Perianaesthetic management of a Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis patagonum) undergoing hemilaminectomy for treatment of acute intervertebral disk herniation

Abstract

A 7.5-year-old, 5.6 kg female Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis patagonum) in thin body condition presented for bilateral pelvic limb paresis. Lumbar intervertebral disk extrusion was diagnosed using MRI and neurological examination. Emergency hemilaminectomy was done on the same day of diagnostics. The cavy was premedicated with intravenous (IV) midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and ketamine (5 mg/kg) followed by alphaxalone (to effect) for induction and tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane-in-oxygen and an IV constant rate infusion (CRI) of ketamine and lidocaine (both 0.3 mg/kg/h) and morphine (0.1 mg/kg, once). The CRI continued for 24 hours followed by once daily intravenous buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg) and subcutaneous meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg). Recovery was calm. The cavy returned to its preoperative behaviour within hours and began eating soon after anaesthesia. Subjectively, the analgesic plan was successful in mitigating post-operative pathological pain. This case report discusses the perianaesthetic management for spinal surgery in a cavy.