dry and returning to the clinic for revisits at the correct time. There is nothing more frustrating for us than seeing all our hard work in surgery being wasted due to poor aftercare.
Luxating Patella Surgery
- Grade 1 – The kneecap can be manually luxated but when released retruns to a normal position
- Grade 2 – The kneecap can be manually luxated but only returns to the normal position after manipulation of the leg or manual replacement.
- Grade 3 – The kneecap is constantly luxated. It can be physically returned to its correct position but then spontaneously luxates once released.
- Grade 4 – The kneecap is permanently luxated and cannot be returned to its normal position.
Surgery involves several corrective procedures including:-
- Deepening of the groove in the femur that the knee cap runs in.
- Translocation of the tibial tuberosity. This involves cutting the bone that the tendon of the kneecap is attached to and moving it towards the outside of the knee. Doing this encourages the kneecap to sit in the middle of the groove making luxation less likely.
- Anti-rotational suture to help prevent rotation of the tibia
- Lateral imbrication – to tighten the tissues to one side of the kneecap
- In severe cases the leg bones may need to be cut and plated to correct any bowing present.
Surgery is very successful with few complications.
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Repair
Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee joint is a very common injury which causes significant joint instability, lameness and if left untreated leads to crippling arthritis. There are several options for surgical repair and at The Vet Centre we keep ourselves up to date with the most recent repair techniques. We are the only veterinary practice in Marlborough to offer the very successful techniques of Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO) and the Modified Maquet Procedures (MMP).
What is the cruciate ligament?
There are two cruciate ligaments within the knee joint, a cranial ligament and a caudal ligament. Together these ligaments stabilise the knee joint, preventing backwards and forwards motion of the two leg bones (femur and tibia) relative to each other at the knee joint. If one of these ligaments ruptures the knee joint becomes unstable and the bones rub backwards and forwards against each other causing pain, lameness and erosion of the cartilage and other structures within the knee joint. The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is the more important of the two ligaments as it bears the most load during normal activity. It is the CCL that ruptures most commonly.
There are several reasons why the CCL might rupture. Young athletic dogs can suddenly rupture the ligament if they take a bad step or make a bad turn during play. This causes a sudden lameness. We often see this injury in active working dogs.
Another situation is in older large breed dogs, especially those that are overweight. These dogs may have chronically weakened ligaments and the ligaments may progressively stretch over time. In this situation the ligament may partially tear causing a chronic waxing and waning lameness. This partially torn ligament may then suddenly rupture at any time even if the dog is not doing anything particularly active. As the ligaments in both knees are likely to be chronically weakened it is common in this situation for both knees to have a cruciate injury during the animal’s life.
There is a genetic component in that certain breeds are more likely to develop chronically weakened cruciate ligaments. Those breeds at higher risk include: Neopolitan mastiff, Newfoundland, Akita, St. Bernard, Rottweiler, Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Diagnosis of CCL Rupture
If the ligament has completely ruptured it is possible to feel the backwards and forwards motion of the tibia relative to the femur at the knee joint. If there is a partial tear then diagnosis can be more difficult. Usually sedation is needed to accurately assess the knee joint. Often with chronic cruciate injuries or partial tears there will be thickening of the knee joint and pain when manipulating the knee. X-rays of the knee may show an increase in the volume of joint fluid and arthritic changes within and around the joint. A combination of palpation of the joint and taking X-rays usually allows accurate diagnosis of cruciate injury although sometimes exploratory surgery of the knee joint is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Surgical Options
There have been many different techniques used over the years for CCL repair. Some are now no longer used and others have been extensively modified in the search for the ideal repair method. The aim of cruciate repair is to regain mobility with little or no ongoing lameness and to offset the time of development of arthritis. The best repair method will depend on the situation of each individual animal. Traditional methods involve replacement of the ligament with surgical implants such as pieces of nylon or strips of connective tissue. Newer techniques involve surgically altering the whole biomechanics of the knee joint so that the cruciate ligament is no longer needed.
