Valium is the brand name for the drug diazepam. Valium for dogs is available in 2mg, 5mg, and 10mg tablets. or as an injection.
Valium or dogs has many uses, including as an anti-anxiety, a muscle relaxant, a seizure control medication, and as an appetite stimulant. The injectable form of Valium for dogs is often used in anesthetic procedures.
Some examples of uses for valium for dogs include:
Treatment of seizure disorders (more so with cats than with dogs)
Treatment of "Scotty Cramp" and other muscle cramping diseases.
Appetite stimulation
Urinary blockage (more commonly in cats)
Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Treatment of panic disorders, such as dogs who display anxiety at thunderstorms or firework displays
Treatment of inappropriate urination due to territorial instincts
As a muscle relaxant in the case of poisoning where there is extreme involuntary muscle contractions
Though the use of Valium is well documented in human medicine, it is not yet clear how Valium for dogs affects the canine brain. Valium for dogs tends to be a psychoactive drug in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. These were among the first anti-anxiety drugs used, though it should be used only for short-term situations as opposed to longer term anxiety states due to its sedating properties.
Side Effects of Valium for Dogs:
Valium for dogs is not often used as a tranquilizer as its effects are not long lasting or even particularly reliable. There are also some undesired sedation that may occur with Valium for dogs, and some dogs can even become hyper excited when given diazepam. There are some herbal valium alternatives, however, that can be effective without these side effects.
Valium for dogs is also sometimes used to stimulate the dog's appetite, though the sedating qualities of the drug keep it from generally being the drug of choice in for these purposes. There have also been some reports of liver failure in cats when using diazepam for several days at a time.
It would be wise to have your Vet check your animal's liver enzymes while taking Valium for dogs to ensure no damage to the liver is taking place.
Interactions of Valium for Dogs with Other Drugs
It may be downright dangerous to used valium for dogs along with the drug cimetidine, an antacid more commonly known as Tagamet. Valium for dogs should also not be combined with the anti-biotic erythromycin, the heart medication propranol, or the antifungal known as ketoconazole. Antacids can slow the initial effect of diazepam. With heart medications, valium for dogs can increase the effects of digoxin. Diazepam should also not be used with amitraz dips for mange, or along with ivermectin treatments for parasites. CLICK HERE to read some of my thoughts on using valium for dogs.
Precautions to Think About When Using Valium for Dogs
Always store Valium for dogs at room temperature and keep it away from light.
It has often been the case that urine dipsticks that measure glucose levels may be falsely negative when taking Valium for dogs.
Discontinuing diazepam too quickly can lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms in your animal, similar to what occurs in humans.
Valium for dogs should not be used early in pregnancy as there have been birth defects associated with its use.
Diazepam can also absorb easily into milk of nursing mothers and may actually tranquilize nursing young.