A small area of the cranial scrotum is surgically prepared. Minimal clipping is needed. The incision is placed directly over the scrotum. This technique can be performed with either a single central incision through which both testicles are removed or one incision over each testicle. A single incision is theoretically less traumatic; however a larger incision can be required in order to manipulate both testicles through it.
The preference can also be for 2 incisions, which are tiny, right at the cranial end of each scrotal sac. Performing 2 incisions rather than through a single incision can make the approach quicker with less manipulation to both testicles, therefore reducing anesthetic time. The caudal abdomen is clipped and surgically prepared, and a single incision is placed slightly to one side of the midline to avoid trauma to the penis , just cranial to the scrotum.
Both testicles are manipulated through this single incision. The abdomen is clipped of fur , prepped and prepared aseptically, and as the inguinal ring remains open in this species, the testicles can be accessed via a caudal laparotomy incision and traction on the spermatic cord. Abdominal castrations may be favored by some veterinarians, in the same way as ovariectomies.
The theory is that it causes less soft tissue trauma. However, this may just be preference based since abdominal incision in and of itself does not appear less traumatic than 2 tiny incisions to the scrotum. Abdominal castration is used primarily in congenital conditions of cryptorchidism, where the teste or testes fail to migrate freely into the scrotum but remain in the abdomen.
For any of the above techniques the following closure material may be utilized based on veterinary preference:. Absorbable suture used to close muscle as in abdominal technique , and the closing of the skin may be done with non-absorbable sutures, surgical adhesive. A preferred technique for a 2 incision open scrotal castration is to use a 2 clamp technique, making procedure quicker with a much smaller clipped and prepped field, than other techniques.
A mention, infrequent, drawback to the scrotal technique, which might be alleviated by an abdominal approach, is that due to the rat being low to the ground, the incision site does tend to get urine on it, which can lead to the potential of scrotal abscesses.
For this reason a course of an antibiotic, postoperatively, may be considered whether there is any prior respiratory disease or not. To reduce any added concern with regard to hypothermia, the rat should be dried with a soft towel of any remaining wet drainage from surgery and be placed in a quiet, warm enclosure e.
Turning and repositioning the rat approximately every 10 minutes, until crawl reflex returns, will help to stimulate respirations during recovery and reduce the chance of pulmonary congestion developing. Once the righting reflex returns the rat can be placed in a small cage or carrier, again on non-ravel light colored cloth or light colored paper towels with provision for continued warmth and monitoring. Encourage oral food and water intake upon being recovered from anesthesia.
Small treats, fresh fruit or baby foods may be more welcome to the rat before moving to pelleted or block food. Antibiotics should be continued or initiated if the rat has underlying illness, or in the event aseptic technique has not been maintained, or in the case of developing infection. Provide postop medication such as Metacam an NSAID , or buprenorphine an opioid by buccal or sublingual administration for 3 to 5 days, and inform owner of the time the rat last received pain medication.
Note, pica has been known to occur, in the rat, with the use of opioids like buprenorphine and is primarily dose related. Provide and continue antibiotic if necessary. Remove litter and substrate. Use paper towels or non-ravel cloth e. Return to veterinarian for wound recheck in the event of any untoward, or unusual signs noticed with healing, or for suture removal when instructed to do so.
An Elizabethan collar should only be applied as a last resort since this can prevent the rat from holding its food when trying to eat or drink from a water bottle. It can take up to a few weeks for testosterone level to decrease appreciably and therefore may take from 1 to 2 weeks for sexual activity to cease. Mounting may still persist in those male rats that previously mated with female rats. Pet owners are advised not to place the male back in with a female cage-mate immediately after surgery due to the presence of viable sperm that can still be present where the epididymis remains.
References citing the timeline for post operative viable sperm being present in the remaining epididymis post neuter, in rats, vary greatly from 8 days to 8 weeks post-op. Anecdotally, waiting 2 to 4 weeks post-op before placing a neutered male with an intact female has not resulted in any known pregnancies. However, as noted in Bennett, Rodents: soft tissue surgery, and Bennett, Soft Tissue Surgery, , viable sperm has been found to be present in the remaining epididymis in n rodents for up to 6 to 8 weeks following castration.
A time frame of 6 weeks post neuter prior to placing a male rat with an intact female rat is most commonly practiced by pet rat owners. The Rat Guide and its affiliates accept no responsibility for misuse or misunderstanding of its information. This guide in whole or part, exists solely for the purpose of recognizing and understanding the care and illnesses in the pet rat. Please seek advice and treatment from a qualified Veterinarian if your rat is ill.
Clinical Signs Intact male, the presence of testicles testes. Preventative To prevent unwanted mating if combining with female cage-mates. To eliminate testicular tumors. To reduce unwanted aggression. Unusual mass felt in addition to testes in the scrotum. Absence of one teste. In the event aggression against humans is the issue, then neutering should be done, along with behavior modification In addition, intact not neutered adult male rats normally secrete fluids from the accessory sex glands that act as an energy source for sperm, contribute to the mobility and viability of sperm, help to lubricate the urethra and clear it of urine prior to ejaculation, and serves as a means of transporting the sperm in the female tract and creating a copulatory plug to help ensure fertilization.
Bennett, Rodents: soft tissue surgery, ; Bennett, Soft Tissue Surgery, The following descriptions in each section is presented to provide the rat owner with how to prepare their male rat for day of surgery and the type of care, prep, procedure s , and recovery the veterinarian may follow. Assessment and Checkup Prior to Surgery The rat should be thoroughly evaluated for any signs of respiratory disease as well as heart disease in older rats.
