Introduction
Recovery from anaesthesia should be smooth, without excitement, or prolonged recumbence and should be pain free.
Since all animals will require some degree of special attention in the post-operative period, it is preferable to provide a separate recovery area. This not only enables more appropriate environmental conditions to be maintained but also encourages individual attention and special nursing.
The recovery area
The recovery area should be warm (30-35°C) and this higher temperature should be provided until the animal has regained consciousness. A temperature of 35°C should then be maintained for neonatal animals, 25-30°C for small rodents, and 25°C for larger animals. The temperature can gradually be reduced to the normal range for the species as the animal regains normal activity. This is easiest to achieve by using a purpose-made incubator or recovery pen.
With larger species, such as small ruminants and pigs, use is often made of warming lamps, since heat pads placed in the pen or cage can be easily damaged. It is advisable to place a thermometer in the position that the animal will occupy, at a height equivalent to the animal’s back or flank when lying down. Switch on the lamp an hour or so in advance and check the temperature – this will avoid inadvertently overheating or even burning the animal’s skin. If practicable, use of warm air blowers, particularly in the immediate post-operative period, is preferable, as the degree of warming is easier to control.
Following major surgical procedures, an alternative to a separate recovery room for small rodents is the use of a specialised warming rack. This can maintain animals at warmer temperatures (e.g. 25-26oC) for several days following surgery, and can be of considerable benefit in reducing mortality and morbidity after major surgery.
Recovering animals should be kept dry as well as warm and suitable bedding should be provided. Sawdust and shavings are generally unsuitable, as they can clog or abrade the animal’s eyes, nose and mouth. It is preferable to use towelling or “Dry-bed” (synthetic sheepskin bedding).