Clinical Approaches to Analgesia in Ferrets and Rabbits

Pet rabbits and ferrets are increasingly presented to veterinarians, and new demands are placed on veterinarians to manage pain in these species. Relatively little data exist regarding the efficacy of analgesics in these animals. Rabbits and ferrets exhibit different behavioral and physiological responses to pain, and an understanding of the normal behavior of these species is critical to pain assessment. Although acute pain is relatively easy to identify, signs of chronic pain may be more subtle. Occasionally, simple husbandry corrections can help alleviate painful chronic conditions. The prevention of pain by minimizing tissue trauma with a gentle surgical technique and preemptive analgesia is critical when dealing with rabbits and ferrets in the clinical setting. Many of the same analgesic techniques and drugs used in dogs and cats can be extrapolated to rabbits and ferrets, though some of the drugs have specific indications and contraindications. Discussions of the clinical use of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anesthetics, ketamine, and tramadol in rabbits and ferrets are presented. Reference to the current literature is made where possible. In addition, insights gained from the author’s experience with the clinical use of these drugs in rabbits and ferrets are presented.