POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Narketan-10 100 mg/ml Solution for Injection

Active ingredient: Ketamine

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Dogs Donkey Horses

Manufacturer

Vetoquinol UK Limited

VMD MA No.

08007/5046

What it's used for

The product may be used as a sole agent for restraint and minor surgical procedures where muscle relaxation is not required in the cat. The product may be...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Ketamine

1

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

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

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Prescription required

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

Clinical information

Narketan-10 100 mg/ml Solution for Injection — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 26 Mar 2026.

The product may be used as a sole agent for restraint and minor surgical
procedures where muscle relaxation is not required in the cat. The product
may be used in conjunction with medetomidine in the dog and cat, in
conjunction with xylazine in the dog, cat, horse and donkey and in
conjunction with detomidine in the horse to induce anaesthesia.

For intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection only.
It should be noted that dosage and routes of administration vary widely
between species.
Due to the low doses required for small animals, an insulin type syringe should
be used for dose measurement.
Dog-Xylazine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Administer xylazine at a dose rate of 1 mg/kg by
intramuscular injection. Immediately administer the product at a dose rate of
15 mg/kg by intramuscular injection.
Induction time to loss of the pedal reflex takes about 7 minutes with duration of
anaesthesia lasting about 24 minutes. Arousal time, from time of injection to
pedal reflex return, takes about 30 minutes.
Dog-Medetomidine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Administer medetomidine at a dose rate of 40
μg/kg and the product at 5.0 or 7.5 mg/kg (depending on the duration of
anaesthesia required) by intramuscular injection.
* when combined with medetomidine at 40 μg/kg.
Cat-Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: The product 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.
Ketamine*
Dose mg/kg
Induction time
(to loss of pedal
reflex) minutes
Duration of
anaesthesia
minutes
Arousal time
(from time
injection to
pedal reflex
return) minutes
5.01130407.575158

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
The following dosages are indicated as a guide but may need to be adjusted
depending on the physical condition of the patient and the conjoint usage of
sedatives and premedicants.
Dose mg/kgClinical procedures11Minor restraint22-33Minor surgery and restraint
of fractious cats
In conjunction with
supplemental sedatives or
anaesthetics
22-33Laparotomy, orthopaedics
etc.
Vomiting is unlikely to occur when the product is used alone, however food
should be withheld from cats for several hours prior to anaesthesia where
possible. Induction and recovery should be allowed to occur in quiet and calm
surroundings. Duration of the product anaesthesia is 20-40 minutes and
recovery takes place over a 1-4 hour period. Both are prolonged by the use of
premedicants.
Ketamine-supplement combinations in the cat: Atropine premedication is
generally recommended at 0.05 mg/kg to reduce salivation. Endotracheal
intubation can be achieved during use of the product for anaesthesia.
Inhalation anaesthesia may be maintained by suitable combinations of
methoxy flurane, halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen.
Acepromazine (0.11 mg/kg) and atropine (0.05 mg/kg) by intramuscular
injection may be used as a premedicant prior to administration of the product
at 22 mg/kg, or may be administered simultaneously with the product.
Cat-Xylazine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and atropine (0.3 mg/kg) by
intramuscular injection may be used 20 minutes prior to administration of the
product at 22 mg/kg. Xylazine may induce vomiting up to 20 minutes after
administration. Onset of anaesthesia after intramuscular injection of the
product takes 3-6 minutes.
A xylazine/ketamine combination produces a deeper anaesthesia with more
pronounced respiratory and cardiac effects and a longer recovery period than
acepromazine/ketamine combinations.
Cat-Medetomidine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Medetomidine should be administered at a dose
rate of 80 μg/kg by intramuscular injection. This should be followed
immediately by the intramuscular injection of the product at a dose rate of
2.5 mg up to a maximum of 7.5 mg ketamine/kg (depending on the duration of
anaesthesia required).
Onset of anaesthesia is 3-4 minutes. The duration of surgical anaesthesia
varies between 30-60 minutes and is related to the dose of the product used.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
If required, anaesthesia may be prolonged with halothane and oxygen with or
without nitrous oxide.
Atropine is not normally necessary when using a medetomidine/ketamine
combination.
Horse and Donkey-Xylazine/Ketamine:
For the production of short term anaesthesia suitable for minor surgical
interference or for induction prior to inhalation anaesthesia. The product alone
should never be used as a sole anaesthetic agent.
Dosage and administration: Xylazine should be administered by slow
intravenous injection at a dose rate of 1.1 mg/kg. The horse should appear
sedated by 2 minutes post injection. The product should be administered at
this stage. It is recommended not to delay the injection longer than 5 minutes
after xylazine administration. The product should be administered as an
intravenous bolus at a dose rate of 2.2 mg/kg.
Induction and recumbency takes 1-2 minutes. Muscle jerking may occur in the
first minutes, but this usually subsides.
Anaesthesia is variable in duration, lasting 10-30 minutes, usually less than 20
minutes. Horses usually stand 25-45 minutes after induction. Recovery is
usually 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.
It is important that both induction and recovery should occur in quiet and calm
surroundings.
Horse-Detomidine/Ketamine:
For the production of short term anaesthesia suitable for minor surgical
interference or for induction prior to inhalation anaesthesia. The product
should never be used as sole anaesthetic agent.
Dosage and administration: Detomidine should be administered by
intravenous injection at a dose rate of 20 μg/kg. The horse should appear
sedated by five minutes post injection. At this stage the product should be
administered at a dose rate of 2.2 mg/kg as an intravenous bolus.
Onset of anaesthesia is gradual; most horses take approximately one minute
to become recumbent. Large, fit horses may take up to three minutes for
recumbency. Anaesthesia continues to deepen for a further 1-2 minutes and
during this time the horse should be left quietly.
Horses regain sternal recumbency approximately 20 minutes post ketamine
injection giving a surgical anaesthesia duration of 10-15 minutes.
Should it be necessary to prolong anaesthesia, thiopentone sodium may be
administered intravenously in boluses of 1 mg/kg as required. Total doses of
5 mg/kg (five 1 mg/kg increments) have been given. Total doses greater than

