Accidental coadministration of medetomidine, vatinoxan and ketamine in a cat.
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia January 1, 2025 Maria Koura, Eleni Koliou, Stavroula Kourmpeti et al. 1 citation
An 8-month-old male cat presented for routine neutering was accidentally given a combined formulation of medetomidine and vatinoxan instead of medetomidine alone. After ketamine injection, the cat developed excitement (mydriasis, head tilting, ataxia) and tachycardia (heart rate increased from 140 to 280 beats per minute). Midazolam reversed the agitation, and the cat recovered fully within an hour. The medication error likely resulted from trainee involvement, similar vial appearance, and inadequate supervision. Vatinoxan may have offset medetomidine's bradycardic effect, while reduced medetomidine levels failed to counteract ketamine's excitatory effects. The single-case observation limits causal conclusions.