Ketamine is an anaesthetic agent that can be used in a wide variety of species. It can be administered via a number of routes and in combination with other agents. It has a wide therapeutic index and has potent analgesic properties. It should not be used as a sole agent in canine anaesthesia, but may be usefully combined with alpha-2 agonists. Ketamine combinations may be particularly useful in situations with aggressive dogs, and in high-throughput neutering situations.

David Yates - Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Salford M5 5NN, UNITED KINGDOM