Ketamine for Pet Rat
Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg
Ketamine is used in pet rat for Anaesthesia (with xylazine). Routes documented in pet rat: IM. A typical adult pet rat weighs 0.25–0.70 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine in pet rat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 60–90 mg/kg | Once | Anaesthesia (with xylazine) | Moderate | ExoticRx 2026 (rat dosing guide); Carpenter 6e |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your pet rat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
NMDA receptor antagonist producing dissociative anesthesia. Provides somatic analgesia, amnesia, and catalepsy while maintaining pharyngeal reflexes.
Side effects & warnings
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 pet rat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Anesthetic drugs with pet rat dosing
Ketamine dosing in other species
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 pet rat — 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.