Diane McClure DVM presents the experiences on a multi-sector task force that successfully addressed the rabbit overpopulation problem on the Long Beach City College on Southern California. Sept. 19, 2013 Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians Indianapolis, IN
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Rabbit Trap Neuter Release - Not Just for Cats Anymore
1. RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)
TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE –
NOT JUST FOR CATS ANYMORE
Diane McClure, DVM PhD, DACLAM, Frank Bossong, DVM,
Eva M. Jaeger, BS, RVT, LuAnn Peterson, RVT
Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service - College of Veterinary Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences
309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766, USA
4. Rabbit Overpopulation Problem
LBCC is the
Bunny
College!
Silver Martins * English Spot * Tan Dutch
White Rex * New Zealand white
New Zealand Black
Agouti, WhiteTan & Black Rabbits
5. Abandoned Domestic Rabbits
Feral – free-living
Do not breed with cotton tails
Not wild, but abandoned pet rabbits
6. Survival: Where? How?
Locations protected from or with low #s predators
◦ City Parks
◦ School & College Campuses
◦ Zoos
◦ Airports
Breeding fecundity
Climate, food
MOST ABANDONED RABBITS LIVE A SHORT LIFE
7. HOW MANY?
Kelowna, Canada - Est.1,500
University ofVictoria - Est. 2,000 plus
Orlando, FL - Est. 1,000
Garden Grove – CA 500 removed
Long Beach City College Est. 300-400
16. Why TNR for Rabbits?
A humane approach
Rescues are full
Shelters are not
able to care for the
large numbers
Domestic rabbits
are the third most
abandoned and
euthanized animal
after cats & dogs
18. Expenses:
$43/surgery
Food, misc. care items, extra vet visits,
$300/week
Housing Space – donated by LBCC
Care of Ill Rabbits: Bunny Bunch &
donations
Western University 3rd year Internal
Veterinary Medicine Rotation
24. Physicals and Pre-op
Vet student involvement
first and second year
veterinary students learned
rabbit restraint, physical
examinations, injection sites,
anesthesia and postoperative
recovery monitoring
28. Health Assessment –Triaged
March
3 severe syphilis
2 pneumonia
3 unilateral eye lesions
1 large draining abscess
1 poor body condition score (BCS<1/5)
29. Health Assessment – Cautions
Snuffles limited to upper respiratory disease
and not pneumonia
Traumatic wounds - commonly around the
face and neck
Healing sore hocks
Diarrhea
Vent disease or syphilis with milder signs
Poor body condition - typical body condition
score was 2
The May Event rabbits were younger &
better BSC
35. SurgeonTraining
Understanding of rabbit anatomy
Understanding of the additional fat in
the spay
Careful application of minimal tissue
glue for closure of the castration
In closed castrations the testicular
pedicle should be ligated as close to the
body wall as possible
40. Post-Operative Period
All rabbits received three days of
postoperative monitoring and
meloxicam or other postoperative pain
management.
Rabbits monitored through post-op
day four to determine that they are
eating, drinking and defecating. About
10% of animals required an additional
day of pain management.
Rabbits can be released when they
eat, drink and defecate without having
received pain relieving medications
43. Anesthesia & Post-Anesthetic
RecoveryTime
Anesthesia
March RecoveryTime
(min)
May RecoveryTime
(min)
Ketamine-midazolam-
buprenorphine
followed by
Sevoflurane gas
anesthesia
30
TTDex – 0.04 ml/kg, IM
followed by
Sevoflurane gas
anesthesia
90
46. Post-Procedural Orders
(report abnormalities and drugs administered) and Notes:
1. Assess attitude. Is the rabbit Bright and Alert? Quiet? Responsive? Code: BAR
or QAR
2. Assess hydration status, drinking and urination. Note score on the record ↑ or ↓
or (↓) for slightly. If abnormal, report onVet Check list. If dehydrated, 25
ml sterile saline/ km BW SC once or twice daily until rabbit is drinking,
urinating, and maintaining hydration within normal limits (WNL).