a. Modified Maquet Procedure (MMP)
This is our newest procedure and is suitable for any size of dog. This technique alters the biomechanics of the knee joint so that a CCL is no longer needed. This is achieved by cutting the bone on the front of the tibia and advancing the tibial tuberosity forwards by insertion of a titanium foam wedge. A metal staple and pin are used to hold the wedge and bone in position. Advancement of the tibial tuberosity results in a backwards force on the tibia which stabilises the knee joint without the need for an intact CCL. MMP surgery is quicker and less technically challenging than TTO surgery yet has an equally successful outcome. As MMP is less invasive, involving less surgical trauma to the bone and soft tissues of the knee compared to TTO surgery, there is less post-operative pain and the speed of recovery is quicker following MMP. As surgical time is quicker the cost of MMP surgery is less than that of TTO. MMP has become our surgical technique of choice for cruciate ligament injury.
With the foam wedge in place, a stainless steel Kirshner wire is advanced through a hole in the Orthofoam wedge until fimly seated in the tibia bone on the opposite side
Pointed bone reduction forceps are used to compress the wedge while a staple is tapped in to pre-drilled holes to help provide stability of the surgical repair from day 1
b. Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO)
This technique is a relatively new approach to CCL injury and is generally only used in larger breed dogs. Like MMP, it does not repair the ligament as such but alters the whole biomechanics of the knee joint so that a CCL is no longer needed. The knee joint is stabilised by the action of actively contracting muscles. The purpose of developing this technique was to improve the success rate in treating cruciate rupture in large breed dogs where failure of nylon implants is more likely than in smaller animals.
There are a variety of techniques available to alter knee joint mechanics and the TTO combines two of the most successful techniques, the TPLO (tibial plateau levelling osteotomy) and TTA (tibial tuberosity advancement). In the normal knee joint the slope on the top surface of the tibia results in a lot of load bearing force being exerted onto the CCL. If the ligament is ruptured this force causes the tibia to move forwards. If the top surface of the tibia is made level then there is no force to move the tibia forwards and so the knee joint remains stable despite having no CCL.
To achieve a level tibial plateau three cuts are made in the tibia and a wedge of bone is removed. The cut ends of bone are compressed together which alters the angle of the top of the tibia and at the same time moves the front edge of the tibia further forwards. The bone is then held in its new position with a special ‘T’ shaped bone plate. This technique is technically difficult and requires investment in special instruments to make accurate cuts in the bone. The Vet Centre has invested in the necessary equipment and expertise and has been successfully performing this surgery since 2006.
Excellent results have been achieved with this technique, with more rapid recovery times, less progression of arthritis and return to athletic function in large breed dogs.
De-Sexing
Canine Castration
Why do I need to castrate?
The main reasons for performing surgical sterilisation (castration or neutering) of the male dog is to reduce unwanted behaviours such as aggression and sexual urges.
There are also many health benefits for the dog in having this procedure:
Advantages:
- Reduces sexual urges – the interest in roaming is reduced by 90% in neutered dogs
- This can consequently reduce the likelihood of being hit by car, contracting a contagious disease or being impounded by animal control
- Eliminates aggressive behaviour towards other male dogs in 60% of neutered dogs
- Eliminates urine marking in 50% of neutered dogs
- Eliminates inappropriate mounting in 70% of neutered dogs
- No unwanted puppies
- Prevents infection and enlargement of the prostate gland – this is because higher testosterone levels in entire dogs predisposes the prostate gland to infection and causes enlargement with age.
- Cancer of the testicles – castration removes any risk of testicular cancer.
- This is particularly important for dogs with undescended testes as they have a higher risk of developing cancer and the testicles can also twist on their cords and cause life-threatening inflammation.
Disadvantages:
- You will not be able to breed from your dog.
- Will they become fat? Activity level and appetite do not change with neutering. It is a common fallacy that a de-sexed dog will become fat and lazy. Remember that service animals (Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Dogs for the Disabled) are routinely desexed. Feeding a scientifically prepared diet without excessive tidbits should adequately control any problems of weight gain, just as it does in the entire animal.
- Will they lose character? Often dogs will become gentler but they will lose neither their spirit, playfulness nor their intelligence.
