Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog developed delirium after atropine treatment for slow heart rate
By Samantha Fedotova et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2025·Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case Report: Atropine-induced delirium in a dog
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old spayed female Goldendoodle was brought to the vet for a slow heart rate and fainting. Tests showed she had a serious heart condition, so she was hospitalized and given atropine to help increase her heart rate. Unfortunately, after receiving the medication, she experienced confusion and disorientation for several hours. The next day, she had a pacemaker placed, and a year later, she showed no further issues. It's important for pet owners to know that high doses of atropine can sometimes cause these unusual side effects.
People also search for: dog fainting treatment · Goldendoodle heart problems · atropine side effects in dogs
Abstract
A 6-year-old spayed female Goldendoodle was presented as a referral for bradycardia and collapse. An electrocardiogram revealed a high-grade second-degree atrioventricular block (HG2AVB) with atrial flutter. The patient was hospitalized overnight with the intention of pacemaker placement the following morning. Following bolus administration of atropine and lidocaine to rule out high vagal tone, the patient was placed on an atropine continuous rate infusion (CRI) to increase heart rate overnight. This resulted in an acute onset of suspected delirium, which lasted several hours following cessation of the CRI. The patient proceeded with pacemaker placement the following day. No further neurological events were noted at 1 year after pacemaker placement. Atropine-associated delirium should be considered in any patient where high cumulative doses of atropine are being considered.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1654764