Dogs were used to determine cardiopulmonary and chemical restraining effects of racemic ketamine and its enantiomers. Levorotatory ketamine induced the shortest duration of unconsciousness and recumbency when compared with effects of dextrorotatory and racemic ketamine. Administration of racemic ketamine or either of its enantiomers (30 mg/kg of body weight, IV) to dogs recovering from isoflurane anesthesia induced transient, but significant (P less than 0.05), decreases in arterial blood pressure, left ventricular contractility, cardiac output, and total peripheral vascular resistance. Arterial blood pressure and left ventricular contractility significantly (P less than 0.05) increased at later times after ketamine administration. Arterial pH and the PO2 values decreased after IV administration of racemic ketamine or its enantiomers. Significant differences in cardiopulmonary variables were not observed between groups given ketamine or its enantiomers.