When Is The Best Time to Neuter?
Our clinic recommends neutering male dogs at 6 months of age, prior to puberty. However it can be done later in life if needed.
If you are wanting to neuter for behavioural benefits it is best to do this prior to puberty as once a hormone-triggered behaviour has continued long enough, you can be dealing with a firmly entrenched habit that will not fade even after neutering
All animals should be fully vaccinated prior to surgery.
What Happens When a Male Dog Is Neutered?
As the operation is performed under general anaesthetic it is important that no food is given from 7pm the night before the surgery, and no water is to be given from 7am the morning of surgery.
On the Day
- Patients will be presented at the clinic for surgery admission between 8-8.30am
- A pre-operative evaluation is performed
- Blood work is recommended for older patients and may be recommended as a normal pre-anaesthetic consideration.
- A sedative will be given under the skin to ease the induction of anaesthesia and provide pain relief
- A small patch of hair will be shaved off one of the patient’s legs so that a medication may be given intravenously to induce sleep.
- Once asleep a tube is placed down the throat to ensure that a clear airway is maintained throughout the procedure.
- The tube is connected up to an anaesthetic machine that delivers a specific concentration of anaesthetic gas mixed with 100% oxygen to maintain anaesthesia.
- In the surgical prep area the scrotal area is shaved and scrubbed, the patient is then moved through to the surgical theatre where sterile surgical drapes are placed over the patient to isolate the area where the surgery will take place
- An incision is made just forward of the scrotum, then both testicles are removed through this incision, the cords tied off and cut. Sutures are used to close the wound
- A trained, qualified nurse will monitor the patient’s depth of anaesthesia, membrane colour, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood throughout the surgery.
- At the end of the surgery another Injectable pain relief will be given which will last 24hrs.
- The veterinary nurse will remain monitoring the patient until fully recovered and they will be kept in an observation room until able to walk.
- The patient will be able to go home the same afternoon.
What to Expect at Home
- <span”>All patients whom have been neutered at The Vet Centre will be provided with post-op pain relief, either in the form of chewable tablets or liquid drops, to go home with.
- Most neuter patients go home the same day as if nothing happened, some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after surgery, and it would not be unusual for the dog to refuse food for a day or two after surgery.
- Sometimes a cough is noted after surgery; this may have been caused by the tube in the throat and should only last for a couple of days.
- Patients who lick at their stitches will need an Elizabethan or “E” collar to restrict access to their stitches.
- The scrotum is often slightly swollen in the first few days after surgery. If the dog is immature at the time of neutering, the empty sack will flatten out as he grows. If mature at the time of neutering the empty scrotum may remain as a flap of skin.
- Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery as excessive activity can lead to unnecessary and prolonged swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision.
Skin stitches are removed 10-14 days after the surgery, this service is provided free of charge and it is important to make an appointment with one of our veterinary nurses for this so that they may check the wound has healed well.
Canine Spey
Why should I spey my dog?
Surgical sterilisation (ovariohysterectomy) of the female dog, commonly referred to as speying, is one of the most significant aspects of female dog care an owner can provide.
The main reason for performing the operation is to prevent the “heat” period and hence prevent the female dog from having puppies. There are also many health benefits for the female dog in having this procedure:
Advantages:
- Convenience – unspeyed female dogs come into season twice a year, each season/heat lasting approximately 3 weeks, during which time she will have a bloody discharge and have to be confined.
- No unwanted puppies
- No phantom pregnancies, which in some bitches cause a lot of distress
- Mammary cancer prevention – a female dog speyed before her first heat will have a near zero (0.05%) chance of developing mammary cancer. After the 1st heat the incidence climbs to 7% and after the 2nd heat the risk is 25%! Is it too late if the dog is past her 2nd heat? No, in fact spaying is important even in female dogs that already have mammary tumours. This is because many mammary tumours are stimulated by oestrogens; removing the ovaries, the source of oestrogens, will help retard tumour spread.
