Zoetis launches new intravenous anaesthetic Ketavet

Zoetis has announced the introduction of Ketavet, an intravenous anaesthetic solution containing ketamine, in ten ml and 50 ml presentations.

The clear, colourless solution contains ketamine 100 mg/ml and benzethonium chloride 0.1 mg/ml as a preservative. It can be used to induce anaesthesia in horses in conjunction with xylazine, detomidine or romifidine, and is also suitable for dogs and cats.

This launch coincides with the reclassification of ketamine as a schedule 2 drug under the new Misuse of Drugs Regulations, a move that will enable tighter control over record-keeping, prescribing and safe custody of ketamine products.

Penny McCann, equine product manager at Zoetis, said: "We are keen to help veterinary surgeons keep up-to-date with the reclassification of ketamine and, with this in mind, our new product packaging clearly reflects ketamine's revised status as a schedule 2 drug."

This comes after the firm was recently able to resume full UK distribution of its canine pruritus treatment Apoquel after upscaling its production capabilities for the product.