Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 0.02–0.08 mg/kg IV to effect; no interval printed in cattle, per 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. Diazepam is used in cattle for Seizures, tetanus adjunct, Seizures, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cattle: IV. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Diazepam in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.02–0.08 mg/kg | to effect; no interval printed | — | Seizures, tetanus adjunct | Weak | 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 |
| IV | 0.05–0.25 mg/kg | As needed | Single dose | Seizures, pre-anesthetic | Moderate | 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.02–0.08 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.257 | • 0.02-0.08 mg/kg IV, up to 0.5 mg/kg slowly IV. Dose according to desired |
| 0.5 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.257 | • 0.02-0.08 mg/kg IV, up to 0.5 mg/kg slowly IV. Dose according to desired |
| 0.5 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.257 | effect. Cows may be recumbent after 0.5 mg/kg. Do not administer IM. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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Enhances GABA-A receptor activity by binding the benzodiazepine site, increasing chloride ion conductance, producing sedation, anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
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.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose ranges in cattle, with cited source references: IV 0.02–0.08 mg/kg to effect; no interval printed; IV 0.05–0.25 mg/kg As needed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in cattle: IV.
Cited course lengths for Diazepam in cattle include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Diazepam is indicated in cattle for: Seizures, tetanus adjunct, Seizures, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the cattle dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Diazepam pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cattle — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.