ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/tiletamine-zolazepam
US brand names:Telazol
Tiletamine-Zolazepam is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg IM once in blue-tongue skinks, per Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.250 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Tiletamine is a dissociative NMDA antagonist providing anesthesia; zolazepam is a benzodiazepine providing muscle relaxation and reducing emergence reactions.
Controlled substance (CIII). Prolonged recovery in cats (zolazepam component). Causes pain at IM injection site. Cannot titrate once given IM. Avoid in renal/hepatic disease.
Controlled substance in the US
Controlled-drug status and schedules differ by country — check your local scheduling rules.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 15 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.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | IM | 9.7–15.8 mg/kg | Single dose | Strong | TELAZOL - Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride Injection, Powder, for Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ef51363-2236-40aa-bf32-601c9f1c722a — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1265 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1236, Tiletamine/Zolazepam monograph spanning p.1236-1239; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | IM | 6.6–13.2 mg/kg | Single dose (may supplement) |
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Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Dwarf Hamster drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Leopard Gecko drugsAll Mouse drugsAll Pet Rat drugsAll Red-eared Slider drugsAll Russian Tortoise drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugsAll Syrian Hamster drugs
| TELAZOL - Tiletamine Hydrochloride and Zolazepam Hydrochloride Injection, Powder, for Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3ef51363-2236-40aa-bf32-601c9f1c722a — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1265 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1236, Tiletamine/Zolazepam monograph spanning p.1236-1239; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |