Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Diltiazem is dosed at 1.5–7.5 mg/kg PO q12h in ferrets, per Morrisey JK, Malakoff RL, Quesenberry KE, et al. Cardiovascular and other diseases Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:55-70. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.946 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Diltiazem is used in ferrets for Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; atrial fibrillation. Routes documented in ferrets: PO. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diltiazem in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cardizem, Dilacor
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1.5–7.5 mg/kg | q12h | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; atrial fibrillation | Moderate | Morrisey JK, Malakoff RL, Quesenberry KE, et al. Cardiovascular and other diseases Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:55-70. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.946 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diltiazem dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: PO 1.5–7.5 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diltiazem in ferrets: PO.
Diltiazem is indicated in ferrets for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; atrial fibrillation.
These are general warnings for Diltiazem across species; consult the ferret dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Diltiazem pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ferrets — 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.