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
this may reduce the quality of recovery. Thiopentone can also be
administered in increments if sufficient depth of anaesthesia is not achieved.
The horse may be ataxic if encouraged to stand prematurely and so should be
left to stand in its own time.

Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the active ingredients.
The product is metabolised by the liver and excreted via the kidney and hence
should not be used in animals with hepatic or renal dysfunction or failure.
Do not use the product as a sole agent in horses, donkeys and dogs.

Cats may show excessive salivation, hypotension, muscle twitching or mild
convulsions.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025

It is important that both induction and recovery should occur in quiet and calm
surroundings.
It is generally accepted as good anaesthetic practice to starve animals for a
period of 12 hours prior to anaesthesia where possible.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
A small proportion of animals have been reported to be unresponsive to
ketamine as an anaesthetic agent at normal dosages.
Use of premedicants should be followed by a suitable reduction in ketamine
dosage.
This reduction may be up to 50%.
Care should be taken when using ketamine-halothane combinations since the
half-life of ketamine is prolonged.
Use of the intramuscular route may be associated with pain.

(i) Special precautions for use in animals
Cat:
Ketamine may cause salivation in cats. Atropine premedication may reduce
this side effect.
Muscular twitching and mild tonic convulsions have been recorded in the cat at
recommended dose rates. 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.
When used with xylazine for anaesthesia in cats, the patient should be
supervised for 15-30 minutes post operatively to ensure a regular respiratory
pattern. Should apnoea occur, gentle pressure with finger and thumb to the
nasal septum will stimulate immediate inspiration.
Horse and donkey:
Do not use the product as a sole agent in the horse and donkey.
Horses must be quietly and carefully handled during the administration of
anaesthetic agents.
With the product anaesthesia, the eyes remain open and the pupils dilated.
The eyes may be protected by application of a bland ophthalmic ointment or
covering with a damp gauze swab.
(ii) 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 self-
administration. In the event of accidental self-administration, seek urgent
medical attention and show the label and other product literature. Do not
drive.
Advice to doctor: do not leave patient unattended. Maintain airways and give
symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Wash off splashes from skin and eyes immediately.

None

anaesthesia required) by intramuscular injection.
* when combined with medetomidine at 40 μg/kg.
Cat-Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: The product 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.
Ketamine*
Dose mg/kg
Induction time
(to loss of pedal
reflex) minutes
Duration of
anaesthesia
minutes
Arousal time
(from time
injection to
pedal reflex
return) minutes
5.01130407.575158

