Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Diazepam is dosed at 0.2–0.8 mg/kg IM once, in conjunction with ketamine in ball pythons, per Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO -- 2019:1191-1211. Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles). The held copy is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the TABLE, not the page, is the citable location. SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary -- ISBN 9780323833929. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity by binding the benzodiazepine site, increasing chloride ion conductance, producing sedation, anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
Side effects & warnings
HEPATOTOXICITY in cats (oral use — acute hepatic necrosis, sometimes fatal). Short duration in dogs (rapid redistribution). Avoid IM (erratic absorption). Reversible with flumazenil. Controlled substance.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Backed by 29 published sources
· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, ; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929,
Sample dosing (2 of 41 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 34 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Diazepam, book p.380 (corpus PDF p.407), DOGS - cluster seizures or status epilepticus (extra-label), IV (bolus) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Diazepam, book p.380 (corpus PDF p.407), DOGS - cluster seizures or status epilepticus (extra-label), Rectal — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207,
Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
· 295. Schumacher J. Reptiles and amphibians. In: Thurman JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ, eds. Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996:670-685. | 298. Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, ed. Reptile Medicine and Surgery. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Saunders/Elsevier; 2006:442-452. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1409 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530
· 420. Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530
· 572. Mans C. Sedation of pet birds. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:152-157. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.02.009 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A - Canine and Feline (2020), printed p.121 (corpus PDF p.137), 'Cats: Emergency management of seizures including status epilepticus' — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO -- 2019:1191-1211. Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles). The held copy is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the TABLE, not the page, is the citable location. SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary -- ISBN 9780323833929
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2019:1191-1211. | Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, ed. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2006:442-452. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles), chelonian row: 'Diazepam | 0.2-1 mg/kg IM63,420 | Chelonians/use in conjunction with ketamine for anesthesia with muscle relaxation'. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location.
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530
· Delk K. Clinical management of seizures in avian patients. J Exot Pet Med. 2012;21(2):132-139. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2012.02.014 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· Heard DJ. Rodents. In: West G, Heard D, CaulkettN, eds. Zoo Animal & Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2014:893-903. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.1129 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 14.6 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Select Wild Mammals.a,6,11-). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833
· Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.708 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.858 — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350
· Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, printed p.229 (corpus p.257), Diazepam, Large Animal Dosage — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.381, Diazepam monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Diazepam, book p.380 (corpus PDF p.407), DOGS - cluster seizures or status epilepticus (extra-label), IV (bolus) — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Diazepam, book p.380 (corpus PDF p.407), DOGS - cluster seizures or status epilepticus (extra-label), Rectal — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207
· Pollock CG. Disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:46-61. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.940 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350
· Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.670. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Diazepam Valium (Roche) Raptors IV or IM 0.5-1 mg/kg bid or Control of fits". Located by line-level extraction and then read on the page; the species binding is the row's own species column, not text proximity.
· Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530
· Schumacher J. Reptiles and amphibians. In: Thurman JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ, eds. Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996:670-685. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1409 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530
· Tynes VV. Emergency care for potbellied pigs. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:177-189. doi:10.1016/s1094-9194(17)30160-3 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.999 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 12.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a-c). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929
· Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.257' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.229; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.229. — SOURCE EDITION: Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855
· Vesal N, Zare P. Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, alpha-agonists and their antagonists in canaries. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2006;33:143-148. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.450 doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00244.x — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929