Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Midazolam is dosed at 0.2–0.5 mg/kg IM once in dogs, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01).. Midazolam is used in dogs for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Seizure control (at-home emergency), Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizure control, Noise phobia (acute management). Routes documented in dogs: IM, INTRANASAL, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Midazolam in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Versed
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | once | Single pre-anesthetic dose | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01). |
| INTRANASAL | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | once | Emergency use | Seizure control (at-home emergency) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | once | Single dose pre-anesthetic; repeat for seizures | Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizure control | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.1–0.25 mg/kg | PRN | During noise events | Noise phobia (acute management) | Weak | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.07–0.5 mg/kg | may repeat up to 2x if no response | Until seizures controlled | Status epilepticus | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th ed — Midazolam, DOGS, Status epilepticus (extra-label), printed p.882 (corpus PDF p.909) |
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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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Midazolam dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.2–0.5 mg/kg once; INTRANASAL 0.2–0.5 mg/kg once; IV 0.1–0.3 mg/kg once; IV 0.1–0.25 mg/kg PRN. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Midazolam in dogs: IM, INTRANASAL, IV.
Cited course lengths for Midazolam in dogs include: Single pre-anesthetic dose; Emergency use; Single dose pre-anesthetic; repeat for seizures; During noise events. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Midazolam is indicated in dogs for: Pre-anesthetic sedation, Seizure control (at-home emergency), Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizure control, Noise phobia (acute management), Status epilepticus.
These are general warnings for Midazolam across species; consult the dog 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 dogs — 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.