Pocket Pet · Octodon degus · typical adult weight 0.17–0.30 kg
Midazolam is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg IM once (preanesthetic) in degus, per Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2021:620-630. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents): 'Midazolam | 1-2 mg/kg IM130 | All species/preanesthetic'. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — PRINTED DETAIL MISSING FROM THIS RULE (retrieved 2026-08-19): 1-2 mg/kg IM130 | All species/preanesthetic — Carpenter's 6e, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents), corpus p.787. Flag does NOT hold: the degu-named figures are combination doses from "Jekl V. Personal communication; 2016" (ref 82, corpus p.825). Missing printed scope limit — FRR 4e printed p.327, Ch.23 Degus, Drug Therapy: "To the author's knowledge, no pharmacokinetic data exist for any drugs in degus, and dosages are […]". Midazolam is used in degus for Preanesthetic. Routes documented in degus: IM. A typical adult degu weighs 0.17–0.30 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Midazolam in degus, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Versed
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1–2 mg/kg | once (preanesthetic) | Preanesthetic | Weak | Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, 2021:620-630. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents): 'Midazolam | 1-2 mg/kg IM130 | All species/preanesthetic'. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — PRINTED DETAIL MISSING FROM THIS RULE (retrieved 2026-08-19): 1-2 mg/kg IM130 | All species/preanesthetic — Carpenter's 6e, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents), corpus p.787. Flag does NOT hold: the degu-named figures are combination doses from "Jekl V. Personal communication; 2016" (ref 82, corpus p.825). Missing printed scope limit — FRR 4e printed p.327, Ch.23 Degus, Drug Therapy: "To the author's knowledge, no pharmacokinetic data exist for any drugs in degus, and dosages are […]" |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.219 | 2-5 mg/kg i.v., i.m., i.p. |
| 1–2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 1-2 mg/kg IM |
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 degu's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity, increasing chloride conductance. Provides anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for degus may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Midazolam dose range in degus, with cited source references: IM 1–2 mg/kg once (preanesthetic). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Midazolam in degus: IM.
Midazolam is indicated in degus for: Preanesthetic.
These are general warnings for Midazolam across species; consult the degu dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Midazolam pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in degus — 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.