Pain in rabbits: a review for veterinary nurses, part three: management of chronic pain at home

ABSTRACT:

Pain management involves considering pain, recognising pain, and managing pain. Part One looked at assessment and recognition of pain. This discussed the physiological and behavioural signs that can indicate pain in rabbits. Part Two looked at managing pain in the hospitalised rabbit. Analgesic options are discussed to cover all aspects of the pain pathway. Dose ranges for constant rate infusions are available. Local anaesthesia and analgesia techniques are discussed. Part Three (this article) will look at managing the chronic pain rabbit at home, including a case study.

Keywords: :

• rabbit analgesia
• chronic rabbit pain management

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the SNORS rabbit sanctuary, My Pets Vets in Wigan for Copper’s case study, and Aneta Gerlak for her help. The author would also like to thank Claire Speight, Ros Lamb and The Rabbit Welfare Association, Donna Wills and Esme Howell for the pictures.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aneesa Malik

Aneesa Malik MSc RVN Cert VNES Cert VNECCAneesa has worked in first opinion, charity, emergency, referral, exotics, and with some species of British wildlife. Her interests and learning aims within nursing is veterinary ethics and welfare. Specifically, her focus is the emergency and critical patient, the wildlife and exotic patient, animal pain, and the end of life patient. Email: [email protected]