Ketamine Hydrochloride Dosage Calculator

Ketamine Hydrochloride Dosing for Dogs, Cats, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs By Weight

Animal Type:

Weight (kg):

Administration Route:

For all animals: Lower doses listed for IV use; higher doses listed for IM use.

In cats: Use sedative such as acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg) or benzodiazepine prior to or combined with ketamine administration.

In horses: Pretreat with sedative before ketamine administration.

Saunders Handbook of VETERINARY DRUGS, Page 454-457

Species	Route	Dosage	Frequency	Notes
Dogs	IV, IM	5.5-22 mg/kg	Single dose	Lower doses IV, higher doses IM. Use adjunctive sedative.
	CRI (Perioperative)	0.3-0.6 mg/kg/hr	After loading dose	Loading: 0.3-0.5 mg/kg IV
	CRI (Sedation)	1-2 mg/kg/hr	Light sedation	May combine with other sedatives
Cats	IV, IM	2-25 mg/kg	Single dose	Use sedative prior to or combined with ketamine
	Short-term	3-5 mg/kg	With dexmedetomidine	+ 25 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine IM
	CRI	0.3-0.6 mg/kg/hr	After loading dose	Loading: 0.3-0.5 mg/kg IV

Species	Route	Dosage	Frequency	Notes
Horses	IV	2 mg/kg	Single dose	Pretreat with sedative
	IM	10 mg/kg	Single dose	Often combined with other agents
	CRI	0.4-0.8 mg/kg/hr	After loading dose	Loading: 0.6 mg/kg IV
Cattle	IV	2 mg/kg	Single dose
Cattle	IM	10 mg/kg	Single dose	Often combined with other agents
Sheep	IV	2 mg/kg	Single dose
Sheep	IM	10 mg/kg	Single dose	Often combined with other agents
Pigs	IV	2 mg/kg	Single dose
Pigs	IM	10 mg/kg	Single dose	Often combined with other agents

Dogs (Perioperative): Mix 0.6 mL (60 mg) with 1 L of fluids, infuse at 5-10 mL/kg per hour for 0.3-0.6 mg/kg/hr

Horses (Analgesia): Add 30 mL ketamine to 1 liter bag (3 mg/mL), administer IV at 125 mL/hour for average horse

Equine Triple Drip: 500 mg xylazine + 2000 mg ketamine in 1L 5% guaifenesin in dextrose