Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg
Midazolam is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg SC Once 30min before in pet rats, per Carpenter 6e — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Midazolam is used in pet rats for Pre-medication. Routes documented in pet rats: SC. A typical adult pet rat weighs 0.25–0.70 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Midazolam in pet rats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Versed
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.5–1 mg/kg | Once 30min before | Pre-medication | Moderate | Carpenter 6e — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
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 |
| 2–3 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 2-3 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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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 pet rats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Midazolam dose range in pet rats, with cited source references: SC 0.5–1 mg/kg Once 30min before. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Midazolam in pet rats: SC.
Midazolam is indicated in pet rats for: Pre-medication.
These are general warnings for Midazolam across species; consult the pet rat 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 pet rats — 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.