Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Midazolam is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg IM once in ball pythons, per Larouche CB, Beaufrère H, Mosley C, et al. Evaluation of the effects of midazolam and flumazenil in the ball python (Python regius). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2019;50:579-588. doi:10.1638/2019-0024; Miller LJ, Fetterer DP, Garza NL, et al. A fixed moderate-dose combination of tiletamine+zolazepam outperforms midazolam in induction of short-term immobilization of ball pythons (Python regius). PLoS ONE. 2018;13:1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199339 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.246 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
May cause paradoxical excitement in healthy dogs when used alone. Water-soluble (less painful IM than diazepam). Respiratory depression at high doses. Flumazenil is the reversal agent.
Species with Midazolam dosing data (29 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Backed by 21 published sources
· Abou-Madi N. Avian anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2001;4:147-167. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.454 (2026-08-01).
· Biermann K, Hungerbuhler S, Mischke R, Kastner SBR. Sedative, cardiovascular, haematologic and biochemical effects of four different drug combinations administered intramuscularly in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2012;39(2):137-150. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00699.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01).
· Browning GR, Eshar D, Beaufrère H. Comparison of dexmedetomidine-ketamine-midazolam and isoflurane for anesthesia of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019;58:50-57. doi:10.30802/aalas-jaalas-18-000001 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.785 (2026-08-01).
Sample dosing (2 of 29 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 17 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.
Biermann K, Hungerbuhler S, Mischke R, Kastner SBR. Sedative, cardiovascular, haematologic and biochemical effects of four different drug combinations administered intramuscularly in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2012;39(2):137-150. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00699.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01).
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· Doss G. Personal observation; 2020. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.740 (2026-08-01).
· ExoticRx 2026 (chinchilla dosing guide); Carpenter 6e
· ExoticRx 2026 (rat dosing guide); Carpenter 6e
· Graham JE, Doss GA, Beaufrère H, eds. Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine. Wiley. Ch.16 Guinea Pigs, printed p.289 (corpus PDF p.305): 'Anticonvulsant: ... midazolam 0.5-2 mg/kg IM, IV'
· Larouche CB, Beaufrère H, Mosley C, et al. Evaluation of the effects of midazolam and flumazenil in the ball python (Python regius). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2019;50:579-588. doi:10.1638/2019-0024; Miller LJ, Fetterer DP, Garza NL, et al. A fixed moderate-dose combination of tiletamine+zolazepam outperforms midazolam in induction of short-term immobilization of ball pythons (Python regius). PLoS ONE. 2018;13:1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199339 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.246 (2026-08-01).
· Lennox AM. Safe sedation and immobilization of unusual exotic species encountered in practice. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:363-368. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.07.013 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.740 (2026-08-01).
· Marjani M, Akbarinejad V, Bagheri M. Comparison of intranasal and intramuscular ketamine-midazolam combination in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(2):178-181. doi:10.1111/vaa.12183 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.910 (2026-08-01).
· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.862 (2026-08-01).
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.941 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Midazolam monograph, p.910 (CATS); refs 36 = Marjani M, Akbarinejad V, Bagheri M. Comparison of intranasal and intramuscular ketamine-midazolam combination in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(2):178-181; 37 = Ueoka N, Hikasa Y. Effects in cats of atipamezole, flumazenil and 4-aminopyridine... J Feline Med Surg. 2015;17(8):711-718; 39 = Wheeler EP, Abelson EL, Lindsey JC, Wetmore LA. Sedative effects of alfaxalone and hydromorphone with or without midazolam in cats: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg. 2021;23(12)
· Schumacher J, Mans C. Anesthesia. In: Mader DR, Divers SJ, eds. Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2014: 134-153. — Verified against Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.549 (2026-08-01).
· Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01).
· Wakuno A, Aoki M, Kushiro A, et al. Comparison of alfaxalone, ketamine and thiopental for anaesthetic induction and recovery in Thoroughbred horses premedicated with medetomidine and midazolam. Equine Vet J. 2017;49(1):94-98. doi:10.1111/evj.12548; Vries A de, Thomson S, Taylor PM. Comparison of midazolam and diazepam as co-induction agents with ketamine for anaesthesia in sedated ponies undergoing field castration. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(5):512-517. doi:10.1111/vaa.12230; Smith MC, Bass L, Damone J, Mama K, Rao S. Comparison of xylazine and detomidine in combination with midazolam/ketamine for field castration in Quarter Horses. Equine Vet J. 2020;52(4):516-521. doi:10.1111/evj.13232 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.910 (2026-08-01).
· Wenger S. Anesthesia and analgesia in rabbits and rodents. J Exot Pet Med. 2012;21:7-16. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2011.11.010 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.787 (2026-08-01).
Midazolam (Versed) Dosage for Ferrets, Rabbits | ExoticRx