# 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.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/glycopyrrolate · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## 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

> **Caution:** 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.

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## 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?

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

### What are the side effects of Glycopyrrolate in animals?

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

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition
- Carpenter, Exotic Animal Formulary

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.