POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Anesketin 100 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats and Horses

Active ingredient: Ketamine

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Dogs Horses

Manufacturer

Eurovet Animal Health B.V.

VMD MA No.

16849/5002

What it's used for

To be used as a sole agent for restraint and minor surgical procedures in the cat, where muscle relaxation is not required. To be used to induce anaesthesi...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

The prescription itself has a price. See what practices near you charge for a consultation and the written prescription fee.

Paying less for Ketamine

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

Your prescription rights → VMD register of retailers →

Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Anesketin 100 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats and Horses — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 18 Mar 2026.

To be used as a sole agent for restraint and minor surgical procedures in the cat,
where muscle relaxation is not required.
To be used to induce anaesthesia:
a) in combination with butorphanol and medetomidine in the dog and cat,
b) in combination with xylazine in the horse, dog and cat,
c)in combination with detomidine in the horse,
d) in combination with romifidine in the horse.

Do not use:
•
•
•
disease, apparent high blood pressure or cerebrovascular insults.

Revised: October 2025
AN: 04314/2024
•
(e.g. epilepsy).
•
relaxation is not ensured by administration of a muscle relaxant (intubation
obligatory).
•
•
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the
excipients.

Dogs:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Hypertonia (of skeletal muscles).
Ataxia, hyperaesthesia, excitation (as emergence
reactions during recovery).
Pulmonary oedema.
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Hyperthermia.Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Increased heart rate, increased arterial blood
pressure/hypertension (with concurrent increased
bleeding tendency).
Eyes remain open with mydriasis and nystagmus.
Injection site pain (on intramuscular injection).
Respiratory depression
a
a
Dose-related, may lead to respiratory arrest particularly in cats. Combination with
respiratory depressant products may increase this respiratory effect.
Cats:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Hypertonia (of skeletal muscles).
Ataxia, hyperaesthesia, excitation (as emergence
reactions during recovery).
Pulmonary oedema.
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Hyperthermia.
Hypersalivation.
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Increased heart rate, increased arterial blood
pressure/hypertension (with concurrent increased
bleeding tendency).
Eyes remain open with mydriasis and nystagmus.
Injection site pain (on intramuscular injection).
Respiratory depression
a

Twitching (muscle tremor), tonic seizures (mild)
b
.
a
Dose-related, may lead to respiratory arrest particularly in cats. Combination with
respiratory depressant products may increase this respiratory effect.

Revised: October 2025
AN: 04314/2024
b
These subside spontaneously but may be prevented by use of acepromazine or
xylazine premedication, or controlled by use of acepromazine or ultra-short acting
barbiturates in low doses.
Horses:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Hypertonia (of skeletal muscles).
Ataxia, hyperaesthesia, excitation (as emergence
reactions during recovery).
Pulmonary oedema.
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data):
Increased heart rate, increased arterial blood
pressure/hypertension (with concurrent increased
bleeding tendency).
Injection site pain (on intramuscular injection).
Respiratory depression
a

a
Dose-related, may lead to respiratory arrest particularly in cats. Combination with
respiratory depressant products may increase this respiratory effect.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the
national reporting system. See also the last section of the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

For very painful and major surgical interventions, as well as for maintenance of
anaesthesia, a combination with injectable or inhalation anaesthetics is necessary.
As muscle relaxation required for surgical procedures cannot be achieved with
ketamine alone, additional muscle relaxants should be used concomitantly. For
improvement of anaesthesia or prolongation of effect ketamine can be combined with
α2-receptor-agonists, anaesthetics, neuroleptanalgesics, tranquillisers and
inhalational anaesthetic agents. It should be noted that time-to-full-effect may be
prolonged when using the subcutaneous administration route in cats. A small
proportion of animals have been reported to be unresponsive to ketamine as an
anaesthetic agent at normal dosages.

Special precautions for use in animals:
Use of premedicants should be followed by a suitable reduction in dosage.
Induction and recovery should be allowed to occur in quiet and calm surroundings.
As for all anaesthetics, animals should be fasted for 12 hours before ketamine
anaesthesia.
Atropine premedication may reduce salivation in cats.
In the cat and dog, the eyes remain open and the pupils dilated. The eyes may be
protected by covering with a damp gauze swab or using appropriate ointments.
When used in combination with other products, consult the contraindications and
warnings that appear on the Summaries of Product Characteristics.
Ketamine may exhibit pro-convulsant or anti-convulsant properties and should
therefore be used with caution in epileptic animals.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals:
This is a potent drug. Particular care should be taken to avoid accidental self-
administration.
People with known hypersensitivity to ketamine or any of the excipients should avoid
contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Avoid contact with the skin and eyes. Wash any splashes from skin and eyes
immediately with large amounts of water.
Adverse effects on the foetus cannot be excluded. The veterinary medicinal product
should not be administered by pregnant women.

Revised: October 2025
AN: 04314/2024
In case of accidental self-injection, or if symptoms occur after ocular/oral contact,
seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the
physician, but DO NOT DRIVE.
Advice to doctors:
Do not leave patient unattended. Maintain airways and give symptomatic and
supportive treatment.

Care should be taken when using ketamine-halothane combinations since the half-
life of ketamine is prolonged by halothane.
Potential for increased risk for arrhythmias when used in combination with thiopental
or halothane. Simultaneously administered intravenous spasmolytics can provoke a
collapse.
Theophylline, when given with ketamine, can cause an increased incidence of
seizures.
Neuroleptanalgesics, tranquillisers, morphine analogues, cimetidine and
chloramphenicol potentiate ketamine anaesthesia. Barbiturates and opiates or
diazepam can prolong the recovery period. Effects may be cumulative; dosage
reduction of one or both agents may be required.

Revised: October 2025
AN: 04314/2024
The use of detomidine in combination with ketamine gives a slow recuperation.
Ketamine has been reported to enhance the occurrence of tachycardia and
hypertension when used in human patients receiving thyroid hormones.

Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special temperature storage
conditions.

Excipient:
Chlorocresol 1 mg
For the full list of excipients, see section

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.