Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 0.05–0.4 mg/kg IV As needed in horses, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Diazepam is used in horses for Neonatal seizures, muscle relaxation, Seizures, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Diazepam in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.05–0.4 mg/kg | As needed | As needed | Neonatal seizures, muscle relaxation | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| IV | 0.02–0.4 mg/kg | single dose or to effect | — | Seizures, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.378, Diazepam monograph spanning p.378-381; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.381, Diazepam monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.4 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.257 | • Seizures: 0.1-0.4 mg/kg IV (start with 50-100 mg per horse). CRI for foals: |
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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose ranges in horses, with cited source references: IV 0.05–0.4 mg/kg As needed; IV 0.02–0.4 mg/kg single dose or to effect. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in horses: IV.
Cited course lengths for Diazepam in horses include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Diazepam is indicated in horses for: Neonatal seizures, muscle relaxation, Seizures, muscle relaxation, anxiolysis.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.