It should be noted that dosage and routes of administration vary widely between species.

Dosage and administration: Administer xylazine (2% solution) at a dose rate of 0.5 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1 mg xylazine/kg) by intramuscular injection. Immediately administer Ketaset at a dose rate of 1.5 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 15 mg ketamine/kg) by intramuscular injection.

Dogs become recumbent in approximately 3 minutes and lose their pedal reflex in approximately 7 minutes. Duration of anaesthesia is approximately 24 minutes, the pedal reflex returning about 31 minutes following administration of the Ketaset Injection.

Dosage and administration: Administer Domitor™ at a dose rate of 0.40 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 40 μg medetomidine/kg) and Ketaset at 0.5–0.75 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 5.0–7.5 mg ketamine/kg), depending on duration of anaesthesia required, by intramuscular injection.

Domitor and Ketaset may be combined and administered in the same syringe, however the vials should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal, to minimise the risk of cross contamination.

Loss of pedal reflex occurs approximately 11 minutes following injection at 5 mg/kg and 7 minutes following injection at 7.5 mg/kg. Duration of anaesthesia is approximately 30 and 50 minutes respectively.

Dosage and administration: Administer Torbugesic at 0.1 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.1 mg butorphanol/kg) and Domitor at 0.25 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 25 μg medetomidine/kg) by intramuscular injection.

Domitor and Torbugesic may be combined and administered in the same syringe. However, the vials should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal, to minimise the risk of cross contamination.

Dogs become recumbent in approximately 6 minutes and lose their pedal reflex in approximately 14 minutes.

Ketaset Injection should be administered 15 minutes following the first injection at a dose rate of 0.5 ml/10 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 5 mg ketamine/kg) by intramuscular injection.

The pedal reflex returns approximately 53 minutes following administration of the Ketaset Injection. Sternal recumbency is attained approximately 35 minutes later followed by standing a further 36 minutes later.

Dosage and administration: Ketaset on its own may be used by intravenous or subcutaneous injection, but intramuscular injection is the recommended route. The dose is 11–33 mg/kg depending on the degree of restraint or surgical interference that is intended.

The following dosages are indicated as a guide but may need to be adjusted depending on the physical condition of the patient and the usage of sedatives and premedicants.

Duration of Ketaset anaesthesia is 20–40 minutes and recovery takes place over a 1–4 hour period.

For major surgery, Ketaset should be used in conjunction with supplemental sedatives or anaesthetics. Dosage varies from 1.25–22 mg/kg (0.06–1.1 ml/5 kg) depending on the combination and route of administration used.

Vomiting is unlikely to occur when Ketaset is used alone, however cats should be starved for several hours prior to anaesthesia where possible. Induction and recovery should be allowed to occur in quiet and calm surroundings.

Atropine premedication is generally recommended at 0.05 mg/kg to reduce salivation. Endotracheal intubation can be achieved during Ketaset anaesthesia. Inhalation anaesthesia may be maintained by suitable combinations of methoxyflurane, halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen.

Dosage and administration: Administer acepromazine (0.2% solution) at a dose rate of 0.28 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.11 mg acepromazine/kg) and atropine (0.06% solution) at a dose rate of 0.42 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.05 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection, as a premedicant to Ketaset at a dose rate of 1.1 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 22 mg ketamine/kg).

Alternatively, administer simultaneously with Ketaset using separate needles and syringes.

Dosage and administration: Administer xylazine (2% solution) at a dose rate of 0.28 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1.1 mg xylazine/kg) and atropine (0.06% solution) at a dose rate of 0.25 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.03 mg atropine/kg) by intramuscular injection. Wait 20 minutes and then administer Ketaset at a dose rate of 1.1 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 22 mg ketamine/kg), by intramuscular injection.

Xylazine may induce vomiting up to 20 minutes after administration.

Onset of anaesthesia after intramuscular injection of Ketaset takes some 3–6 minutes.

A xylazine/Ketaset combination produces a deeper anaesthetic with more pronounced respiratory and cardiac effects and a longer recovery period than acepromazine/Ketaset combinations.

(a) Intramuscular Administer Domitor at a dose rate of 0.4 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 80 μg medetomidine/kg) by intramuscular injection. This should be followed immediately by the intramuscular injection of Ketaset at a dose rate of 0.12–0.38 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 2.5 mg up to a maximum of 7.5 mg ketamine/kg). Ketaset and medetomidine (in the form of Domitor) may be combined and administered in the same syringe, however the vials should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal to minimise the risk of cross contamination.

