References
Guinea pig anaesthesia — how can risks be reduced?
Abstract
Veterinary nurses should be competent at helping to anaesthetise all patients presented in first opinion practice and this includes small mammals. Although guinea pigs are still commonly seen in the veterinary practice and as pets, there is much concern with regards to anesthetising them, even for routine procedures. With a few considerations however, the risk of placing these patients under general anaesthesia can be reduced somewhat. Understanding the species' basic needs and potential disease status will reduce stress to staff and risk to the patient.
In recent years, the number of rodent species (including guinea pigs) kept as pets has grown considerably and the demand for appropriate veterinary care for these species has also increased (Hawkins and Graham, 2007). There is considerable concern in both pet owners and the veterinary industry that many do not survive general anaesthesia. This often means that veterinary surgeons are reluctant to perform relatively routine procedures when presented with a guinea pig at a clinic, potentially leading to these patients not receiving gold standard care when it comes to veterinary medicine.
Guinea pigs have a relatively high risk of anaesthetic complications, with a perioperative mortality rate of 3.80% compared with 0.24% for cats and 0.17% for dogs (Brodbelt et al, 2008). This study revealed that all exotic species have a higher risk of anaesthetic complications than more commonly treated domestic pets.
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