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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1989 Dec 1;30(4):401–408. doi: 10.1186/BF03548016

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Effects of Medetomidine in Dogs and Influence of Anticholinergics

Outi Vainio 1,, Liisa Palmu 1
PMCID: PMC8142219  PMID: 2640776

Abstract

A total of 10 laboratory beagles was used to determine the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of medetomidine. The effects of atropine sulphate and glycopyr-rolate on heart rate were also observed. Xylazine was included as a positive control. Medetomidine induced initial hypertension followed by a longer lasting hypotensive period. Evident bradycardia with second degree atrioventricular blocks and decrease in respiratory frequency was observed. Atropine sulphate and glyco-pyrrolate transiently abolished the bradycardic effect of medetomidine. Xylazine exhibited a similar cardiovascular and respiratory pattern to medetomidine.

Keywords: atropine sulphate, glycopyrrolate, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, respiratory frequency

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Assoc. Prof. Pekka Laippala for his statistical advise and to Mrs. Päivi Kontinpää and Mrs. Merja Ojala for their skilful technical assistance.

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