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Apparently it is dangerous to administer valium orally to cats. I
know it is given intravenously to stimulate appetite, and have not heard
anything bad about doing that, but thought I would pass on this info about it
being toxic to the liver when administered orally. Not sure why it would be
different.
I have administered it orally in large dose in order to help cats pass more
peacefully when they are in the last stages of dying, and it does seem to calm
them and probably hasten death in the manner of morphine. I have suggested
that on this list. The below information indicates that no one should take
from that that administering a lower dose orally is ok for a cat who is not
dying.
Michelle
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--- Begin Message ---Orally administered diazepam has been reported by Center et al (1996) to cause idiosyncratic, massive hepatic necrosis in cats. After 5-11 days of initial oral treatment with diazepam, 11 mixed breed cats showed signs of fulminant hepatic failure, including lethargy, ataxia, anorexia and jaundice. All cats were adults with no sex predisposition; dosage ranged from 1-5 mg per day and was given for inappropriate urination in 8 cats, suspected urethral spasm (1) and aggression (2). One of the affected cats was admitted in comatose condition and one had a bleeding diathesis. Despite intensive supportive treatment, 8 cats died within 7-15 days of initiating diazepam therapy, 2 were euthanized and only 1 survived. As markedly elevated liver enzymes were found, the authors recommended performing early surveillance of serum ALT and AST before, and 3-5 days after commencing diazepam to monitor for hepatotoxicity. As a consequence of this report, some clinicians even recommend avoiding diazepam use in cats.Gray Tuttle Postdoctoral Associate & Lecturer, Yale University 2004-2005 Assistant Professor, Asian History Worcester Polytechnic Institute, on-leave 2004-2005 978-448-3771 (h)
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