Keown A J, Farnworth M J, Adams N J
Department of Natural Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1025, New Zealand.
N Z Vet J. 2011 Nov;59(6):305-10. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2011.609477.
To determine the perceptions of a sample of veterinarians in New Zealand regarding pain and pain management in rabbits and guinea pigs.
Questionnaires were distributed to all members of the Companion Animal Society, part of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. The questionnaire gathered information on the demographics of respondents, obtained an assessment by veterinarians of the level of pain associated with clinical procedures for rabbits and guinea pigs, established the willingness of respondents to perform these, obtained information on the anaesthetics and analgesics used during these procedures, and the factors associated with selecting different types of drug. The level of knowledge of respondents and interest in continuing education regarding pain recognition and management in these species was also assessed.
A total of 155/610 (25.4%) responses were obtained. Rodents and lagomorphs accounted for 0-5% of the total caseload in the practices of most (133/155; 86%) respondents. Anticipated pain scores differed for different procedures (p<0.001) but did not differ between male and female respondents or between species of animal. There were also differences between procedures in the respondents willingness to perform them (p<0.001). Selection of anaesthetics and analgesics was mainly determined by the amount of information available for the species, and ketamine was the drug most commonly used. Many veterinarians felt their level of knowledge regarding the recognition and treatment of pain in rabbits and guinea pigs was inadequate.
Rabbits and guinea pigs represented a small percentage of the caseload of veterinarians in this study. From an animal welfare perspective this may be of concern as, anecdotally, these species are common pets. However, further study regarding the actual number of these animals kept as pets in New Zealand is required for validation. Veterinary perception of anticipated pain, and willingness to perform procedures, varied between procedures, but was not influenced by gender of veterinarian. Many respondents felt their knowledge of issues relating to pain recognition, anaesthesia and analgesia in rabbits and guinea pigs was inadequate.
Understanding how veterinarians choose to provide analgesia or when they decline to perform surgeries for rabbits and guinea pigs may provide significant information for targeting professional development, and improving animal welfare.
确定新西兰兽医样本对兔和豚鼠疼痛及疼痛管理的看法。
向新西兰兽医协会下属伴侣动物协会的所有成员发放问卷。问卷收集了受访者的人口统计学信息，获取兽医对兔和豚鼠临床操作相关疼痛程度的评估，确定受访者执行这些操作的意愿，获取这些操作期间使用的麻醉剂和镇痛药的信息，以及选择不同类型药物的相关因素。还评估了受访者对这些物种疼痛识别和管理的知识水平以及继续教育的兴趣。
共获得155/610份（25.4%）回复。在大多数（133/155；86%）受访者的诊疗中，啮齿动物和兔形目动物占总病例量的0 - 5%。不同操作的预期疼痛评分不同（p<0.001），但男女受访者之间或动物物种之间无差异。受访者执行操作的意愿在不同操作之间也存在差异（p<0.001）。麻醉剂和镇痛药的选择主要取决于该物种可得的信息量，氯胺酮是最常用的药物。许多兽医认为他们对兔和豚鼠疼痛识别和治疗的知识水平不足。
在本研究中，兔和豚鼠在兽医诊疗病例量中占比很小。从动物福利角度来看，这可能令人担忧，因为据传闻这些物种是常见宠物。然而，需要进一步研究新西兰作为宠物饲养的这些动物的实际数量以进行验证。兽医对预期疼痛的看法以及执行操作的意愿在不同操作之间有所不同，但不受兽医性别的影响。许多受访者认为他们对兔和豚鼠疼痛识别、麻醉和镇痛相关问题的知识不足。
了解兽医如何选择提供镇痛或何时拒绝为兔和豚鼠进行手术，可能为针对性的专业发展和改善动物福利提供重要信息。
