[Anticholinergic medication in the dog before and during anesthesia]

In clinical studies in dogs of all categories of age, which were predicted for surgical purposes under a combination anaesthesia with Fluanisone/Fentanyl/Nitrous oxide/Halothane, investigations after treatment with atropine or glycopyrrolate were performed. In experimental studies investigations about heart-rate and heart work (rate-pressure-product RPP) under different injection anaesthesia-methods (Fluanisone/Fentanyl/Metomidate, Climazolam/Fentanyl, Xylazine/l-Methadone) are performed. In the clinical studies many of the dogs produce elevated heart-rates after anticholinergic premedication. After special indicated treatment of dysrhythmias with glycopyrrolate or atropine in all cases normorhythmia can be achieved. An increase in heart rate during awaking time can be seen in non premedicated as well as in anticholinergic treated animals for a short period of time. In the experimental studies the anticholinergic treatment leads to increased heart rate and/or elevated arterial pressure, which produce an enormous increase in the rate pressure product and oxygen consumption. In conclusion a general anticholinergic premedication can not be recommended. Its use should be special indicated for bradycardia and/or dysrhythmias in the sense of AV-conduction disturbances.