Preop It is imperative to obtain an accurate bodyweight for correct dosing of anesthetics and analgesics. Intraop Oxygen should be continued through to recovery to prevent hypoxia from developing. While some anesthetic agents are not appropriate for use in rats due to an increased risk of anesthetic death, the following are those with the widest margin for safety: Inhalation Anesthetics Isoflurane or Sevoflurane are considered the safest and most effective anesthetics for use in rats.
Bennett, Rodents:soft tissue surgery, The types of techniques used to perform a castration neuter, orchiectomy are the following: Open technique applicable to scrotal and prescrotal approaches — The rat is placed in a dorsal recumbency lying on its back position. Closed technique applicable to scrotal and prescrotal approaches — The rat is also placed in a dorsal recumbency lying on its back position.
The types of approaches used to perform a castration neuter, orchiectomy are the following: Scrotal approach — A small area of the cranial scrotum is surgically prepared. Precrotal approach — The caudal abdomen is clipped and surgically prepared, and a single incision is placed slightly to one side of the midline to avoid trauma to the penis , just cranial to the scrotum.
Abdominal approach — The rat is placed in a dorsal recumbency lying on its back position. For any of the above techniques the following closure material may be utilized based on veterinary preference: Absorbable suture used to close muscle as in abdominal technique , and the closing of the skin may be done with non-absorbable sutures, surgical adhesive.
Postop Recovery To reduce any added concern with regard to hypothermia, the rat should be dried with a soft towel of any remaining wet drainage from surgery and be placed in a quiet, warm enclosure e. Monitor rat to ensure the ability to urinate and defecate has returned. Discharge Instructions Provide postop medication such as Metacam an NSAID , or buprenorphine an opioid by buccal or sublingual administration for 3 to 5 days, and inform owner of the time the rat last received pain medication.
Monitor incision site closely for infection or wound disruption for at least 72 hours. No diet restriction. Free access to food and water should be provided. Figures Case histories Orchiectomy Fig. Peter Field B. Nursing Care at Home Contact the veterinarian if any of the following are observed: Swelling, redness, bleeding, disruption reopening of the surgical site.
If there are signs of pain unrelieved by pain medication noted by: reduction of appetite, decreased drinking, hunched posture, rapid breathing, repeated tremors or abdominal stretching, aggression in an otherwise non-aggressive rat, or signs of pica see below. If there is absence of passing feces or urine, or if the rat is not eating or drinking by the morning following the day of surgery, or if there are signs of increased weight loss, unusual rapid weight gain, or lethargy.
It is important to be aware that pica i. Contact the veterinarian if the behavior becomes pronounced. Provide a hospital cage during recovery, or if there are concerns that the cage-mates may groom the sutures or surgical site. Provide clean bedding daily, such as fleece or soft t-shirt type material or ink-free paper towels. Avoid using material such as terry cloth type towels that can ravel.
Also avoid litter-type bedding until the incision has healed, to prevent the chance of wound contamination or infection. Provide additional warmth to maintain body temperature within normal limits. The majority of rats are able to return home within 24 hours. Pain meds will likely be given post-op, and your vet will probably send you home with several days worth to help ease the ouchies.
A clean, quiet environment is a total must. Minimize running and jumping. The less stress on the incision the better. Separate the newly neutered rat from other rats for about a week for faster healing. Keep a really close eye on the incision and inspect multiple times a day. If you notice any changes in behavior, appetite, drinking, urination, etc. Rats can chew through sutures if this is how the incision was closed and open the surgical wound.
If it happens, get to your vet ASAP. While complications with neutering in general are low, any anesthetic or surgical procedure carries risks. But, following close instruction from your exotic veterinarian will minimize these. What may be good for one rat, could be bad for another. The decision should be made based on their behavior and the potential health benefits. Do your research. Upon reaching sexual maturity, male rabbits often begin displaying mounting behavior on your shoes, the cat, stuffed toys, your leg, your sleeping head… , marking territory with urine and producing a musky sex odor.
Male rabbits, like females, can become very aggressive when the testosterone kicks in, and the only truly viable solution for this problem is castration, also known as neutering. Testicular cancer, while far less common than uterine cancer, does occur, usually in older rabbits. Neutering eliminates this risk. Modern rabbit medicine is far more sophisticated than it was even ten years ago, and many excellent vets are now spaying and neutering thousands of rabbits a year without incident.
Thousands of rabbits are abandoned every year when they outgrow their Easter Bunny cuteness. Our domestic rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus are derived from an ancient line of the wild European rabbit. European rabbits live in warrens a series of underground tunnels excavated by family groups in an established territory.
A domestic rabbit who has been abandoned in a park that looks inviting and safe to a human has been sentenced to a cruel death. Turning a rabbit loose in a wild area is not much different from turning a human loose, naked, in the most dangerous neighborhood in town. A domestic rabbit depends on human care. You will experience one of the most delightful, intelligent, loyal, affectionate and entertaining friends you could hope to know.
The Kindest Cut: Experience with Neutered Rats Rats and Mice R esearch shows that hormones affect the development of a number of different types of cancers and benign tumors in human beings, dogs, cats, rabbits, and of course, rats and mice.
Women who menstruate later, have early menopause or hysterectomy , or have children and nurse and hence, have fewer years during which hormones are active , are less at risk for breast cancer.
Similarly, dogs, cats, and rabbits who are spayed by the age of 6 months have an almost no incidence of mammary cancer. Although laboratory tests have given us some of this information, by far the most useful statistics have come from vets and owners who deal with these problems in pet animals in, as it were, the real world.
This may be why there is a great deal of lab-based medical information out there about rats and mice, but very little about the incidence of cancer or other diseases in beloved pets.
People like us aside, the percentage of small animal owners who consider their rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils important enough for veterinary care is, unfortunately, very small.
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