Ketamidor

Ketamine can show large inter-individual variation in effect, and therefore dose rates administered should be tailored to the individual animal, dependent on factors such as age, condition, and the depth and duration of anaesthesia required.

Prolongation of effect is possible by repeated administration of an optionally reduced initial dose.

Administration is possible intravenously (horse, cattle, dog and cat), intramuscularly (pig, dog and cat) or in cats also subcutaneously.

For combination use: before ketamine is administered, please ensure that the animals are adequately sedated.

HORSE

Pre-medication with a sedative is required for a sufficient anaesthetic effect:

To induce anaesthesia

With detomidine:

Detomidine 20 µg/kg IV, after 5 minutes

Ketamine 2.2 mg/kg fast IV (2.2 ml/100 kg)

Onset of action is gradual, taking approximately 1 minute to attain recumbency, with duration of anaesthetic effect lasting approximately 10 - 15 minutes.

With xylazine:

Xylazine 1.1 mg/kg IV, followed by

Ketamine 2.2 mg/kg IV (2.2 ml/100 kg)

Onset of action is gradual, taking approximately 1 minute, with duration of anaesthetic effect being variable and lasting 10 - 30 minutes but usually less than 20 minutes.

After injection the horse lays down spontaneously without any further help. If a distinct muscle relaxation is required simultaneously, muscle relaxants can be administered to the recumbent animal, until the horse shows first symptoms of relaxation.

CATTLE

To avoid uncontrolled lying down and possible symptoms of excitation or for potentiation of anaesthesia a sedative premedication is recommended. To avoid hypoxia due to lateral or dorsal recumbency, oxygen can be administered through a nasal tube.

To induce anaesthesia

With xylazine

Xylazine 0.14 - 0.22 mg/kg IV/IM, followed by

Ketamine 2 - 5 mg/kg IV (2 - 5 ml/100 kg)

Onset of action is approximately 1 minute, with duration of anaesthetic effect lasting approximately 30 minutes.

The lower end of the stated dose range should be used when administering xylazine via the intravenous route.

PIG

To induce anaesthesia

With azaperone

Ketamine 15 - 20 mg/kg IM (1.5 - 2 ml/10 kg) and 2 mg/kg azaperone IM.

In 4 – 5 month old pigs, following administration of 2 mg/kg azaperone and 20 mg/kg ketamine IM, the onset of anaesthesia took on average 29 minutes and duration of effect lasted about 27 minutes.

DOG

Ketamine cannot be used as a mono-anaesthetic in dogs, as it causes an increased muscle tone and uncoordinated muscle contractions.

To induce anaesthesia

With medetomidine

Medetomidine 40 µg/kg IM, followed by

Ketamine 5 - 7.5 mg/kg IM (0.5 - 0.75 ml/10 kg)

Duration of effect varies between 30 - 50 minutes and is dose related.

With xylazine

Xylazine 2 mg/kg IM, after 10 minutes Ketamine 10 mg/kg IM (1 ml/10 kg).

In dogs weighing more than 25 kg bodyweight reduce xylazine dosage to 1.3 mg/kg. Onset of action is usually within 10 minutes and duration of effect lasts for approximately 30 minutes.

With diazepam

Administer diazepam 0.25 mg/kg IV, immediately followed by

Ketamine 5 mg/kg IV (0.5 ml/10 kg).

Ketamine should be injected slowly and generally administered to effect, when used intravenously.

Appropriate premedication should be used to ensure adequate sedation before administration of the diazepam-ketamine combination and to facilitate intubation. The optimal dosing regimen should be individually based on the pre-medication used.

Average duration of effect is 10-20 minutes.

CAT

Mono-anaesthetic use of ketamine is possible, but to avoid undesired psychomotoric effects combined anaesthesia is recommended. Ketamine on its own may be used by intravenous injection, but intramuscular injection is the recommended route.

Ketamine should be injected slowly when administered intravenously.

As a sole agent

11 mg/kg ketamine IM/IV for minor restraint,

22 - 33 mg/kg ketamine IM/IV for minor surgery and restraint of fractious cats. Duration of ketamine anaesthesia is 20 – 40 minutes and recovery takes place over a 1 – 4 hour period.

To induce anaesthesia (anaesthesia < 1 hour)

With medetomidine

Medetomidine 80 µg/kg IM, followed by

Ketamine 5 – 7.5 mg/kg IM (0.25 - 0.4 ml/5 kg)

Onset of action is usually 3 - 4 minutes and duration of effect varies between 30 - 60 minutes and is dose related.

With xylazine

Xylazine 1 - 2 mg/kg IM/SC and

Ketamine 10 - 20 mg/kg IM/SC (0.5 - 1 ml/5 kg)

The lowest dose of xylazine (1 mg/kg) should be used, if ketamine is used at the highest dose (20 mg/kg).

Onset of action is usually within 5 minutes of ketamine administration and duration of effect lasts for at least 30 minutes.

Due to low dose volumes, it is recommended to use an insulin type syringe to accurately measure dosages.

The rubber stopper can be punctured safely a maximum of 25 times.