- Pyometra prevention – a life-threatening toxic infection of the uterus that commonly occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the 6 weeks following heat. The uterus is filled will pus, bacteria, dying tissue and toxins; treatment requires emergency surgery and can be prevented by speying.
Disadvantages:
- You will not be able to breed from your dog
- Incontinence – female dogs speyed after 3 months of age have a 5% incidence of developing urinary incontinence in middle age, versus 12.9% incidence in female dogs speyed before they are 3 months old.
- Will they become fat? Activity level and appetite do not change with speying. It is a common myth that a de-sexed dog will become fat and lazy. Remember that service animals; Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Dogs for the Disabled are routinely desexed. Feeding a scientifically prepared diet without excessive tidbits should adequately control any problems of weight gain, just as it does in the entire animal.
- Will they lose character? Often dogs will become gentler but they will lose neither their spirit, playfulness nor their intelligence.
When Is The Best Time To Spey?
- Our clinic recommends speying female dogs at 6 months of age, prior to puberty.
- It is most important to spey them prior to their first season to reduce the risk of mammary cancer.
- All animals should be fully vaccinated prior to surgery
- 4 weeks after season, if you missed your chance to spey before the first season
- 1-2 weeks after weaning of pups. There is no advantage for the bitch in letting her have a litter before speying.
What Happens When a Female Dog Is Speyed?
As the operation is performed under general anaesthetic it is important that no food is given from 7pm the night before the surgery, and no water is to be given from 7am the morning of surgery.
On the Day
- Patients will be presented at the clinic for surgery admission between 8-8.30am
- A pre-operative evaluation is performed Blood work is recommended for older patients and may be recommended as a normal pre-anaesthetic consideration.
- A sedative will be given under the skin to ease the induction of anaesthesia and provide pain relief.
- A small patch of hair will be shaved off one of the patient’s legs so that an intravenous catheter may be placed to facilitate fluid therapy during surgery, for administration of anaesthetic drugs, and for use in case of emergency.
- A medication is then given intravenously through the catheter to induce sleep
- Once asleep a tube is placed down the throat to ensure that a clear airway is maintained throughout the procedure.
- The tube is connected up to an anaesthetic machine that delivers a specific concentration of anaesthetic gas mixed with 100% oxygen to maintain anaesthesia.
- In the surgical prep area the abdomen is shaved and scrubbed, the patient is then moved through to the surgical theatre where sterile surgical drapes are placed over the patient to isolate the area where the surgery will take place
- An incision is made on the midline of the abdomen, and the three points where the ovaries and uterus attaches are tied off and cut. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and 2-3 layers of stitches are placed to close the incision in the abdominal wall.
- A trained, qualified nurse will monitor the patient’s depth of anaesthesia, membrane colour, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood throughout the surgery.
- At the end of the surgery another Injectable pain relief will be given which will last 24hrs.
- The veterinary nurse will remain monitoring her until fully recovered and the patient will be kept in an observation room until able to walk.
- The patient will stay the night in hospital to ensure strict bed rest. This night also allows for proper administration of pain medication for a longer time period as well as a post-operative check up with the vet the morning after the surgery.
What to Expect at Home
- All patients whom have been speyed at The Vet Centre will be provided with post-op pain relief, either in the form of chewable tablets or liquid drops, to go home with.
- Most spey patients go home the next day as if nothing happened, some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after surgery, and it would not be unusual for the dog to refuse food for a day or two after surgery.
- Sometimes a cough is noted after surgery; this may have been caused by the tube in the throat and should only last for a couple of days.
- Patients who lick at their stitches will need an Elizabethan or “E” collar to prevent access to their stitches.
- Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery as excessive activity can lead to unnecessary and prolonged swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision.
- A post-op check 3-5days after the surgery is highly recommended, to monitor healing and to check for swelling or infection.
Skin stitches are removed 10-14 days after the surgery, this service is provided free of charge and it is important to make an appointment with one of our veterinary nurses for this so that they may check the wound has healed well.
Why do I need to castrate my cat?
Castration or neutering refers to the procedure of removing the male sex glands, the testicles. Castration reduces the sex instinct, fighting and night prowling so common to the male cat. Unless you are serious about showing or breeding, desexing is recommended for all pet cats.
