Rabbit Cadaver WorkshopYesterday I went to university for the first time in three months. It was a s

Rabbit Cadaver WorkshopYesterday I went to university for the first time in three months. It was a strange feeling being back, especially on a Sunday! I joined a small group of my classmates for an optional rabbit workshop lead by an exotic animal veterinarian. Using rabbit cadavers, we learnt how to perform castrations, limb amputations and dental extractions. It was a fantastic opportunity to practice these procedures under close supervision and without any risks to the patient. It was also great to catch up with a few of my friends who I haven’t seen in yonks! For my own benefit more than anything else, here are the procedures for rabbit castrations and limb amputations.CastrationClip and scrub surgical siteScrotal incision: incise vaginal tunic and exteriorise testicle (open castration)Identify structures (vas deferens and cremaster muscle are together, blood vessels are separate)Separate the tunic from the tail of the epididymis by breaking down the ligamentClamp spermatic cordOne cerclage ligature in crush markRemove testicleClose tunic with cruciate sutureApply digital pressure to skin edges (no need to suture)Hindlimb AmputationCircumferentially incise skin and muscle at level of stifleEnsure patella is removed (if ligament is cut distal to patella, patella will shoot proximally)Blunt dissect muscle away from femurUse a bone saw to cut femur, leaving about one third of the lengthSuture muscle, subcut and skin (intradermal skin sutures)Forelimb AmputationIncise skin along scapular spineCircumferentially incise around limbDissect supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles off scapula and dissect beneath scapulaRemove forelimbSuture muscle layer closedSuture subcut and skin (intradermals) in upside down ‘T’ shape -- source link

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