Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 2 mg/kg IV single dose after sedation in cattle, per Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.429 (corpus p.457), Ketamine Hydrochloride, Large Animal Dosage — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Ketamine is used in cattle for Induction of general anesthesia. Routes documented in cattle: IV. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 2 mg/kg | single dose after sedation | Induction of general anesthesia | Weak | Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.429 (corpus p.457), Ketamine Hydrochloride, Large Animal Dosage — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (%) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.458 | to 1 liter of 5% guaifenesis in dextrose. Infused at a rate of 1.1 mL/kg for induc- |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • Ketamine at 1.1 mg/kg mixed with xylazine at 0.5 mg/kg may be combined in |
| 0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • Ketamine at 1.1 mg/kg mixed with xylazine at 0.5 mg/kg may be combined in |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your cattle's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
NMDA receptor antagonist producing dissociative anesthesia. Provides somatic analgesia, amnesia, and catalepsy while maintaining pharyngeal reflexes.
Increases intracranial and intraocular pressure. Causes increased salivation (premedicate with anticholinergic). Eyes remain open under anesthesia — use lubricant. Do NOT use alone in dogs/cats (muscle rigidity) — combine with a sedative.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine dose range in cattle, with cited source references: IV 2 mg/kg single dose after sedation. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in cattle: IV.
Ketamine is indicated in cattle for: Induction of general anesthesia.
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the cattle dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Increases intracranial and intraocular pressure. Causes increased salivation (premedicate with anticholinergic). Eyes remain open under anesthesia — use lubricant. Do NOT use alone in dogs/cats (muscle rigidity) — combine with a sedative.
Why a species-specific page? Ketamine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cattle — 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.
| 0.6 |
| IV |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 |
| • CRI: Loading dose of 0.6 mg/kg IV, followed by CRI of 0.4-0.8 mg/kg/hr, and |
| 0.4–0.8 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • CRI: Loading dose of 0.6 mg/kg IV, followed by CRI of 0.4-0.8 mg/kg/hr, and |
| 1.2 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | increased to 1.2 mg/kg/hr if needed. To prepare CRI solution for analgesia, add |
| 10 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.458 | • 10 mg/kg IM. Often used in combination with other agents, such as xylazine. |
| 0.02 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.458 | • Foals, treatment of seizures: 0.02 mg/kg/min CRI. |
| 2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • 2 mg/kg IV (in horses, pretreat with a sedative). |
| Dose (ml/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.458 | to 1 liter of 5% guaifenesis in dextrose. Infused at a rate of 1.1 mL/kg for induc- |
| 2.4 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.458 | tion, then 2.4 mL/kg per hour for maintenance. |
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.