Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 10–35 mg/kg IM once in rabbits, per GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-469235-0.50028-2 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.860 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Ketamine is used in rabbits for Sedation, anesthetic induction, Anesthetic induction. Routes documented in rabbits: IM, IV. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ketamine in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–35 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, anesthetic induction | Strong | GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-469235-0.50028-2 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.860 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| IV | 5–15 mg/kg | once, IV incrementally to effect | Single induction dose | Anesthetic induction | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed | Corroborated 2026-07-30: Luca GC et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2020;47(3):334-340. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2020.02.002 PMID:32222343 — rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), ketamine 5 mg/kg IV over 5 min (abstract). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.02–0.05 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | nol (0.1-0.5 mg/kg i.v., s.c., i.m.) or buprenorphine (0.02-0.05 mg/kg i.m., i.v., s.c.) will give a short duration of heavy sedation or anaesthesia in mos |
| 10–15 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | rolonged recovery. Alternatively, 5 mg/kg i.v. or 10-15 mg/kg i.m., s.c. in combination with medetomidine (0.05-0.1 mg/kg i.v., 0.1-0.3 mg/k |
| 0.05–0.1 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | /kg i.m., s.c. in combination with medetomidine (0.05-0.1 mg/kg i.v., 0.1-0.3 mg/kg s.c., i.m.) or - Exotic Pets 173 dexmedetomidine (0.025 |
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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 rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine dose ranges in rabbits, with cited source references: IM 10–35 mg/kg once; IV 5–15 mg/kg once, IV incrementally to effect. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in rabbits: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine in rabbits include: Single dose; Single induction dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine is indicated in rabbits for: Sedation, anesthetic induction, Anesthetic induction.
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the rabbit 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 rabbits — 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.
| 0.1–0.3 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | bination with medetomidine (0.05-0.1 mg/kg i.v., 0.1-0.3 mg/kg s.c., i.m.) or - Exotic Pets 173 dexmedetomidine (0.025-0.05 mg/kg i.v. or |
| 0.025–0.05 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | , i.m.) or - Exotic Pets 173 dexmedetomidine (0.025-0.05 mg/kg i.v. or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg s.c., i.m.) and butorphanol (0.1-0.5 mg/kg i.v., s.c., i.m.) |
| 0.05–0.15 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | 173 dexmedetomidine (0.025-0.05 mg/kg i.v. or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg s.c., i.m.) and butorphanol (0.1-0.5 mg/kg i.v., s.c., i.m.) or buprenorphine ( |
| 0.1–0.5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | g i.v. or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg s.c., i.m.) and butorphanol (0.1-0.5 mg/kg i.v., s.c., i.m.) or buprenorphine (0.02-0.05 mg/kg i.m., i.v., s.c.) will give a sh |
| 15–30 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | 15-30 mg/kg i.m., s.c. alone gives moderate to heavy sedation with some analgesia but there |
| 5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.186 | or muscle relaxation and prolonged recovery. Alternatively, 5 mg/kg i.v. or 10-15 mg/kg i.m., s.c. in combination with medetomidine (0.0 |
| 7–10 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 7-10 mg/kg IM,143 15-20 mg/kg IV |
| 15–20 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 7-10 mg/kg IM,143 15-20 mg/kg IV |
| 20 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 20 mg/kg IM 20-50 mg/kg IM |
| 20–50 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 20 mg/kg IM 20-50 mg/kg IM |
| 2–5 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.5 | 2-5 mg/kg 0 |
| 1–10 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | - 1-10 mg/kg IM |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.