Commonly Used Rodent Anesthetics
Agent
Atropine*
Premedication
Rodent Dose
0.05 mg/kg
Route
SC
*Atropine is given separately to help decrease secretions and counteract cardiac and respiratory
depression caused by xylazine. Dilution of this will be necessary.
To dilute: Mix 0.25ml Atropine in 4.75ml of sterile saline in a sterile vial or syringe. The concentration of
atropine in this stock solution is .027mg/ml. Administer at 0.2mls/100gm body weight for the dosage of
0.05mg/kg
Dosage (s)
Anesthetic Agent (s)
Isoflurane (PREFERRED)
Ketamine/Xylazine**
Mouse
4-5% induction, 1-2 %
maintenance
80-110 mg/kg / 5-10 mg/kg
Ketamine/Acepromazine
Ketamine/Xylazine/Acepromazine
Rat
4-5% induction, 1-2 %
maintenance
80-110 mg/kg / 5-10
mg/kg
75 mg/kg / 2.5 mg/kg
50 mg/kg/ 5 mg/kg /0.5
mg/kg
Route
Inhalant
IP
IP
IP
** Xylazine is longer acting that Ketamine and it is critical to not overdose with Xylazine. Repeat dosing
recommendations: one-half the original dose may be tried or repeat only the Ketamine.
Drugs may be mixed together for a single injection. Example:
Combine:
1ml Ketamine (100mg/ml)
0.5ml Xylazine (20mg/ml)
8.5ml Normal saline 0.9% or PBS
Dosage:
For mice: 0.1ml per 10 gm of body weight will provide a 100 mg/kg
Ketamine/ 10 mg/kg Xylazine dose
Reversal (Xylazine only)
Agent
Yohimbine
Rodent Dose
1.0 – 2.0 ml
Route
SC or IP
Reference:
Gaertner, DJ, TM Hallman, FC Hankenson, MA Batchelder. 2008. Anesthesia and Analgesia in Rodents.
Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals. Second Edition, Academic Press, CA.
Hawk, CT, SL Leary, TH Morris. 2005. Formulary for Laboratory Animals, Third Edition.