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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.940 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.940 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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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.