Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Ketamine Injectable is dosed at 20–40 mg/kg IM IM once in bearded dragons, 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).. Ketamine Injectable is used in bearded dragons for Anesthesia induction. Routes documented in bearded dragons: IM. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine Injectable in bearded dragons, 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 | 20–40 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). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your bearded dragon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine Injectable dose range in bearded dragons, with cited source references: IM 20–40 mg/kg IM once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine Injectable in bearded dragons: IM.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine Injectable in bearded dragons include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine Injectable is indicated in bearded dragons for: Anesthesia induction.
These are general warnings for Ketamine Injectable across species; consult the bearded dragon 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 bearded dragons — 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.