Effect of Pentobarbital Sodium and Acetylcholine on Eosinophil Count in Dogs

¹ From the Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

The eosinophil count typically decreases in unanesthetized dogs subjected to venipuncture. A decrease in the eosinophil count is observed following anesthetization with sodium pentobarbital. The decrease is not significantly different than that observed in repeated counts in unanesthetized dogs. The effect of acetylcholine in reducing the level of eosinophils in circulating blood in dogs under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia is mild but is significant at the 95% confidence level.