Death after Ketamine in dogs

The FDA has received 387 reports of death in dogs after Ketamine. That is 21% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 5.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

387Reports
65%Marked serious
0.0%Recovered
100%Died or euthanised
Same dayTypical onset
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How soon it started

Same day
117 52%
1–2 days
24 11%
3–7 days
35 16%
1–4 weeks
22 9.9%
Over a month
25 11%

How the animals did

Still unwell when reported
1 0.3%
Died
301 78%
Euthanised
85 22%

Problems reported at the same time

Age of the animals

Under 1 year
76
1–3 years
69
4–7 years
86
8–11 years
79
12+ years
35

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Ketamine cause death in dogs?
387 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).

Death with similar medicines

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