Reptile · Trachemys scripta elegans · typical adult weight 0.20–2.20 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 0.2–1 mg/kg IM once (with ketamine) in red-eared sliders, per Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Diazepam is used in red-eared sliders for Muscle relaxation / anesthetic adjunct. Routes documented in red-eared sliders: IM. A typical adult red-eared slider weighs 0.20–2.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diazepam in red-eared sliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2–1 mg/kg | once (with ketamine) | Muscle relaxation / anesthetic adjunct | Weak | Schumacher J, Yelen T. Anesthesia and analgesia. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:442-452. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
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 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 0.5 mg/kg IM, IV232 All species/seizures |
| 2.5 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 2.5 mg/kg IM, IV282 Most species/seizures |
| 0.2–1 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | 0.2-1 mg/kg IM295,298 Chelonians/use in conjunction with ketamine for anesthesia with muscle relaxation |
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 red-eared sliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose range in red-eared sliders, with cited source references: IM 0.2–1 mg/kg once (with ketamine). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in red-eared sliders: IM.
Diazepam is indicated in red-eared sliders for: Muscle relaxation / anesthetic adjunct.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the red-eared slider 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 red-eared sliders — 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.