Small Mammals Q&A 14

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Small Mammals questions

This mouse has been prepared for abdominal surgery.

Question	Answer		Article
What are some likely clinical consequences?	Although maintenance of asepsis is important in rodents, removal of large areas of insulating fur and the use of excessive quantities of an alcohol-based skin disinfectant increases the rate of heat loss. Hypothermia is a major problem when anaesthetising small rodents. This is due to their high surface area:body weight ratio resulting in more rapid losses than in larger species. When coupled with the depressant effects of anesthesia on thermoregulation, this results in a substantial fall in body temperature. To decrease the risk of hypothermia, every effort is made to minimize heat loss and supplemental heating is provided using heating blankets. Use surgical drapes, reduce the area of fur removal and minimize the quantity of skin disinfectant applied to help decrease the chance of hypothermia.		Link to Article