Investigators were concerned about the thefts from the Sanilac County veterinary clinic because the thieves may not have realized what they stole.
Vials of what they most likely thought was the stimulant Ketamine actually contained the drug combined with a tranquilizer.
Ketamine is used by some as a recreational drug, but the combined drugs could be deadly to humans.
All three suspects are minors.
The break-in happened over the weekend at a Marlette-area veterinary clinic in Sanilac County. Police say the suspects most likely were looking for one drug in particular. What they took is the combination of two drugs, that if taken, could be deadly.
The suspects most likely wanted just Ketamine, but police say what they stole is Ketamine combined with another drug.
"Ketamine by itself is potentially very dangerous drug," said veterinarian Dr. Virginia Leis.
Ketamine is a commonly-used anesthetic in veterinary medicine that has also become popular with recreational drug users.
"Its street name is Special K," said State Police Lt. Patrick McGreevy.
Not only is another batch of Special K on the street, investigators believe this latest theft was not just Ketamine, but a combination of Ketamine, which is a stimulant that can cause hallucinations, and another drug used on animals, Xylazine, which is a tranquilizer.
"It is dangerous," Leis warned.
Leis operates the Agawa Companion Animal Hospital in Saginaw. She says combining the drugs, especially if they're ingested by someone used to the effects of Ketamine, can have serious consequences.
"Without knowing that the Xylazine is in there, they are going to be taking, 'oops, I don't have my hallucinations, so let's take some more. Let's take some more.'"
Leis said that could lead to a Ketamine overdose, which can have dire effects. "Cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory problems, seizures, tremors."
That has the Michigan State Police searching for the suspects and for the vials of the combined drugs before they fall into the wrong hands.
"Our main concern is that we want to get those drugs back in our possession and get them off the street," McGreevy said.
Investigators say they do have some leads in the case.
