Cardiac arrest after Ketamine in dogs

120 reports to the FDA describe cardiac arrest in dogs given Ketamine. That is 6.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

120Reports
63%Marked serious
11%Recovered
76%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
52 74%
1–2 days
3 4.3%
3–7 days
7 10%
1–4 weeks
4 5.7%
Over a month
4 5.7%

How the animals did

Recovered
13 11%
Still unwell when reported
3 2.5%
Died
86 72%
Euthanised
5 4.2%
Not known
13 11%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
42
1–3 years
17
4–7 years
19
8–11 years
18
12+ years
6

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketamine cause cardiac arrest in dogs?
120 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).

Cardiac arrest with similar medicines

All reported side effects of Ketamine in dogs · Medicines most reported with cardiac arrest