Reptile · Python regius · typical adult weight 1.00–2.00 kg
Ketamine Injectable is dosed at 20–60 mg/kg IM IM once in ball pythons, per Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.241 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Ketamine Injectable is used in ball pythons for Anesthesia induction. Routes documented in ball pythons: IM. A typical adult ball python weighs 1.00–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine Injectable in ball pythons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, VetaKet
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 20–60 mg/kg | IM once | Single dose | Anesthesia induction |
| Moderate |
| Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.241 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 10 mg/kg SC, IM q30min |
| 20–60 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-60 mg/kg IM, or 5- 15 mg/kg IV |
| 5–15 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-60 mg/kg IM, or 5- 15 mg/kg IV |
| 22–44 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed |
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NMDA receptor antagonist producing dissociative anesthesia. Maintains pharyngeal reflexes and respiratory drive. Analgesic at sub-anesthetic doses.
DEA Schedule III. Eyes remain open (lubricate). Combine with benzodiazepine or alpha-2 agonist (reduces dose, improves recovery). Cats: recovery dysphoria. Widely used in exotics.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ball pythons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine Injectable dose range in ball pythons, with cited source references: IM 20–60 mg/kg IM once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine Injectable in ball pythons: IM.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine Injectable in ball pythons include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine Injectable is indicated in ball pythons for: Anesthesia induction.
These are general warnings for Ketamine Injectable across species; consult the ball python dosing table above for species-specific guidance. DEA Schedule III. Eyes remain open (lubricate). Combine with benzodiazepine or alpha-2 agonist (reduces dose, improves recovery). Cats: recovery dysphoria. Widely used in exotics.
Why a species-specific page? Ketamine Injectable pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ball pythons — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 22-44 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 55–88 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 55-88 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 5–10 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 5-10 mg/kg IM |
| 10–20 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 10-20 mg/kg IM,331 |
| 20–60 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-60 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 40 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 40 mg/kg IV |
| 50 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 50 mg/kg IM |
| 60–80 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 60-80 mg/kg IM |
| 20–40 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-40 mg/kg SC, IM, ICe (sedation), to 40- 80 mg/kg (anesthesia)273 |
| 40–80 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-40 mg/kg SC, IM, ICe (sedation), to 40- 80 mg/kg (anesthesia)273 |
| 20–100 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 20-100 mg/kg IM |
| 10 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 10 mg/kg SC, IM q30min33 Most species/maintenance of anesthesia; recovery, 3-4 hr |
| 20–60 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-60 mg/kg IM, or 5-15 mg/kg IV99 Most species/muscle relaxation improved with midazolam or diazepam |
| 5–15 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-60 mg/kg IM, or 5-15 mg/kg IV99 Most species/muscle relaxation improved with midazolam or diazepam |
| 22–44 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 22-44 mg/kg SC, IM18,19 Most species/sedation |
| 55–88 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 55-88 mg/kg SC, IM19 Most species/surgical anesthesia; induction, 10-30 min; recovery, 24-96 hr |
| 10–20 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 10-20 mg/kg IM231,232 Snakes, chelonians/sedation |
| 20–60 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-60 mg/kg SC, IM33,154 Snakes/sedation; induction, 30 min; recovery, 2-48 hr |
| 60–80 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 60-80 mg/kg IM37 Snakes/light anesthesia; intermittent positive pressure ventilation may be needed at higher doses |
| 5–10 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 5-10 mg/kg231,295 Lizards, snakes/decreases the incidence of breath-holding during chamber induction |
| 20–40 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-40 mg/kg SC, IM, ICe (sedation), to 40-80 mg/kg (anesthesia)187 Crocodilians/induction, < 30-60 min; recovery, hours to days; in larger animals, 12-15 mg/kg may permit tracheal |
| 40–80 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-40 mg/kg SC, IM, ICe (sedation), to 40-80 mg/kg (anesthesia)187 Crocodilians/induction, < 30-60 min; recovery, hours to days; in larger animals, 12-15 mg/kg may permit tracheal |
| 20–100 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 20-100 mg/kg IM185 Crocodilians/lower dose for sedation, higher for anesthesia (requires intermittent positive pressure ventilation for hours) |
| 1.5 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | See (K) dosages + (B) ≤ 1.5 mg/kg IM295 Snakes/anesthesia with improved muscle relaxation |
| 0.2–0.8 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | See (K) dosages + (D) 0.2-0.8 mg/kg IM295 Snakes/anesthesia with improved muscle relaxation |
| 30 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (K) 30 mg/kg + (X) 1 mg/kg IM45 Broad-snouted caiman juveniles/provided mild sedation after either forelimb or hind limb administration |
| 1 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (K) 30 mg/kg + (X) 1 mg/kg IM45 Broad-snouted caiman juveniles/provided mild sedation after either forelimb or hind limb administration |
| 50–150 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 50-150 mg/kg SC, IM52 Most species |
| 20–40 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | (K) 20-40 mg/kg + (D) 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IM52 Variable results |
| 0.2–0.4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | (K) 20-40 mg/kg + (D) 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IM52 Variable results |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.