Rompun: Anaesthesia in rodents and other small mammals.

Certain principles should be observed before inducing anesthesia in small mammals:

• Handle the animal gently to avoid causing excessive stress.
• Determine the exact weight of the animal (often only tens or hundreds of grams), and prepare the exact anaesthetic dose by using an insulin syringe.
• Commence surgery when the animal has lost the withdrawal reflex in the paw (in the rabbit pinch the ears to check the reflex).
• Prevent, monitor and, if necessary, correct the three main problems associated with anaesthesia during surgery:
  
  
• Hypothermia: keep the animal warm by surrounding it in bubble-wrap and use a lamp as a source of heat.
• Respiratory and cardiovascular impairment: inhalation of oxygen, assisted ventilation and injection of specific antidotes.