Respiratory distress after Ketamine in cats

28 reports to the FDA describe respiratory distress in cats given Ketamine. That is 0.9% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

28Reports

64%Marked serious

7.1%Recovered

57%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

9 47%

1–2 days

9 47%

3–7 days

0 0.0%

1–4 weeks

0 0.0%

Over a month

1 5.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

2 7.1%

Still unwell when reported

3 11%

Died

14 50%

Euthanised

2 7.1%

Not known

7 25%

Problems reported at the same time

17 61%

7 25%

6 21%

4 14%

4 14%

Abnormal radiograph finding

4 14%

Loss of appetite

3 11%

Cardiac arrest

3 11%

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 respiratory distress in cats?: 28 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 1 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).

Respiratory distress with similar medicines

Respiratory distress after Butorphanol 22 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Respiratory distress after Methylprednisolone 31 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Respiratory distress after Atipamezole 20 reports · 1.9% of its reports
Respiratory distress after Furosemide 25 reports · 8.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Ketamine in cats · Medicines most reported with respiratory distress