Spay Situation

Question
QUESTION: On January 31 I took my 2 bonded sisters in to get there spay done. They are about 2 1/2 years old, and getting them done together, they could heal together, and things would be good. When ever I take my rabbits in, I always call in the afternoon to make sure they made it through surgery. So I called that afternoon to see how my girls were doing, and they put my vet on the phone, and my heart fell to my stomach, I knew something wasn't good. She told me that she could only do one of the girls, and the other one during prepping turned blue and stopped breathing, and since there was a heartbeat, they put a tube down her throat and started breathing for her hoping she would start on her own, and she did after 3 minutes, and she was up and about like nothing happened, so obvious she was not going to get spayed, and she is a very lucky bunny that she pulled through this, and I'm lucky that I have the best vet. She says most rabbits die in that situation. She is a very healthy rabbit with a strong heartbeat and great lungs, that she must of had a mucus plug, and the ace that they give during prepping is what did her in. She told me I should still consider getting her spayed, wait a few weeks and think about it, and that they would use gas this time to put her out, and she also let me know that she wouldn't attempt the spay again if she felt the rabbit wasn't able to go through it again. I totally trust my vet with my rabbits, she's the only one I do trust. She is  highly experienced in exotic pets. So I'm in a rock and a hard spot, I'm still worried about going through this again. I lost a bunny earlier that month from cancer/old age, I don't want to go through this again. Any positive advise, and what would you do?

ANSWER: Dear Lori,

This is certainly a tough call.  It's possible that the problem was just a mucus plug, or that the bunny has a floppy palate that got in the way once she was under anesthesia (!e had a bunny who turned blue every time we tried to mask him, because once he relaxed, his soft palate would go all floppy and block his tracheal opening.  He also snored!)

If you really trust your vet, then I would listen to the vet.  Not all unspayed females develop uterine cancer, but the risk is high.  It's a very tough call.  There's also the chance that the unspayed girl will "go hormonal" on her sister, though if they're bonded that's not as likely.

Argh. I'm not sure what I'd do if this were my bunny!

If the vet thinks that the Ace promazine was the problem, then ask about not using any pre-medications, and JUST isoflurane (or sevoflurane, if that's what they're using).  I'm betting the vet will intubate this bunny *immediately* this time, to prevent a mucus plug or soft palate flap from causing a problem.  Plus, the tube can allow emergency life-saving measures that would not be possible otherwise.

No one can know the future. But it sounds as if your vet is really aware of all the potential problems, and now it's just a matter of taking a risk.  (Except that we really don't know how big the risk is!)

I wish I could tell you exactly what to do.  But I can't.  This is a decision that will be between you, your bunny, and your vet.  I agree with the vet to wait a few weeks and see how you feel.  And then go from there.

I hope everything turns out fine!

Take care,
Dana



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She didn't mention about intubate for her to me, but I will ask about that, she was telling me she's going to go with the gas routine, and I understand the rabbit will feel more pain with gas than the other method because she won't get the prepping medicine. Is that true? the tech was telling me this. Another thing great about this vet, she sends home oral medicine for the rabbits who get altered through her, 3 days worth, which I think is great since rabbits don't take pain to well. She also told me I could take her to UC Davis where they have more heart equipment, but she has so much rabbit knowledge, I feel better if she does it, if I end up doing it. What's good is the one that got spayed is the little nasty between the two, she was the one that needed it the most LOL.

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear Lori,

Isoflurane is a true anesthetic, and though the bunny might be deeper asleep with pre-medications, there's no reason to think she'll feel any pain during surgery if the vet has her at the proper plane of anesthesia.  This can be done with isoflurane alone.

I'd just be sure to ask that bun get a good shot of an effective opioid analgesic shortly before she's taken off the gas, so she gets a little head start on pain relief.  Buprenex is great for this, but your vet may have other preferences.

Good luck!  I hope all will go well, whatever your decision.

Dana