Cardiorespiratory arrest after Ketamine in cats

24 reports to the FDA describe cardiorespiratory arrest in cats given Ketamine. That is 0.7% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

24Reports

100%Marked serious

4.2%Recovered

92%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 91%

1–2 days

0 0.0%

3–7 days

1 4.3%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

1 4.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

1 4.2%

Still unwell when reported

1 4.2%

Died

22 92%

Problems reported at the same time

22 92%

4 17%

3 13%

3 13%

Pulmonary congestion

2 8.3%

Spleen and reticulo-endothelial system disorder

2 8.3%

Nt - abnormal necropsy finding

2 8.3%

Cyanosis

2 8.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketamine cause cardiorespiratory arrest in cats?: 24 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

All reported side effects of Ketamine in cats · Medicines most reported with cardiorespiratory arrest