A single injection of high-concentration buprenorphine significantly reduces food and water intake as well as fecal and urine production in New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate selected gastrointestinal side effects of high-concentration buprenorphine (HCB) in healthy rabbits. ANIMALS: 10 healthy New Zealand White rabbits ranging in body weight between 3.0 and 3.8 kg. METHODS: Eight, 6-month-old, New Zealand White rabbits received a single injection of HCB SC (0.24 mg/kg). The rabbits were previously randomized to receive SC and oral saline as a control. Two rabbits received saline for the purpose of blinding the outcome assessors. Food and water consumption, fecal and urine production, and fecal pellet number were recorded for all rabbits before HCB administration and the 3 days postinjection. RESULTS: A clinically and statistically significant decrease in food and water consumption was observed in rabbits receiving an injection of HCB, compared to rabbits receiving saline. In the 24 hours after injection, HCB-treated rabbits consumed a median of 17 g of food (range, 0 to 82 g), while saline-treated rabbits consumed 122 g of food (31 to 181 g). Rabbits receiving HCB injections also produced significantly less feces both in terms of pellet numbers and overall quantity, along with decreased urine production. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A single administration of HCB has a clinically significant impact on multiple physiological functions in healthy rabbits. Administration of this drug could potentially worsen clinical signs of anorexia and decrease defecation in healthy rabbits. The effects of HCB on diseased or painful rabbits are not yet known.

Effect of rest temperature on rotational thromboelastometry in New Zealand White rabbits.

With the increasing popularity of viscoelastic coagulation analyzers, such as rotational thromboelastometry [ROTEM] and thromboelastography, the need for standardized methodology for appropriate interpretation has become increasingly important. Viscoelastic analysis is heavily influenced by a multitude of pre-analytic factors, both in vivo and in vitro, leading to a large amount of variation between institutions. We investigated the effect of room temperature during a 30-min sample rest time on ROTEM, which analyzed both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. We also evaluated the feasibility of using ROTEM to assess coagulation in non-anesthetized domestic rabbits. Rabbits were selected because they are a common companion animal that could benefit from the use of viscoelastic analysis for various disease processes that could lead to coagulopathies. Citrated whole blood was collected from 10 rabbits and allowed to rest upright for 30 min either at room temperature (~ 21°C) or in a tube warmer (37°C) before analysis. There was no significant difference in results between room temperature and warmed samples, which suggests that allowing samples to rest at room temperature is acceptable clinically. Additionally, blood collection and analysis were feasible in all rabbits.