Pocket Pet · Phodopus spp. · typical adult weight 0.02–0.05 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 2.5–5 mg/kg IM not stated in the row in dwarf hamsters, per 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Diazepam is used in dwarf hamsters for Sedation / premedication, Seizures, sedation (emergency). Routes documented in dwarf hamsters: IM, IM, IV, IP. A typical adult dwarf hamster weighs 0.02–0.05 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Diazepam in dwarf hamsters, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2.5–5 mg/kg | not stated in the row | Sedation / premedication | Moderate | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
| IM, IV, IP | 0.5–5 mg/kg | not stated in the row | Seizures, sedation (emergency) | Moderate | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dwarf hamster's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 dwarf hamsters may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose ranges in dwarf hamsters, with cited source references: IM 2.5–5 mg/kg not stated in the row; IM, IV, IP 0.5–5 mg/kg not stated in the row. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in dwarf hamsters: IM, IM, IV, IP.
Diazepam is indicated in dwarf hamsters for: Sedation / premedication, Seizures, sedation (emergency).
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the dwarf hamster 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 dwarf hamsters — 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.