Advantages:
- Roaming – more than 90% of cats will reduce this behaviour with neutering
- Fighting – more than 90% of cats will reduce this behaviour with neutering.
- By reducing fighting the risk of abscesses and contracting the feline AIDS virus is greatly reduced (currently it is estimated that 14% of the New Zealand cat population is infected with FIV)
- Urine marking – more than 90% of cats will reduce this behaviour with neutering
- Feral population – desexing the male cat is essential to prevent a further increase in the feral cat population
Remember that cats are night-hunters by nature and while castration will stop the tendency to compete for females, it will usually not diminish the cat’s natural tendency to hunt.
When Is The Best Time To Castrate?
Our clinic recommends castrating male cats at 5-6 months of age, prior to puberty. If you are wanting to neuter for behavioural benefits it is best to do this prior to puberty as once a hormone-triggered behaviour has continued long enough, you can be dealing with a firmly entrenched habit that will not fade even after neutering
What Happens When a Male Cat Is Castrated?
As the operation is performed under general anaesthetic it is important that no food is given from 7pm the night before the surgery, and no water is to be given from 7am the morning of surgery.
On the Day
- Patients will be presented at the clinic for surgery admission between 8-8.30am
- A pre-operative evaluation is performed
- A sedative will be given under the skin to ease the induction of anaesthesia and provide pain relief
- A small patch of hair will be shaved off one of the patient’s legs so that a medication may be given intravenously to induce sleep.
- Once asleep a tube is placed down the throat to ensure that a clear airway is maintained throughout the procedure.
- In the surgical prep area the testicles are shaved and scrubbed ready for surgery
- Two incisions are made into the scrotum, each tube tied, cut and testicles removed. No sutures are required in the skin.
- A trained, qualified nurse will monitor the patient’s depth of anaesthesia, membrane colour, heart rate and respiration and throughout the surgery.
- At the end of the surgery another Injectable pain relief will be given which will last 48 hours.
- The veterinary nurse will remain monitoring the patient until fully recovered and they will be kept in an observation room until able to walk.
- The patient will be able to go home the same afternoon.
What to Expect at Home
- Most feline castrate patients go home the same day as if nothing happened, some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after surgery, and it would not be unusual for the cat to refuse food for a day or two after surgery.
- Sometimes a cough is noted after surgery; this may have been caused by the tube in the throat and should only last for a couple of days.
- Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery as excessive activity can lead to unnecessary and prolonged swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision.
- Rechecks are usually not required as healing is so fast in male cats.
Feline Spey
Why should you spey your cat?
Speying your cat is an important part of basic cat healthcare. Speying at a young age prevents mammary cancer and spaying at any age prevents unwanted kittens, noisy heat cycles and possibly even urine marking in the house.
Unless you are serious about showing or breeding, desexing is recommended for all pet cats.
Owners are often tempted to have at least one litter from their female cat. However there is no advantage for the female cat in letting her have a litter before speying. Breeding is an expensive and time consuming process which requires a lot of hard work. It is not recommended without serious study of the involvement you will be required to give. It can be very difficult to find suitable homes for the kittens and unfortunately the SPCA is forced to euthanase many unwanted kittens.
When is the best time to Spey?
- Our clinic recommends speying female cats at 5-6 months of age, prior to puberty.
- What if she is in heat? Speying while in heat does not carry a significant risk to the cat but may take a little longer due to engorgement of the tissues and blood vessels, a small extra charge may be incurred.
- What if she is pregnant? Speying can be performed at any time during the course of pregnancy. Owners may be unaware that their cat is pregnant so it is recommended that you let the clinic know whether you wish the surgery to proceed if she is pregnant. Due to extra work and surgery time an extra fee will be charged for speying a pregnant animal.
- If your cat has just had kittens we recommend waiting until 1-2 weeks after the kittens are weaned before speying.
