Ketamine for Sugar Gliders
Pocket Pet · Petaurus breviceps · typical adult weight 0.08–0.16 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 20–50 mg/kg IM not specified in sugar gliders, per MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders. Ketamine is used in sugar gliders for Sedation/anaesthesia for elective castration (low-dose ketamine). Routes documented in sugar gliders: IM, SC. A typical adult sugar glider weighs 0.08–0.16 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ketamine in sugar gliders, 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 | 20–50 mg/kg | not specified | — | Weak | MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders |
| SC | 5 mg/kg | not specified | Sedation/anaesthesia for elective castration (low-dose ketamine) | Anecdotal | D'Urso ES, Martorelli M, Bersanetti G, Selleri P, De Gennaro C. Combination of Dexmedetomidine and Low-Dose Ketamine in 4 Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) Undergoing Elective Castration. Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 25;12(8):699. doi:10.3390/vetsci12080699. PMID: 40872650. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12390597/ |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your sugar glider'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 sugar gliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dose of Ketamine for Sugar Gliders?
Ketamine dose ranges in sugar gliders, with cited source references: IM 20–50 mg/kg not specified; SC 5 mg/kg not specified.
How is Ketamine administered in Sugar Gliders?
Documented routes for Ketamine in sugar gliders: IM, SC.
What conditions does Ketamine treat in Sugar Gliders?
Ketamine is indicated in sugar gliders for: Sedation/anaesthesia for elective castration (low-dose ketamine).
What are the side effects of Ketamine in Sugar Gliders?
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the sugar glider 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.
Other Anesthetic drugs with sugar glider 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 sugar gliders — 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.