Doses - KETAMINE HCL
Dogs: 
Note: Ketamine/xylazine has induced cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema, and respiratory depression in dogs. This combination should be used with caution. a) Diazepam 0.5 mg/kg IV, then ketamine 10 mg/kg IV to induce general anesthesia(Booth 1988a)
b) Midazolam 0.066 - 0.22 mg/kg IM or IV, then ketamine 6.6 - 11 mg/kg IM (Mandsager1988)
c) Xylazine 2.2 mg/kg IM, in 10 minutes give ketamine 11 mg/kg IM. Dogs weighingmore than 22.7 kg (50 lbs.) reduce dose of both drugs by approx. 25%. (Booth 1988a)
d) Atropine (0.044 mg/kg) IM, in 15 minutes give xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) IM, 5 minutes latergive ketamine (22 mg/kg) IM (Booth 1988a)
Cats:Most clinicians recommend giving atropine or glycopyrrolate before use to decrease hypersalivation.
a) 11 mg/kg IM for restraint; 22 - 33 mg/kg for diagnostic or minor surgical proceduresnot requiring skeletal muscle relaxation. (Package Insert; Ketaset® - Bristol)
b) 2 - 4 mg/kg IV or 11 - 33 mg/kg IM (Davis 1985b)
c) Restraint: 0.1 ml (10 mg) IV.
Anesthesia: 22 - 33 mg/kg IM or 2.2 - 4.4 mg/kg IV (with atropine) (Morgan 1988)
d) Sedation, restraint: 6.6 - 11 mg/kg IM
Anesthetic: 17.6 - 26.4 mg/kg IM
Induction (following sedation): 4.4 - 11 mg/kg IV (Mandsager 1988)
e) Restraint: 11 mg/kg IM
Anesthesia: 22 - 33 mg/kg IM; 2.2 - 4.4 mg/kg IV (Kirk 1986)
Rabbits/Rodents/Pocket Pets:
a) Rabbits: 35 mg/kg SubQ or IM once (in combination with xylazine, useful for minimally invasive procedures lasting less than 30-45 minutes)
Rats/Mice: 87 mg/kg IP once (in combo with xylazine)
Guinea pig: 60 mg/kg IP once (in combo with xylazine)
Hamsters: 200 mg/kg IP once (in combo with xylazine) (Huerkamp 1995)
Cattle: 
a) Premedicate with atropine and xylazine, then ketamine 2.0 mg/kg IV bolus (Thurmonand Benson 1986) b) After sedation, 2.2 mg/kg IV (Mandsager 1988)
Horses: Note: Always used after heavy premedication with a sedative.
a) Initially give xylazine 1.1 mg/kg IV and wait for full sedative effect (4-8 minutes); thengive ketamine 2.2 - 2.75 mg/kg IV only (the higher dose may be necessary for ponies, young "high-strung" Arabians, Hackneys, and Thoroughbreds) as a bolus. Do notadminister to an "excited" horse. If surgery time requires additional anesthesia, 1/3-1/2of the original xylazine/ketamine doses may be given IV. For procedures where bettermuscle relaxation is required, use guaifenesin-thiobarbiturate. Do not disturb horse untilfully recovered. (Thurmon and Benson 1987)
b) For foals and ponies: Add 500 mg ketamine and 250 mg xylazine to 500 ml of 5%guaifenesin solution. For induction, give 1.1 ml/kg IV rapidly. Anesthesia may bemaintained by constant IV infusion of 2-3 ml/kg/hr. Lower doses for foals, higher dosesfor ponies. (Thurmon and Benson 1987)
c) For induction of surgical colic patients: Use guaifenesin to effect, than 1.6 - 2.2 mg/kgketamine (Mandsager 1988)
d) 200 mg bolus (in a 454 kg horse) intra-operatively to reduce movement with lightgeneral anesthesia (Mandsager 1988)
Swine: 
a) Give atropine, then ketamine at 11 mg/kg IM. To prolong anesthesia and increaseanalgesia give additional ketamine 2 - 4 mg/kg IV. Local anesthetics injected at thesurgical site (e.g., 2% lidocaine) may enhance analgesia. (Thurmon and Benson 1986) b) Ketamine (22 mg/kg) combined with acepromazine (1.1 mg/kg) IM (Swindle 1985)
c) 4.4 mg/kg IM or IV after sedation (Mandsager 1988)
Sheep:a) Premedicate with atropine (0.22 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.55 mg/kg; then ketamine22 mg/kg IM. To extend anesthetic time, may give ketamine intermittently IV at 2 - 4mg/kg. (Thurmon and Benson 1986)
b) 2 mg/kg IV for induction, then 4 ml/minute constant infusion of ketamine in a concentration of 2 mg/ml in D5W. (Thurmon and Benson 1986)
Goats:a) Give atropine 0.4 mg/kg, followed by xylazine 0.22 mg/kg IM 20-25 minutes later.
Approximately 10 minutes after xylazine give ketamine 11 mg/kg IM. To extendanesthesia give ketamine 2 - 4 mg/kg IV (shorter extension) or 6 mg/kg (longer extension). (Thurmon and Benson 1986)
Reptiles: 
a) 20 - 60 mg/kg IM (McConnell and Hughey 1987) Sub-Human Primates:
a) Doses vary with regard to individual species; refer to package insert for Ketaset®.
Birds:a) Birds weighing:< 100 grams (canaries, finches, budgies): 0.1 - 0.2 mg/gm IM250 - 500 grams (parrots, pigeons):0.05 - 0.1 mg/gm IM500 gms - 3 kg (chickens, owls, hawks): 0.02 - 0.1 mg/gm IM> 3 kg (ducks, geese, swans):0.02 - 0.05 mg/gm IM (Booth 1988a)
b) In combination with xyalzine: Ketamine 10 - 30 mg/kg IM; Xyalzine 2 - 6 mg/kg IM;birds less than 250 g require a higher dosae than birds weighing greater than 250 g.
Xylazine is not recommended to be used in debilitated birds because of its cardiodepressant effects.
In combination with diazepam: Ketamine 10 - 50 mg/kg IM; Diazepam 0.5 - 2 mg/kg IM or IV; doses can be halved for IV use.
In combination with acepromazine: Ketamine 25 - 50 mg/kg IM; Acepromazine 0.5 - 1mg/kg IM. (Wheler 1993)
Exotics:
An excellent list of dosages can be found on page 264 of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 6th Ed., Booth, NH & McDonald, LE, Eds.; 1988; Iowa State University
Press; Ames, Iowa.
Monitoring Parameters -
Client Information - Should only be administered by individuals familiar with its use.
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - Veterinary-Approved Products:
Ketamine HCl for Injection 100 mg/ml in 10 ml vials; Ketaset® (Fort Dodge); Vetalar® (Fort
Dodge);VetaKet® (Lloyd) (Rx) Approved for use in cats and sub-human primates.