This information is provided as an example protocol. Always be sure that IACUC or ethic committee approval is in place before beginning any experimental protocol.

Cocktail

• Ketamine 250 µL (100 mg/mL)
  
• Xylazine 50 µL (100 mg/mL)
  
• PBS 700 µL

Protocol

Mice should be injected with ~60-70 µL of this solution IP as an initial dosing. Mice should be weighed prior to cocktail administration in order to ensure the proper dose is given. The effective dose of these drugs in mice is: 

• ~60 mg/kg of Ketamine
• ~12 mg/kg of Xylazine

For rats, the effective dose of these drugs is:

• ~60-80 mg/kg of Ketamine
• ~10-20 mg/kg of Xylazine

Be sure to weigh each animal prior to dosing. Overdosing can occur if animals are not properly weighed.

Dosing

Animals can be injected once daily with a full dose of Ketamine/Xylazine cocktail. This dose should maintain anesthesia for approximately 1 hour. If additional doses need to be administered within 24 hours of the initial dose, those doses should be ½ doses or less to minimize the potential of overdose.