Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 60–90 mg/kg IM Once in pet rats, per ExoticRx 2026 (rat dosing guide); Carpenter 6e | Corroborated 2026-07-30: Van Pelt LF. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1977;171(9):842-844. PMID:924855 — rat (Rattus norvegicus), ketamine 87 mg/kg IM with xylazine 13 mg/kg (abstract).. Ketamine is used in pet rats for Anaesthesia (with xylazine). Routes documented in pet rats: IM. A typical adult pet rat weighs 0.25–0.70 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine in pet rats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 60–90 mg/kg | Once | Anaesthesia (with xylazine) | Moderate | ExoticRx 2026 (rat dosing guide); Carpenter 6e | Corroborated 2026-07-30: Van Pelt LF. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1977;171(9):842-844. PMID:924855 — rat (Rattus norvegicus), ketamine 87 mg/kg IM with xylazine 13 mg/kg (abstract). |
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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.
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 pet rats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine dose range in pet rats, with cited source references: IM 60–90 mg/kg Once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in pet rats: IM.
Ketamine is indicated in pet rats for: Anaesthesia (with xylazine).
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the pet rat 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 pet rats — 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.