Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Ketamine is used in dog for Sedation/restraint (with sedative), Field sedation for aggressive dogs, Anesthetic induction (with sedative), analgesia adjunct, CRI for somatic analgesia. Routes documented in dog: IM, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Ketamine in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 5–10 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation/restraint (with sedative) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IM | 5–10 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Field sedation for aggressive dogs | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 2–5 mg/kg | once | Single induction dose | Anesthetic induction (with sedative), analgesia adjunct | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg | per hour (CRI) | Intra/post-operative | CRI for somatic analgesia | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 2–5 mg/kg | once | Emergency | Refractory status epilepticus | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 0.1–0.5 mg/kg per hour (CRI). CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog'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 dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
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 dog — 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.