<div style="text-align: justify;">Twenty adult dogs of either sex, divided into 2 equal groups were used for evaluation of atracurium (0.5 mg/kg IV) and vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg IV) in atropine-butorphanol-diazepam premedicated and propofol (till effect IV) induced dogs which were further maintained on isoflurane with controlled IPPV mode of the ventilator for positive pressure ventilation. A total of 13 ophthalmic and 7 orthopaedic interventions were done in both the groups. Pulmonary parameters were measured at baseline (pre-operative), just after induction and at 5, 15, 30 and 45 minutes after the administration of NMBA and the recovery parameters were recorded after weaning from the anaesthetic gas. The eyeballs deviated to the ventro-medial position after the induction with diazepam and propofol and resumed the central position within 30 seconds of atracurium or vecuronium administration thus, proving highly beneficial for the eye globe and corneal interventions. On a comparative basis, atracurium and vecuronium provided muscle relaxation for 40.1 &plusmn; 4.71 and 37.7 &plusmn; 1.01 minutes respectively. Uniform and pronounced muscle relaxation along with excellent sedation was found in both the groups. All pulmonary parameters remained within normal range. Following discontinuation of the isoflurane, the time taken to bear weight was 38.88 &plusmn; 1.45 and 39.63 &plusmn; 4.08 minutes in the atracurium and vecuronium groups respectively.&nbsp;</div>

Comparison of atracurium and vecuronium as muscle relaxants for ocular and orthopaedic interventions in dogs

<div style="text-align: justify;">Atracurium and vecuronium, which are short-acting non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents, were introduced into clinical use after 1980. These two drugs, which have a short-acting duration and fewer adverse side effects, have found widespread use.The aims of this study were to determine the onset of action and duration of three neuromuscular-blocking drugs. A total of 18 dogs 1-3 years of age and weighing 17.6 kg on average were evaluated in the study. The animals were divided equally into the three drug groups: Group A = atracurium, Group V = vecuronium and Group R = rocuronium. Atracurium, rocuronium and vecuronium were administered at 0.2 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively via the IV route. After the operation was completed, the animals in the vecuronium group were treated with 2-4 mg/kg IV sugammadex &nbsp;and the reversal time of the drug effect was recorded. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FP) values were measured. The PT showed significant differences between the atracurium and rocuronium groups (p&lt;0.05).TOF neuromuscular blockage time displayed significant differences between the atracurium (35.6&plusmn;7.7 min) and rocuronium groups (26.1&plusmn;2.1 min) (p&lt;0.05). The onset of neuromuscular blockage time for all three agents was similar; however, rocuronium had a shorter neuromuscular blockage time. As a conclusion, our results suggest that all three neuromuscular blocking agents can be administered routinely with inhalation anesthesia for patients undergoing surgical procedures in which muscular relaxation is needed.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Measurement of the activity of neuromuscular blocking agents by train-of-four and their effect on the coagulation profiles of dogs undergoing &amp; ovariohysterectomy</div>