Onset of anaesthesia is 3–4 minutes. The duration of surgical anaesthesia varies between 30–60 minutes and is related to the dose of Ketaset used. If required, anaesthesia may be prolonged with halothane and oxygen with or without nitrous oxide.

(b) Intravenous Medetomidine and Ketaset may be administered together by intravenous injection at the following dose rates; Domitor at 0.20 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 40 μg medetomidine/kg) and Ketaset at 0.06 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1.25 mg ketamine/kg).

Clinical experience has shown that when ketamine and medetomidine have been used intravenously in cats and the need for anaesthesia has passed, administration of Antisedan™ at a dose rate of 0.1 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 100 μg atipamezole/kg) by intramuscular injection results in recovery to sternal recumbency in approximately 10 minutes and to standing in approximately 14 minutes.

Administer Torbugesic at a dose rate of 0.20 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.4 mg butorphanol/kg), Domitor at a dose rate of 0.4 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 80 μg medetomidine/kg) and Ketaset at a dose rate of 0.25 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 5 mg ketamine/kg) by intramuscular injection.

Domitor, Torbugesic and Ketaset may be combined and administered in the same syringe. However, the vials should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal to minimise the risk of cross contamination.

Cats become recumbent in 2–3 minutes following injection. Loss of pedal reflex occurs 3 minutes post injection. At 45 minutes post induction, reversal with Antisedan at a dose rate of 0.2 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 200 μg atipamezole/kg) results in return of pedal reflex 2 minutes later, sternal recumbency 6 minutes later and standing 31 minutes later.

Administer Torbugesic at a dose rate of 0.05 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 0.1 mg butorphanol/kg), Domitor at a dose rate of 0.2 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 40 μg medetomidine/kg) and Ketaset, depending on depth of anaesthesia required, at a dose rate of 0.06–0.13 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1.25–2.5 mg ketamine/kg) by intravenous injection.

Domitor, Torbugesic and Ketaset may be combined and administered in the same syringe. However, the vials should have separate needles inserted for withdrawal to minimise the risk of cross contamination.

Clinical experience has shown that reversal, at any stage, with Antisedan at a dose rate of 0.1 ml/5 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 100 μg atipamezole/kg) results in return of the pedal reflex 4 minutes later, sternal recumbency 7 minutes later and standing 18 minutes later.

For the production of short term anaesthesia suitable for minor surgical interferences or for induction prior to inhalation anaesthesia. When romifidine or detomidine are used as the premedicant, anaesthesia may also be maintained with a ‘top-up’ combination of either romifidine and Ketaset or detomidine and Ketaset at regular 8-10 minute intervals. Ketaset should never be used as a sole anaesthetic agent.

It is generally accepted as good anaesthetic practice to starve animals for a period prior to anaesthesia where possible.

To achieve best results, it is important the horses are not stressed before the anaesthetic. It is equally important that the whole procedure, from induction to recovery, should take place in quiet and calm surroundings.

For horses that are stressed before the procedure, the use of 0.03mg/kg acepromazine 45 minutes prior to administration of either Domosedan or Sedivet, facilitates handling and placement of an intravenous catheter.

If the horse fails to become sedated following the injection of either xylazine, detomidine or romifidine, then Ketaset should not be injected and the anaesthetic procedure should be abandoned. The situation should be assessed to establish why the horse failed to respond, and then the environment and/or the drugs should be adjusted as necessary, before trying again the following day.

When using a total intravenous technique and for safe and effective use of a top-up regime, the use of an intravenous catheter is strongly advised.

During castration it has been noted that the use of 10mls lidocaine divided between the testicles eliminates the possible response to ligation of the testicular cord and minimises the number of top-ups required.

Dosage and administration:Xylazine (10% solution) should be administered by slow intravenous injection at a dose rate of 1.1 ml/100 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 1.1 mg xylazine/kg). The horse should appear sedated by 2 minutes post injection. Injection of Ketaset should be administered at this stage. It is recommended not to delay the Ketaset injection longer than 5 minutes after xylazine administration. Ketaset should be administered as an intravenous bolus at a dose rate of 2.2 ml/100 kg bodyweight (equivalent to 2.2 mg ketamine/kg).

Induction and recumbency takes some 1–2 minutes. Muscle jerking may occur in the first minutes, but this usually subsides.

Anaesthesia is variable in duration, lasting between 10–30 minutes, but usually less than 20 minutes. Horses invariably stand 25–45 minutes after induction. Recovery is generally quiet, but may occur suddenly. It is important therefore that short duration interferences only are attempted, or arrangements to prolong anaesthesia are made. For longer periods of anaesthesia, intubation and maintenance by inhalation anaesthesia can be used.