Veterinary drug · Drug monograph

Glycopyrrolate: veterinary dose and monograph

Glycopyrrolate is a veterinary drug. Synthetic quaternary-amine anticholinergic — like atropine it blocks muscarinic receptors to raise heart rate and dry secretions, but it does NOT cross the blood-brain barrier or placenta and has a smoother, longer action with less… Indications include anaesthetic / opioid-induced bradycardia; premedication to reduce airway / salivary secretions; adjunct in organophosphate (muscarinic) toxicity. This monograph lists 15 reference doses for dogs, cats, cattle, horses, pigs and rabbits and 9 more species, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

At a glance

Drug class: Veterinary drug
Also known as: Robinul, Glycopyrronium
Species with doses: Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, Pigs, Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea pigs, Reptiles, Hamsters, Rats, Mice, Gerbils, Sugar gliders and Primates
General dose range: 0.005–0.011 mg/kg IM as needed (peri-anaesthetic) — check the species tables for the indication
Routes: IM, IV, SC
Last reviewed: 1 October 2026

Indications

Anaesthetic / opioid-induced bradycardia
Premedication to reduce airway / salivary secretions
Adjunct in organophosphate (muscarinic) toxicity

Glycopyrrolate dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

Glycopyrrolate doses for dogs
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Bradycardia / premed	0.005–0.011 mg/kg	IM	IM premed or IV for acute bradycardia	—

Bradycardia / premed: Papich 5e: 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IV, IM or SC. Plumb’s p.587: label 0.011 mg/kg IV, IM or SC; 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC or IM (Bellah); anaesthetic bradycardia 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IV (Pablo 2003); hypersalivation 0.01 mg/kg SC.

Cats

Glycopyrrolate doses for cats
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Bradycardia / premed	0.005–0.011 mg/kg	IM	IM / IV as needed	—

Bradycardia / premed: Papich 5e: 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IV, IM or SC. Plumb’s p.587: label 0.011 mg/kg IM, 15 min before anaesthesia; bradyarrhythmias 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IV or IM, or 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC.

Cattle

Glycopyrrolate doses for cattle
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration	Withdrawal
Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia	0.005–0.01 mg/kg	IM	once	—	Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label

Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia: Papich 5e (cattle and horses): 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IM or SC, or 0.0025–0.005 mg/kg IV during anaesthesia. Extra-label — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Horses

Glycopyrrolate doses for horses
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Bradycardia / anti-sialogogue	0.0025–0.01 mg/kg	IV	once; use cautiously — reduces GI motility (ileus risk)	—

Bradycardia / anti-sialogogue: Papich 5e (cattle and horses, during anaesthesia): 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IM or SC, or 0.0025–0.005 mg/kg IV; a common dose is 1 mg per horse. Plumb’s p.587: bradyarrhythmias 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IV (Mogg 1999); muscarinic signs from imidocarb 0.0025 mg/kg IV. ARCI Class 3.

Pigs

Glycopyrrolate doses for pigs
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration	Withdrawal
Miniature/pet pig — anaesthesia adjunct	0.004–0.01 mg/kg	IM	once	—	Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label

Miniature/pet pig — anaesthesia adjunct: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 12-4 (p.664): miniature pigs 0.004–0.01 mg/kg SC/IM/IV — increases heart rate, decreases GI/respiratory secretions. Use with caution (heart may be overtaxed); atropine is often preferred.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

Glycopyrrolate doses for buffalo
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration	Withdrawal
Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia	0.005–0.01 mg/kg	IM	once	—	Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label

Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia: Papich 5e (cattle and horses): 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IM or SC, or 0.0025–0.005 mg/kg IV during anaesthesia. Extra-label — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Rabbits

Glycopyrrolate doses for rabbits
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Premedication / bradycardia (PREFERRED over atropine)	0.01–0.1 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Premedication / bradycardia (PREFERRED over atropine): Plumb's p.588 (Ivey & Morrisey 2000): 0.01–0.1 mg/kg IM/SC (0.01 mg/kg IV). ★ Glycopyrrolate is PREFERRED over atropine in rabbits — ~40% have atropinesterase that rapidly degrades atropine. Prevents bradycardia and reduces airway/salivary secretions.

Ferrets

Glycopyrrolate doses for ferrets
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication / bradycardia	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication / bradycardia: Plumb's p.588 (Williams 2000; Vella 2009): 0.01 mg/kg SC/IM, or 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM/IV.

