Pocket Pet · Meriones unguiculatus · typical adult weight 0.07–0.13 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 2.5–5 mg/kg IM not printed (single administration; sedation/preme in gerbils, per 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 gerbils for Sedation / chemical restraint, Treatment of seizures, sedation. Routes documented in gerbils: IM, IM, IV, IP. A typical adult gerbil weighs 0.07–0.13 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Diazepam in gerbils, 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 printed (single administration; sedation/preme | Sedation / chemical restraint | Moderate | 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 printed (emergency/to effect) | Treatment of seizures, sedation | Weak | 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 gerbil'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 gerbils may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose ranges in gerbils, with cited source references: IM 2.5–5 mg/kg not printed (single administration; sedation/preme; IM, IV, IP 0.5–5 mg/kg not printed (emergency/to effect). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in gerbils: IM, IM, IV, IP.
Diazepam is indicated in gerbils for: Sedation / chemical restraint, Treatment of seizures, sedation.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the gerbil 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 gerbils — 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.