ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/diltiazem
US brand names:Cardizem, Dilacor
Diltiazem is dosed at 1.75–2.5 mg/kg PO q8h in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Blocks L-type calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle. Slows AV conduction, reduces heart rate, and reduces myocardial oxygen demand.
Monitor heart rate and blood pressure. Drug of choice for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Bradycardia, hypotension, AV block possible. Do not combine with beta-blockers without caution.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
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A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 1.75–2.5 mg/kg | q8h | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1.5 mg/kg | q8h (IR) or q12-24h (ER) | Strong | Kittleson M. Chapt 29: Drugs used in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias- Drugs used to treat tachyarrythmias - part 6. Veterinary Information Network. [ref 15]; Rush J. Treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias. Presented at: IVECCS; 2005 [ref 16] — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.425 (2026-08-01). |
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