Guinea pigs

Glycopyrrolate doses for guinea pigs
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication: Plumb's p.588 (Bennett 2009): rodents 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC or IM.

Reptiles

Glycopyrrolate doses for reptiles
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthesia-associated bradycardia	0.01 mg/kg	IM	once	—

Anaesthesia-associated bradycardia: Plumb’s p.587 (Mehler 2009): 0.01 mg/kg IM, IV or intracoelomic for prolonged or profound bradycardia under anaesthesia.

Hamsters

Glycopyrrolate doses for hamsters
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication: Plumb's p.588: rodents 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC/IM.

Rats

Glycopyrrolate doses for rats
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication: Plumb's p.588: rodents 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC/IM.

Mice

Glycopyrrolate doses for mice
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication: Plumb's p.588: rodents 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC/IM.

Gerbils

Glycopyrrolate doses for gerbils
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anaesthetic premedication	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anaesthetic premedication: Plumb's p.588: rodents 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC/IM.

Sugar gliders

Glycopyrrolate doses for sugar gliders
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Anti-sialogogue during sedation	0.01–0.02 mg/kg	SC	once	—

Anti-sialogogue during sedation: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7-3 (p.499): sugar gliders 0.01–0.02 mg/kg SC/IM/IV — controls salivation during sedation.

Primates

Glycopyrrolate doses for primates
Indication	Dose	Route	Frequency	Duration
Pre-anaesthetic / bradycardia (monkeys)	0.005–0.01 mg/kg	IM	once	—

Pre-anaesthetic / bradycardia (monkeys): Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 13-7 (p.707): macaques/baboons/chimpanzees 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IM; monkeys 0.004–0.008 mg/kg IM. Helps manage potent-opioid bradycardia and dries secretions.

Contraindications

Tachyarrhythmia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with outflow obstruction, glaucoma, GI / urinary obstruction. Caution in established tachycardia.

Adverse effects

Tachycardia, dry mouth
Reduced GI motility / ileus
Mydriasis (less than atropine)

Drug interactions

Additive anticholinergic effects with antihistamines, phenothiazines and tricyclics
Reduced GI motility can alter absorption of other oral drugs
Counteracts opioid / alpha-2-agonist bradycardia (used deliberately, but combining incautiously can cause hypertension)

Pregnancy and lactation

Does not cross the placenta appreciably — a preferred peri-operative anticholinergic for caesarean section.

Toxicity and overdose

Overdose produces tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention, mydriasis and dry mucous membranes, with less CNS excitation than atropine because it is brain-sparing.

Management: Usually supportive (self-limiting); severe antimuscarinic toxicity can be reversed with a cholinesterase inhibitor (neostigmine / physostigmine) under monitoring. Treat tachyarrhythmia and ileus supportively.

Clinical pearls

Smoother and longer-acting than atropine with less of the initial paradoxical bradycardia / overshoot tachycardia
Because it spares the brain and placenta it is a good anticholinergic choice around caesarean section
Use cautiously in horses — anticholinergics readily cause ileus / colic

Mechanism of action

Quaternary-amine antimuscarinic. Competitively blocks acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors, increasing heart rate (vagolytic), reducing salivary / bronchial / GI secretions and relaxing smooth muscle. Its quaternary structure prevents crossing the blood-brain barrier or placenta, so it lacks central effects.

Formulations and products

Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg/mL injection
Robinul-V (Various) — 0.2 mg/mL, Injection
Robinul — 0.2 mg/mL injection; 1 / 2 mg tablet, Injection / tablet (human-label)

Storage

Store at 15–25 °C, protect from light; do not freeze.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Glycopyrrolate for dogs?

Reference doses for Glycopyrrolate in dogs: 0.005–0.011 mg/kg IM IM premed or IV for acute bradycardia (Bradycardia / premed). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

What is the dose of Glycopyrrolate for cats?

Reference doses for Glycopyrrolate in cats: 0.005–0.011 mg/kg IM IM / IV as needed (Bradycardia / premed). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

What is the dose of Glycopyrrolate for cattle?

Reference doses for Glycopyrrolate in cattle: 0.005–0.01 mg/kg IM once (Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

What is the withdrawal period for Glycopyrrolate?

Cattle, IM (Anaesthetic adjunct / bradycardia): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Pigs, IM (Miniature/pet pig — anaesthesia adjunct): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

When should Glycopyrrolate not be used?