Premedication and general anesthetic agents decrease plasma concentration of the endocannabinoid anandamide in dogs.

Objective: To determine the effect of premedication followed by isoflurane (ISO) versus sevoflurane (SEVO), length of general anesthesia (GA), and the amount of IV fluid administered on plasma endocannabinoid arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide; AEA) concentrations in dogs undergoing GA.

Methods: This study was an analysis of samples collected during a previously designed prospective, randomized, single-blinded experimental study involving 21 client-owned dogs undergoing GA. Samples were collected from March through October 2021.