Pocket Pet · Meriones unguiculatus · typical adult weight 0.07–0.13 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 40–100 mg/kg IM not printed (single administration) in gerbils, per Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Ketamine is used in gerbils for Sedation (light to heavy). Routes documented in gerbils: IM. A typical adult gerbil weighs 0.07–0.13 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine in gerbils, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 40–100 mg/kg | not printed (single administration) | Sedation (light to heavy) | Moderate | Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your gerbil'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 gerbils may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine dose range in gerbils, with cited source references: IM 40–100 mg/kg not printed (single administration). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in gerbils: IM.
Ketamine is indicated in gerbils for: Sedation (light to heavy).
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the gerbil 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 gerbils — 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.