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. 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 | Strong | Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.429 (corpus p.457), Ketamine Hydrochloride, Large Animal Dosage |
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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.