Rabbit post-operative discharge instructions
After a General Anaesthetic or Sedation
Following an anaesthetic or sedation your rabbit may be quieter than usual and drowsy tonight. Keep them warm, dry and comfortable and allow them to rest. If they are kept with another rabbit please watch them for the first few hours to ensure the rabbit that has had surgery is not being chased or harassed. If this does happen separate them but ideally so that they can still see and smell each other. Try not to handle excessively tonight and don’t let children disturb them.
If possible keep your rabbit in its usual cage because, being prey animals, rabbits feel more secure in a familiar environment.
Feeding
Your rabbit will already have been offered food after he/she recovered from anaesthesia and food and water should be available as soon as you arrive home. It is very important that your rabbit eats after surgery and anaesthesia. Rabbits develop complications more quickly than other species when their appetite is poor. Please call the surgery tomorrow morning if your rabbit is not eating or has a poor appetite.
Please monitor your rabbits faeces and contact the surgery if you notice fewer droppings or diarrhoea.
Sachets of recovery food, that can be given via syringe, are available if you would like to purchase these.
Exercise
Please try to restrict exercise for 10 days, especially jumping.
Wounds
Please keep wounds clean and dry for 10 days. Clean your rabbits bedding or litter tray regularly to help keep wounds clean.
Dissolvable sutures or glue have been used and these will dissolve over the next 3-4 weeks. It is important that the wound or sutures are not chewed if this happens a collar or body bandage should be used.
Check the surgical wound twice daily and contact the surgery if you notice any redness, bleeding, swelling, discharge or unpleasant smell. Especially in the summer, be vigilant for signs of fly strike.
Pain relief
Your rabbit has been given injections of pain relief before surgery and these will last for up to 24 hours. If necessary the vet will have prescribed oral pain relief medication for you to continue at home. It is worth remembering that because they are prey animals rabbits do not tend to show when they are in pain, so please continue to give pain relief for at least 4-5 days following surgery.
Special Instructions:
If your male rabbit has been castrated please be aware that he can remain fertile for 3 to 4 weeks following surgery and so should not be kept with unspayed females
If you have any concerns you can telephone the surgery on 01723 513119 at any time
Filey Veterinary Practice
1 Station Avenue
Filey
YO14 9AH
01723 513119