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
The following dosages are indicated as a guide but may need to be adjusted
depending on the physical condition of the patient and the conjoint usage of
sedatives and premedicants.
Dose mg/kgClinical procedures11Minor restraint22-33Minor surgery and restraint
of fractious cats
In conjunction with
supplemental sedatives or
anaesthetics
22-33Laparotomy, orthopaedics
etc.
Vomiting is unlikely to occur when the product is used alone, however food
should be withheld from cats for several hours prior to anaesthesia where
possible. Induction and recovery should be allowed to occur in quiet and calm
surroundings. Duration of the product anaesthesia is 20-40 minutes and
recovery takes place over a 1-4 hour period. Both are prolonged by the use of
premedicants.
Ketamine-supplement combinations in the cat: Atropine premedication is
generally recommended at 0.05 mg/kg to reduce salivation. Endotracheal
intubation can be achieved during use of the product for anaesthesia.
Inhalation anaesthesia may be maintained by suitable combinations of
methoxy flurane, halothane, nitrous oxide and oxygen.
Acepromazine (0.11 mg/kg) and atropine (0.05 mg/kg) by intramuscular
injection may be used as a premedicant prior to administration of the product
at 22 mg/kg, or may be administered simultaneously with the product.
Cat-Xylazine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Xylazine (1.1 mg/kg) and atropine (0.3 mg/kg) by
intramuscular injection may be used 20 minutes prior to administration of the
product at 22 mg/kg. Xylazine may induce vomiting up to 20 minutes after
administration. Onset of anaesthesia after intramuscular injection of the
product takes 3-6 minutes.
A xylazine/ketamine combination produces a deeper anaesthesia with more
pronounced respiratory and cardiac effects and a longer recovery period than
acepromazine/ketamine combinations.
Cat-Medetomidine/Ketamine:
Dosage and administration: Medetomidine should be administered at a dose
rate of 80 μg/kg by intramuscular injection. This should be followed
immediately by the intramuscular injection of the product at a dose rate of
2.5 mg up to a maximum of 7.5 mg ketamine/kg (depending on the duration of
anaesthesia required).
Onset of anaesthesia is 3-4 minutes. The duration of surgical anaesthesia
varies between 30-60 minutes and is related to the dose of the product used.

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
If required, anaesthesia may be prolonged with halothane and oxygen with or
without nitrous oxide.
Atropine is not normally necessary when using a medetomidine/ketamine
combination.
Horse and Donkey-Xylazine/Ketamine:
For the production of short term anaesthesia suitable for minor surgical
interference or for induction prior to inhalation anaesthesia. The product alone
should never be used as a sole anaesthetic agent.
Dosage and administration: Xylazine should be administered by slow
intravenous injection at a dose rate of 1.1 mg/kg. The horse should appear
sedated by 2 minutes post injection. The product should be administered at
this stage. It is recommended not to delay the injection longer than 5 minutes
after xylazine administration. The product should be administered as an
intravenous bolus at a dose rate of 2.2 mg/kg.
Induction and recumbency takes 1-2 minutes. Muscle jerking may occur in the
first minutes, but this usually subsides.
Anaesthesia is variable in duration, lasting 10-30 minutes, usually less than 20
minutes. Horses usually stand 25-45 minutes after induction. Recovery is
usually 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.
It is important that both induction and recovery should occur in quiet and calm
surroundings.
Horse-Detomidine/Ketamine:
For the production of short term anaesthesia suitable for minor surgical
interference or for induction prior to inhalation anaesthesia. The product
should never be used as sole anaesthetic agent.
Dosage and administration: Detomidine should be administered by
intravenous injection at a dose rate of 20 μg/kg. The horse should appear
sedated by five minutes post injection. At this stage the product should be
administered at a dose rate of 2.2 mg/kg as an intravenous bolus.
Onset of anaesthesia is gradual; most horses take approximately one minute
to become recumbent. Large, fit horses may take up to three minutes for
recumbency. Anaesthesia continues to deepen for a further 1-2 minutes and
during this time the horse should be left quietly.
Horses regain sternal recumbency approximately 20 minutes post ketamine
injection giving a surgical anaesthesia duration of 10-15 minutes.
Should it be necessary to prolong anaesthesia, thiopentone sodium may be
administered intravenously in boluses of 1 mg/kg as required. Total doses of
5 mg/kg (five 1 mg/kg increments) have been given. Total doses greater than

Revised: December 2025
MA split from NI Expiry following AN: 02529/2025
this may reduce the quality of recovery. Thiopentone can also be
administered in increments if sufficient depth of anaesthesia is not achieved.
The horse may be ataxic if encouraged to stand prematurely and so should be
left to stand in its own time.
4.10 Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
If necessary, suitable artificial aids to maintain ventilation and cardiac output
should be used until sufficient detoxification has taken place to enable a return
to adequate spontaneous ventilation and cardiac activity.

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.