Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 0.5 mg/kg PO, IM, IV q6-8h in ferrets, per 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. Diazepam is used in ferrets for Smooth muscle relaxation in urethral obstruction. Routes documented in ferrets: PO, IM, IV. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diazepam in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, IM, IV | 0.5 mg/kg | q6-8h | Smooth muscle relaxation in urethral obstruction | Weak | 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.113 | seizures: 2-5 mg/kg i.m. once; urethral sphincter muscle relaxation post urinary catheterization or obstruct |
| 0.5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.113 | le relaxation post urinary catheterization or obstruction: 0.5 mg/kg p.o., i.m., i.v. q6-8h |
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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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret'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 ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: PO, IM, IV 0.5 mg/kg q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in ferrets: PO, IM, IV.
Diazepam is indicated in ferrets for: Smooth muscle relaxation in urethral obstruction.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the ferret 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 ferrets — 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.