GRH Exotics Surgery

Anaesthesia of wildlife casualties can be challenging. Many patients suffer stress, related not only to disease or injury, but to confinement in captivity. This is exacerbated by restraint and handling and often necessitates the use of sedation or anaesthesia for thorough examination. It is important that the basic principles of good anaesthesia are applied, that the patient and equipment are prepared correctly and that appropriate methods of chemical restraint are chosen.

Urinary tract surgery can be technically demanding in rabbits due to their relatively small size and unique anatomy. Some techniques, however, such as cystotomy, are relatively common and fairly straightforward procedures. This chapters assesses Anatomy of the urinary tract; Patient assessment and decision-making; Hypercalciuria and urolithiasis; Lower urinary tract disease; Medical management of urinary tract disease; Surgical considerations and specialist equipment; Surgical procedures; and Postoperative care. Operative Technique: Nephrectomy; Cystotomy.

To be a successful avian surgeon the sympathetic handling of soft tissues is mandatory. Avian surgery requires exactness in view of small body size and increased metabolic rate, as any errors are magnified. This chapter evaluates equipment, planning for microsurgery, patient preparation, neoplasms, gastrointestinal and reproductive tract techniques, respiratory tract surgery and biopsy.