Our clinic routinely performs feline spays by a “flank” approach (on the side of the abdomen). If your cat has coloured “points” (e.g. Siamese, Birman, Ragdoll) the hair can grow back the darker colour of the points so you may wish to have a “midline” spey (in the centre of the abdomen) performed to prevent a patchy appearance to the colour of the coat. This is slightly more expensive than a routine spey.
What Happens When a Female Cat Is Speyed?
As the operation is performed under general anaesthetic it is important that no food is given from 7pm the night before the surgery, and no water is to be given from 7am the morning of surgery.
On The Day
- Patients will be presented at the clinic for surgery admission between 8-8.30am
- A pre-operative evaluation is performed
- A sedative will be given under the skin to ease the induction of anaesthesia and provide pain relief
- A small patch of hair will be shaved off one of the patient’s legs so that a medication may be given intravenously to induce sleep.
- Once asleep a tube is placed down the throat to ensure that a clear airway is maintained throughout the procedure.
- The tube is connected up to an anaesthetic machine that delivers a specific concentration of anaesthetic gas mixed with 100% oxygen to maintain anaesthesia.
- In the surgical prep area the side of the abdomen is shaved and scrubbed, the patient is then moved through to the surgical theatre where sterile surgical drapes are placed over the patient to isolate the area where the surgery will take place
- An incision is made on the side of the abdomen, and the three points where the ovaries and uterus attaches are tied off and cut. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and 2-3 layers of stitches are placed to close the incision.
- A trained, qualified nurse will monitor the patient’s depth of anaesthesia, membrane colour, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood throughout the surgery.
- At the end of the surgery another Injectable pain relief will be given which will last 48 hours.
- The veterinary nurse will remain monitoring the patient until fully recovered and they will be kept in an observation room until able to walk.
- The patient will be able to go home the same afternoon.
What To Expect At Home
- Most feline spey patients go home the same day as if nothing happened, some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after surgery, and it would not be unusual for the cat to refuse food for a day or two after surgery.
- Sometimes a cough is noted after surgery; this may have been caused by the tube in the throat and should only last for a couple of days.
- Patients who lick at their stitches will need an Elizabethan or “E” collar to restrict access to their stitches.
- Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery as excessive activity can lead to unnecessary and prolonged swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision.
Skin stitches are removed 10-14 days after the surgery, this service is provided free of charge and it is important to make an appointment with one of our veterinary nurses for this so that they may check the wound has healed well.
Caring for your Rabbit
Rabbits make great family pets and are now the third most popular pet after cats and dogs. They are relatively easy to look after but there are certain things you need to know to keep your pet rabbit healthy. You should also be aware that rabbits are not a hardy species. Their immune system is not the best at fighting disease and they often find it hard to fight infection. Rabbits survive as a species by having a very effective rate of reproduction and the longevity of each individual rabbit is not important for the survival of the species.
Nutrition.
Providing a healthy diet is the most important thing you can do to help keep your rabbit healthy. A huge number of pet rabbits in New Zealand are fed an inappropriate diet which leads to obesity and a number of other associated problems including faecal and urine soiling, arthritis, liver disease, teeth issues, all of which lead to a reduced quality of life and shorter life expectancy.
Rabbits are what we call ‘hind gut fermenters’ and need a lot of fibre in their diet. All rabbits should have an ad lib supply of meadow hay so they never run out. They need to eat at least their own body volume in hay per day. Apart from keeping their guts healthy it helps to grind down their teeth to avoid dental problems.
People often misguidedly feed muesli type commercial rabbit food but this is the worst food choice for your rabbit. Apart from being high in carbohydrates rabbits often pick out the tastiest, least healthy parts of the muesli and leave the rest. Most commercial rabbit pellets, apart from the high fibre pellets manufactured by Oxbow Animal Health, are also too high in energy and should be avoided except as occasional treats.
All your rabbit needs is ad lib meadow hay and a variety of green, leafy vegetables (2 cups per day for a 2kg rabbit). It will come as a surprise to many but even carrots (and fruit) are considered too high in energy to feed regularly to rabbits. Reserve carrots for occasional treats.
