Livestock · Ovis aries · typical adult weight 30.00–120.00 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 2–4 mg/kg IV As needed in sheep, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. Ketamine is used in sheep for Short-duration anesthesia, Induction of general anesthesia. Routes documented in sheep: IV. A typical adult sheep weighs 30.00–120.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ketamine in sheep, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 2–4 mg/kg | As needed | Single dose; 15-20 min | Short-duration anesthesia | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook |
| IV | 2–4 mg/kg | single dose after sedation | — | Induction of general anesthesia | Strong | Rings D. Anesthesia and Surgical Procedures for Small Ruminants I & II. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2005. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | Abrahamsen EJ. Chemical Restraint and Injectable Anesthesia of Ruminants. Veterinary Clinics of North America-Food Animal Practice. 2013;29(1):209-227. PMID: 2983894 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.627 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your sheep'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 sheep may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine dose ranges in sheep, with cited source references: IV 2–4 mg/kg As needed; IV 2–4 mg/kg single dose after sedation. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in sheep: IV.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine in sheep include: Single dose; 15-20 min. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine is indicated in sheep for: Short-duration anesthesia, Induction of general anesthesia.
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the sheep 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 sheep — 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.