Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How ketamine and diazepam affect dog eye pressure and pupil size
By Kovalcuka, Liga et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2013·Preclinical Institute·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effects of ketamine hydrochloride and diazepam on the intraocular pressure and pupil diameter of the dog's eye.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy dogs was tested to see how two medications, ketamine and diazepam, affected their eye pressure and pupil size. After receiving ketamine, the dogs showed a significant increase in eye pressure within just 5 minutes, which could be a concern for dogs with eye problems like glaucoma. Diazepam also raised eye pressure, but not as much as ketamine. These results suggest that both medications can affect eye health, so veterinarians should be cautious when using them in dogs with sensitive eyes or existing eye conditions.
People also search for: dog eye pressure medication · ketamine effects on dog eyes · diazepam for dogs eye problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 10% ketamine hydrochloride and 0.5% diazepam on intraocular pressure (IOP) and horizontal pupil diameter (HPD) in the canine eye. PROCEDURES:   Ten healthy dogs for each treatment group were used in this study. In the first group, 20 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride was injected intravenously; in the second, 0.5 mg/kg diazepam was similarly injected; and in the third, a control group, 0.9% saline was used. In all groups, IOP and HPD were measured every 5 min for 35 min in the first group, and 60 min in the second and third group. RESULTS:   A maximum increase in IOP was obtained 5 min after ketamine injection, with IOP of 23.2 ± 5.8 mmHg (a 45.0% increase compared to baseline) in the right eye and 22.9 ± 5.9 mmHg (a 43.5% increase) in the left eye (both significant at P < 0.01). A significant IOP increase was observed throughout the research period of 35 min. Statistically significant increases in HPD (P < 0.05) were observed only at 5 and 25 min after ketamine injection. A significant increase in IOP was obtained 10 min after diazepam injection, showing a maximum IOP 20 ± 5.0 mmHg in the right eye (9.3% increase) and 19.9 ± 5.1 mmHg (8.7% increase) in the left eye (both significant at P < 0.05). HPD decreased during the study period, reaching the lowest level 30 min post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a substantial increase in IOP after ketamine injection and a less substantial, but still significant increase after diazepam injection. These findings should be taken into consideration when using these drugs in dogs with fragile corneas, or in dogs predisposed or affected by glaucoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23294621/