If you are already feeding your rabbit daily on muesli or pellets we encourage you to slowly wean them off. It is important to slowly wean them off over several weeks to avoid fatty liver disease which is common in rabbits if you suddenly reduce their energy intake.
Vaccination
Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) is one of the main causes of death in pet rabbits in Marlborough and all pet rabbits should be vaccinated against this.
What is RCD?
RCD was introduced illegally into New Zealand in 1997 in a hope to control the wild rabbit population and it is now available legally as a product for rabbit control. Unfortunately it does not discriminate between wild rabbits and pet or farmed rabbits. RCD is highly contagious and the virus can travel some distance in moisture particles in the air. This is emphasised by the fact that we see cases of RCD in pet rabbits living in town that have no contact with the wild rabbit population. RCD has a very short incubation period of just 1-3 days and the death rate is close to 100%. For this reason the rabbit is usually found dead without showing any signs of prior illness. Occasionally a rabbit may be off colour for 1-2 days but unfortunately there is no treatment to stop progression to death.
When do I need to vaccinate my rabbit?
The good news however is that the disease can be prevented by vaccination. The first injection is given once the rabbit reaches 12 weeks of age followed by a booster injection every year. If your pet rabbit has never been vaccinated or hasn’t had yearly boosters please don’t delay in making an appointment.
Does my rabbit need to vaccinated against anything else?
RCD is the only disease in New Zealand that rabbits need vaccinating against. Myxomatosis vaccine is commonly used overseas, but it is not needed in New Zealand as we are free of this.
De-sexing of rabbits
Rabbits are prolific breeders and if keeping males and females together it is necessary to castrate the males or spay the females to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Often people just have the males castrated as it is a simpler and quicker procedure than spaying the females. However there are other reasons why it is important to spay female rabbits.
Female rabbits often get cancer (adenocarcinoma) of the uterus and an estimated 70-80% have developed this by the age of seven years. Although it is possible to spay a rabbit with cancer of the uterus the cancer is likely to have already spread to other parts of the body in 40% of cases. It is far better and also cheaper to routinely spay female rabbits at 4-6 months of age before the cancer develops.
Rabbits are sociable animals and like living together in pairs, or larger groups. However rabbits can fight when kept together and to reduce this it is advisable to de-sex them all.
Fleas and Mites
Rabbits often suffer from fur mites (Cheyletiella) which causes itching, bald patches and clumps of white dandruff in the fur. It is highly contagious between rabbits and these mites can also bite humans resulting in an itchy rash. Meadow hay is often the source of mites so if your rabbit does get mites you need to change your source of hay and destroy your old stock. It is safest to buy hay from your pet-shop or vet to ensure it is free of mites.
Treatment involves a series of injections given by your vet. As an alternative treatment you can now apply Revolution at home yourself. Revolution is a pour-on insecticide, originally for cats and dogs, that has now been approved for rabbits. It is very safe and effective in rabbits from 8 weeks of age and is active against fur mites, ear mites, sarcoptes mites as well as fleas. It is important you use the correct dose and formulation. For rabbits less than 2.3kg (and older than 8 weeks) you can safely apply a vial of puppy/kitten Revolution. For rabbits greater than 2.3kg you can apply a vial of cat Revolution. Revolution designed for dogs is at a higher concentration and is not suitable for use on rabbits. Revolution should be repeated monthly to prevent re-infestation.
Rabbits do also get fleas and these can be controlled or prevented by regular use of revolution. Fleas cause irritation of the skin and also transmit Rabbit Calicivirus (RCD, see above). Overseas, rabbit fleas also transmit myxomatosis but we are lucky that New Zealand is free of this disease.
Use monthly revolution to prevent fleas and mites and help control RCD. Vaccination is the best way to avoid RCD.
Teeth
Rabbit’s teeth grow continuously throughout their life. They keep them worn down by grinding their teeth together whilst grazing grass and hay that needs chewing well before they can swallow it. If they do not get enough grazing time or hay, their teeth will grow faster than the rate at which they wear them down. The teeth will become too long making it difficult to eat and trimming the teeth becomes necessary. This is a job for your vet, not something you can do correctly at home.