3. Assess appetite. If not eating, initiate “special food” like banana and alfalfa.
Restart meloxicam (MLX) or add additional dose per day as long as the doses
are at least 8 hrs. apart. Recheck in next 2 hours. If not eating, syringe feed
OxBow critical care. Recheck in next 2 hours. If still not eating, move to
Bunny Bunch for critical care. Monitoring body weight daily until eating if a
scale is available. If BW loss is >10% starting body weight, then move to
Bunny Bunch for critical care.
4. Assess defecation. If NOT defecating or stool is abnormal, report onVet
Check list.
47. Post-Procedural Orders
5. Assess for pain. Administer MLX PO for a minimum of 3 days post-
op. Carefully monitor for inappetance or decreased stool
production on the 1st day without analgesia. Restart MLX if rabbit is
not continuing normal behavior or bodily functions. If painful and not
receiving MLX restart meloxicam for 1-2 days. If painful and receiving MLX,
report onVet Check list.
6. Assess wound closure. If wounds are open or there is fresh bleeding, report
onVet Check list.
7. Assess the wound for infection. Check for redness, discharge, or heat. If
noted, report onVet Check list.
8. Assess the wound for self-trauma (scratching) that results in excoriation, skin
irritation or dermatitis. If noted, report onVet Check list.
9. Assess the wound for swelling. Swelling is expected. Assess the degree of
swelling on the chart.
10. Assess for appropriate progress of any health issue noted on the PE. If the
rabbit is worsening or there are any concerns regarding new health issues,
report onVet Check list.
50. Post-Event Debriefing - Surgery
Clipper burn avoided in round 2
Castrations
◦ Castration seemed to be more
painful than spay.
◦ Round 2 Modifications:
1. Application of tissue glue - minimal
amount of tissue glue for skin
closure
2.Testicular pedicle - tie the
testicular pedicle close to the
body wall
52. Losses
March
◦ One intraoperative loss related to pulmonary
edema and anesthesia
◦ Three postoperative day 4, 7 and 8 - possibly
related to G.I. stasis or pre-existing internal
disease, like an enlarged heart
May
◦ One postoperative day 4 - possibly related to
G.I. stasis
53. Post-Event Debriefing Post-Op
See postoperative orders – standing orders
Volunteers were trained to assess for eating, drinking and
defecating before cleaning the cages. Rabbits who were
off-feed or not hopping were reported to the vet team.
See the postoperative orders for more details
Timely delivery of pain medication and small
improvements surgical details were associated with better
outcome
Around 3 % received SQ fluid administration on
postoperative day one
Intensive care was not required
54. How long until the rabbits
could be released?
Minimum of 3 days
Ideally 4 days –
including the one
day off pain meds
to confirm eating
and drinking
57. A “Caring” Multi-Sector Plan
Prevent dumping
Increased campus security
Out of sight feeding and watering stations
Continued S/N
Adoption, release
Education
58. Actions
Change the laws
Stop sales
Adopt
Give rabbits the same consideration as
other pets
Easter Rabbits should be made of
chocolate
Don’t abandon us!
TNR is a humane option, but not the
solution
59. Two Events & On-Going S/N
Rabbits March May Total
Trapped 100 80
Kindled 10 0
Health Issues 10 5
Recaptured 0 3
Spays 46 41
Neuters 34 34
Surgeries
LBCC
80 75 175
Surgeries
Clinics
110
Released 70
Adoptions 186
Rescue/Foster 30
RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE – NOT JUST FOR CATS ANYMORE Diane McClure, DVM PhD, DACLAM*1, Frank Bossong, DVM1, Eva M. Jaeger, BS, RVT1, Luann Manley, RVT1 Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766,USA ABSTRACT The Southern California community believed Long Beach City College (LBCC) was a sanctuary for abandoned pet rabbits. In 2010, a population of approximately 300 rabbits, a result of pet rabbits being dumped on campus over a 25 year period, was growing. The rabbits were causing significant property damage and other havoc at LBCC. Donna Prindle, a teacher in the LBCC Athletic Department, spearheaded creation of the Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force, a coalition of the LBCC community, Best Friends Animal Society and Western University’s (WU) College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS). The Task Force organized resources to fund and implement a successful Rabbit Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program at LBCC. The Task Force and previous success with a campus cat TNR program at LBCC convinced the LBCC administration to allow the Rabbit TNR program to go forward. WU veterinarians and veterinary technicians adapted experiences with cat TNR for two major rabbit spay-neuter events with the WU mobile hospital on-site at LBCC. Veterinarians performed all surgeries, veterinary students assisted with pre-operative health assessments and post-operative recovery. A minimum of 3 days post-operative period emphasizing pain control and monitoring gastrointestinal function was essential for successful recovery prior to release or adoption. Over two events, 180 rabbits were trapped and 155 rabbits were spayed or neutered. Rabbits were either released or adopted to forever homes . 25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home. This presentation will provide detailed insights into a Rabbit TNR as an effective component of free-living domestic rabbit population management control of a in a school setting. What happened to the other 25 rabbits? 25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home.
Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpgLBCC.edu: 24,000 students and 112 acres Most common breed mixes on the campusI didn't count these up but I have the photos. Seemed like there were a lot of silver martins but there were also English spot, tan Dutch, white rex, New Zealand white, New Zealand Black, agouti, tan or black rabbits
Cottontail rabbit image credit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/images/mammals/rabbit01.jpgLBCC.edu: 24,000 students and 112 acres
www.bunnybunch.org
Municipal and campus security enforcement
Multi-sector coalition task force:InstitutìnCommunityLocal & State governmentNGO Non-prophet for finding, housing, care rescue, adoptionUniversity
General health condition of the rabbits in Mayslightly better and many fewer were pregnant; overall the rabbits were much younger and smaller; some were clearly Easter drop off bunnies
Personality assessment data: not done on the May group - these rabbits were from a particular subpopulation on the Long Beach city College campus. Their personalities were not as friendly as the first group. They were also much more difficult to capture
Anesthetic regime developed by Dr Jeffrey Ko, boarded veterinary anesthesiologist at Purdue. Reconstitute a 5ml vial of Telazol with 2.5 ml ofTorbutol and 2.5 ml Dexdormitor. Deliver 0.04 ml/kg.
The anesthetic regime included a new injectable anesthetic drug cocktail developed by Dr. Ko from Oklahoma State vet school. Some Sevoflurane gas anesthesia was necessary.Anesthetic recovery was much longer and possibly up to 90 minutes before the rabbits could be returned to their home cage. The data on this hasn't been tallied yet. Overall the anesthesia with this cocktail was good and the rabbits had relaxed muscle tone. The recovery was prolonged compared to the previous anesthetic regime. The cost was hugely reduced by this cocktail area
75% females were pregnant. Litter size was 9.
RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) TRAP-NEUTER-RELEASE – NOT JUST FOR CATS ANYMORE Diane McClure, DVM PhD, DACLAM*1, Frank Bossong, DVM1, Eva M. Jaeger, BS, RVT1, Luann Manley, RVT1 Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. Second Street, Pomona, CA, 91766,USA ABSTRACT The Southern California community believed Long Beach City College (LBCC) was a sanctuary for abandoned pet rabbits. In 2010, a population of approximately 300 rabbits, a result of pet rabbits being dumped on campus over a 25 year period, was growing. The rabbits were causing significant property damage and other havoc at LBCC. Donna Prindle, a teacher in the LBCC Athletic Department, spearheaded creation of the Rabbit Overpopulation Task Force, a coalition of the LBCC community, Best Friends Animal Society and Western University’s (WU) College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service (VACS). The Task Force organized resources to fund and implement a successful Rabbit Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program at LBCC. The Task Force and previous success with a campus cat TNR program at LBCC convinced the LBCC administration to allow the Rabbit TNR program to go forward. WU veterinarians and veterinary technicians adapted experiences with cat TNR for two major rabbit spay-neuter events with the WU mobile hospital on-site at LBCC. Veterinarians performed all surgeries, veterinary students assisted with pre-operative health assessments and post-operative recovery. A minimum of 3 days post-operative period emphasizing pain control and monitoring gastrointestinal function was essential for successful recovery prior to release or adoption. Over two events, 180 rabbits were trapped and 155 rabbits were spayed or neutered. Rabbits were either released or adopted to forever homes . 25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home. This presentation will provide detailed insights into a Rabbit TNR as an effective component of free-living domestic rabbit population management control of a in a school setting. What happened to the other 25 rabbits? 25 rabbits were triaged out of the Spay-Neuter events due to health concerns. These rabbits were housed and treated until they were well enough to go to surgery or to a forever home.