Laboratory reference intervals for systolic blood pressure, rectal temperature, haematology, biochemistry and venous blood gas and electrolytes in healthy pet rabbits

Abstract

Prospective data from 86 healthy pet rabbits were evaluated to establish reference intervals for hematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, venous blood gas and electrolytes, rectal temperature and systolic blood pressure. Reference intervals for rectal temperature (37.4-39.6 ºC) and systolic blood pressure (75-134 mm/Hg) were previously unreported in pet rabbits. Differences by more than 30% with reference intervals present in the bibliography were observed in the blood biochemistry and urinalysis, being attributed to the variability in methodological factors with the present study.

Comparison between rectal and body surface temperature in dogs by the calibrated infrared thermometer

“…When it comes to hypothermia, IRT did not prove very accurate. However, we should add that the recent work in cats, horses, and rabbits ( Gallego, 2017 ; Hall et al., 2019 ; Levy et al., 2015 ) has suggested the lower limit for temperature ranges in healthy animals. Therefore, 37.3°C would probably be a more reasonable hypothermic limit, as applied in the study by Konietschke et al.…”

Use of atracurium and its reversal with neostigmine in 14 pet rabbits undergoing ophthalmic surgery: a retrospective study

“…Once the rabbits were fully recovered from anaesthesia, meloxicam (Metacam, Hypothermia and hypotension are defined as SAP less than 75 mmHg and rectal temperature less than 37.4°C. 3 A, alfaxalone; B, buprenorphine; bpm, beats per minute; DAP, diastolic arterial pressure; End T (temperature), rectal body temperature measured at the end of general anaesthesia; ET, end-tidal concentration; HR, heart rate; Iso, isoflurane; K, ketamine; M, midazolam; MAP, mean arterial pressure; Med, medetomidine; SAP, systolic arterial pressure; Sevo, sevoflurane.…”

“…Eleven out of 14 rabbits experienced at least one cardiovascular response to atracurium during the anaesthetic. The observed cardiovascular responses were the following: hypotension (defined as SAP<75 mmHg) 3 (n=6), hypotension with decreased heart rate (HR) (n=1), hypotension with increased HR (n=1), decreased ABP without hypotension (n=6), decreased ABP with decreased HR (n=1), or increased HR (n=2, the ABP reading could not be obtained in this case). The details of atracurium administration and the observed effects are shown in table 1.…”

“…The rectal temperature recorded at recovery was 36.4°C±2°C. Despite the continuous use of active warming throughout anaesthesia, postoperative hypothermia (rectal temperature <37.7°C) 3 was recorded in 8 out of 14 rabbits. Of these, two rabbits that were severely hypothermic at the end of the anaesthetic (rabbit 1=30.3°C and rabbit 4=33°C; table 1) had experienced a decrease in ABP after atracurium administration.…”

“…Hypothermia and hypotension are defined as SAP less than 75 mmHg and rectal temperature less than 37.4°C 3 …”