Practical issues when selecting anaesthetic agents for surgical or prolonged procedures

Rodents and rabbits

The majority of injectable and inhalational agents available can be used in small mammals, but practical constraints such as the difficulties of intravenous induction may limit the use of some agents (eg propofol). Local anaesthesia is used less frequently in small mammals than in larger species because of the difficulties of physical restraint. However, even in these small animals it is practicable to use local anaesthetic techniques to provide additional analgesia in conjunction with low doses of injectable anaesthetics or low concentrations of inhalants.