Sometimes the teeth will grow in the wrong direction so that they do not grind together whilst eating. These teeth will need trimming very regularly and sometimes it is better to have the offending teeth removed to prevent further problems.
The back teeth can develop sharp spurs on their edges which can cut into the tongue and cheek causing pain. Symptoms you notice will be a lack of appetite with associated weight loss and sometimes dribbling at the mouth.
If you are unsure about your rabbits teeth book in for a check up.
Nails
Rabbits naturally dig burrows and this helps keep their nails short. However in captivity digging activity is reduced and you will need to cut your rabbits nails regularly. Ask your vet for a demonstration if you are unsure about doing this yourself.
Abscesses
Rabbits are very prone to abscesses, pus filled swellings under the skin. Due to their poor immune system it can be hard to treat abscesses in rabbits. They need to be completely removed by surgery rather than just draining them like we do with cats and dogs. The smaller the abscess is, the easier it will be to surgically remove so check your rabbit very regularly for swellings under the skin
Faecal eaters
Did you know that it is quite normal for rabbits to eat their own faeces? Rabbits pass 2 types of faeces. One type is the hard round black pellets that you find around the cage. The second type are softer and are covered in a mucous membrane. These are the type that the rabbit eats and they eat them directly whilst they are passing from the anus so you don’t see them often around the cage. These soft faeces are rich in B vitamins and other nutrients essential for the rabbits health and it is important that they eat these.
Fly Strike
Rabbits are prone to flystike if they get dirty with faeces or urine on their back end. Flystrike refers to the situation where blowflies lay eggs on the rabbit’s fur. These eggs hatch into maggots and the maggots eat into the flesh of the rabbit. It is a problem in the warmer summer months. The flies are attracted to your rabbit by the smell of faeces so to avoid problems keep their hutch clean and wash any faeces from their back end, daily in summer if necessary. Look out for the blowfly eggs that look like clusters of tiny white oval specs stuck to the fur.
The best way to avoid faecal contamination around the rabbits back end is to feed an appropriate diet as discussed above. A diet rich in carbohydrates encourages soft faeces which easily get stuck to the fur at the back end.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Our vets are very experienced at soft tissue surgery and accept referrals from other clinics that may not perform the procedure themselves. We offer a full range of soft tissue surgery from routine spey and castration right up to complicated referral procedures.
Following is a list of the more technical procedures we offer that may not be available elsewhere in Marlborough:
- Laryngeal tieback surgery for correction of a paralysed larnyx. Paralysis of the larynx is a common problem in old large breed dogs such as the Labrador retriever. It causes breathing difficulties that can be severe enough to be life threatening.
- Perineal hernia. Sometimes the muscle layers of the pelvis become weak and allow the large bowel to protrude through them. This is seen as a soft swelling at the back end next to the anus. It is painful and causes problems with bowel control.
- Caesarian Section. Sometimes it is necessary to perform a caesarian section on the whelping bitch. Our priority is the safety of the bitch and pups before, during and after anaesthesia and we follow the safest combination of anaesthetic and pain relief protocols.
- Gastric Dilation Volvulus (twisted stomach). This is a high risk emergency situation. A successful outcome relies on the expertise of the surgeon and an anaesthetist. Our team is very experienced at handling this situation. The most important first step is to stablise the patient with intra-venous fluids, correction of electrolyte abnormalities and decompression of the bloated stomach. Once the patient is stabilised we can then proceed with anaesthesia and surgical de-rotation of the stomach. At the time of surgery we also perform a gastropexy to sutre the stomach to the abdominal wall. This prevents the stomach from twising out of position in the future. Some breeds of dogs are more at risk of developing a twisted stomach than others and it tends to be the large, deep chested breeds (eg Huntaway, Great Dane). We can perform a preventative gastropexy in young at risk dogs to prevent twisting of the stomach later in life.
- Surgery of the eye and eylids. We perform surgery on the cornea for lacerations and deep penetrating ulcers including conjunctival pedicle flaps for repair of corneal defects. We perform corrective surgery of eyelid defects such as entropion or ectropion.