Pocket Pet · Cynomys ludovicianus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.68 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 1–2.5 mg/kg PO, IM, IP single premedication dose (no interval printed) in prairie dogs, per Heard DJ. Rodents. In: West G, Heard D, CaulkettN, eds. Zoo Animal & Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2014:893-903. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.1129 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 14.6 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Select Wild Mammals.a,6,11-). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833. Diazepam is used in prairie dogs for premedication / chemical restraint. Routes documented in prairie dogs: PO, IM, IP. A typical adult prairie dog weighs 0.70–1.68 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diazepam in prairie dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, IM, IP | 1–2.5 mg/kg | single premedication dose (no interval printed) | premedication / chemical restraint | Moderate | Heard DJ. Rodents. In: West G, Heard D, CaulkettN, eds. Zoo Animal & Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2014:893-903. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.1129 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 14.6 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Select Wild Mammals.a,6,11-). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–5 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.6 | 0.5-5 mg/kg IM, IV, IP |
| 0.5–2 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 14.6 | 0.5-2 mg/kg PO, SC, IM 1-2.5 mg/kg PO, IM, IP |
| 1–2.5 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 14.6 | 0.5-2 mg/kg PO, SC, IM 1-2.5 mg/kg PO, IM, IP |
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 prairie dog'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 prairie dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose range in prairie dogs, with cited source references: PO, IM, IP 1–2.5 mg/kg single premedication dose (no interval printed). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in prairie dogs: PO, IM, IP.
Diazepam is indicated in prairie dogs for: premedication / chemical restraint.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the prairie dog 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 prairie dogs — 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.